Soil Variation No Challenge For Versatile Sub-Surface Cultivator - 11/05/2008

Article 1 // MAY 2008

Variable soil types can make cultivation policy for establishing oilseed rape a challenge on some arable farming enterprises. But, Lincolnshire arable farmer Ryan Dring avoids costly machinery outlay to cope with sands and clay by using a versatile cultivator that works effectively across all soils.

Mr Dring is based at Bleasby Farm near Market Rasen from where a total of 2700 acres of combinable crops, including wheat and oilseed rape, and sugar beet are grown plus a small suckler herd. Soils vary considerably from sand over clay to much heavier red clay.

“Varying soil types means no one piece of equipment suites all our situations,” he says. “On our light land we plough and Cultipress then drill and on the stronger land we use minimum tillage techniques based on a Flatlift subsoiler, disc and press then drill with a Vaderstad Rapid, or we subsoil and drill with a rear mounted Horstine Farmery applicator.”

This year most of the farm was water logged so the plough was kept busy which proved costly. Mr Dring also says that poor ploughing is less forgiving on the land than some other cultivation systems. Ploughing in the wet followed by a dry period can lead to the ground baking hard.

“This is where the Flatlift plays such a crucial role in our system,” he points out. “It is the only true subsoiler on the market as there is nothing in my opinion that can cultivate within a range of 8-16 inches, and produce a suitable seed bed.”

This year Mr Dring has trialled a new system from Spaldings involving a different disc formation that has improved his operation significantly.

“We have always had to subsoil on the heavier land and in a dry season it always pays,” he says. “In a wet season our only option used to be to plough, but now with the subsoiler and the rape seeder unit as a one pass system we can drill rape when the ground is wet because we are opening up the ground which allows it to dry out.”

Having used three different establishment techniques across the farm in preparation for oilseed rape, Mr Dring has been able to compare and contrast different systems (Table 1,2,3). He highlights speed of operation and cost – especially diesel – that puts the Flatlift plus seeder unit (Table 3) ahead of either the plough and disc system or the subsoil followed by disc and press. He also feels that there has been no noticeable difference in yield where either system has been employed.

All three systems included rolling and a slug pellet application. When he carried out the costing exercise diesel cost about 35ppl compared to a current price of 58ppl.

 “Our aim is to be drilled up by the end of August so we are usually still harvesting when the autumn land work starts,” he says. “If we are still paddling about in September we will start having problems. The advantage of the Flatlift is that it is a simple machine and is therefore easier to use at night when visibility is not so good, which allows us to maximise available work days.

“Because we also plough some land it means we can be working in two places at the same time and this helps us achieve our drilling objective.”

Mr Dring points out that a Flatlift costs up to £15,000 with the Horstine Farmery seeder unit and Spaldings slug pelleter compared to around £40,000 for an alternative system with the same set up, but the price difference does not reflect the same in performance.

“The Flatlift is a very versatile tool that offers excellent value for money,” he says. “Where we use the subsoiler and seeder unit we not only save a pass, but can also still broadcast seed accurately to the width of the machine and the slug pelleter from 3m up to 24m. There is no restriction on forward speed either.

In the last two years the farm has gone from establishing 400 acres of stronger land using minimum tillage to doing everything with the subsoiler. On lighter land the plough is still used with a 4m Vaderstad Rapid plus System Disc.

Spaldings FLATLIFT® sub-surface cultivators are available from stock with a wide range of machine options, giving you the choice and flexibility to save time and reduce field operations.

or full details please visit our online catalogue, contact any member of our sales team, telephone: 01522 507 600 or e-mail: agsales@spaldings.co.uk