This autumn, seven different drills have been trialled at Parklands Farm. We provided an 18 hectare field of spring bean stubble for this crop establishment try out as part of the Monitor Farm work. Over the course of seven dry days (10 to 17 October 2017) we saw six very different drills trialled, alongside their own. The brief to the manufacturer, dealer or fellow farmer was:

• Drill Crusoe winter wheat at 200 kg/ha direct into uncultivated bean stubble
• Ideal depth of seed is 40 mm
• We will not be rolling this field but we will monitor for slugs and apply ferric phosphate if necessary

It was totally fascinating to see the different approaches for the same aim. From the very simplest drill that just required three point linkage (no PTO, no hydraulics, no electrics), to the more sophisticated arrangements with an unbelievable array of screens in the tractor cab. Some drills were easier to calibrate and set up than others, some were simpler to empty the unused seed from.

The drills tried were: (in order as you walk across the field from farm buildings)