For Hyde Parker Farms of Long Melford, Suffolk replacing their aging 6 mtr trailed tine seed drill started a thorough process of researching a potential replacement which would fit in with their future plans for crop establishment. The decision to replace the farm’s seed drill was also fuelled by a desire to reduce the amount of ploughing undertaken to about 25 % of previous levels in an effort to help reduce establishment workload and costs. The estate stretches to around 3,500 acres in total with 2,500 acres dedicated to growing a wide variety of combinable crops and sugar beet across a mixture of soils in this picturesque part of Suffolk.

Having already had autumn demonstrations of three brands of trailed seed drill Nick Huxtable, Farm Manager for Sir Richard Hyde Parker was partly convinced that they had found the right drill for them, but still felt it hadn’t quite ticked all the boxes in terms of his requirements for this significant purchase. It was during a visit to the Suffolk Show that Nick spotted what in his mind was a drill that did tick all of the boxes. “We were looking at the purchase of this new seed drill being a long term investment, in all likelihood having to operate it for at least the next 10 years. Therefore it needed to be built accordingly and this is what I saw in the Pöttinger TERRASEM on display at the show. You could see immediately from its chassis and build quality this was drill made to last 10 years and far beyond”.

Nick Huxtable and his TERRASEM C6

After a discussion with his local dealer at the show Nick arranged for a demonstration on the farm during July when conditions were probably at there driest on some ground that had been the home to the farms sugar beet clamp that winter. By his own admission the ground was some of the worst on the farm and had received a high level of traffic and the associated compaction when the sugar beet were being loaded during the winter months.

But come the demonstration in these difficult conditions the TERRASEM C6’s ability to produce a seedbed in less than ideal conditions shone through thanks mainly to the large diameter aggressive cultivating discs at the front end. These not only cultivated but levelled effectively the difficult conditions and once pressed by the central press wheels a near ideal seeded was presented to the following double disc sowing coulters with resulting level finish judged to be mightily impressive by all those present at the demonstration.

“I have to admit the performance of the Pöttinger TERRASEM C6 simply eclipsed every other drill we had on demonstration. The conditions were far from ideal and it really changed my opinion of what drill we should purchase there and then”.

Following the successful demonstration a new TERRASEM C6 was supplied to Hyde Parker Farms in time for the autumn to allow the 2010 harvest to be established with the new drill.
So now with the autumn and spring sown crops well on their way to harvest what are Nick’s comments on the new seed drill with his first seasons use under his belt?

“The operation of the drill has been straightforward, it is definitely easier pulled than our old 6 mtr drill and John Beere our drill operator comments on how simple it is to calibrate and use. John also rates the excellent stability on the road thanks to the drill’s brakes and wide wheelbase; this has made reaching our outlying fields a lot faster and easier without compromising safety”.
“I can confidently say the drill has performed reliably with crops establishing well, germination has proved to be very even and quick, plus how level it leaves the ground has been really impressive. Furthermore, the TERRASEM has been consistent with its seed placement even at higher forward speeds; all in all the TERRASEM C6 has been an excellent addition to our fleet”

Author: Shaun Groom (Mr. Pöttinger UK)