Forage & Silage

With its range of vertical auger and MixMax paddle type feeders, Hi-Spec Engineering Co Ltd reckons it o ers one of the widest ranges of diet feeders on the market.

A particular feature of Hi-Spec diet feeders is the wide range of options, with various feed-out options available, ensuring they can be adapted to suit all types of building and feeding system, the manufacturer says.

Vertical Auger range: The Hi-Spec Vertical Auger range of V- and T-Series feeders are available in both single (V) and twin (T) auger variants and sizes from 7–32m3.

A speci c feature of the Hi-Spec range is its ability to incorporate complete bales quickly and e ciently into the mix, due to the unique knife arrangement, which also allows the Vertical Auger mixer to be used with lower horsepower tractors.

The Vertical Auger range uses a low pitch mixing and chopping auger that creates a simple cycle action and is tted with eight selfsharpening knives, one of which runs close to the body of the Vertical Feeder. The chopping blades are adjustable and counter plates in the feeder body ensure that once the mix is drawn up by the auger, as it falls back down the side, it is held so that the rotating auger can further chop the feed, ensuring a quick and thorough mix is consistently achieved.

As standard, both V- and T-Series feeders are tted with a Dinamica Generale DG600 display and weigh cells that allow a number of feed mix recipes to be recorded for di erent groups.

The wide range of options includes various discharge outlet positions or a variable height hydraulic chute or Cross Conveyor with elevator. It can also be speci ed with the Digi-Star TMR Tracker fully programmable electronic weighing system.

MixMax range: The Hi-Spec MixMax range of paddle type feeders range in size from 10–24m3, and are designed to be exible, sturdy and economical, with a long-lasting and simple design that ensures low running costs and low maintenance, Hi-Spec explains.

MixMax paddle feeders use the Hi-Spec Feed-Flo mixing system that features a single rotor arm with angled paddles to provide thorough end-to-end mixing and a light u y ration without the need for multiple augers. The mix is discharged through a hydraulically operated door via a teaser roller that makes it easy to adjust the ow rate and provide an even, consistent feedout.

As standard, all MixMax feeders are tted with Digi-Star weigh cells and programmable EZ3410 display. The speci cation also includes serrated knives, a reinforced double chassis, a 5mm thick body and a heavy-duty gearbox. FG

Our passion is helping farmers and landowners leave behind a landscape and industry to be proud of. Whether that be through greater financial security of the family business or ensuring a stable ecological environment that is fit to feed the future – we o er crop establishment solutions that make a real di erence.

The spring barley drilling trial was on a 650ha farm at Leadenham in Lincolnshire, and involved a eet of 10 drills, all di erent brands, and each establishing approximately 2ha of Laureate spring barley in the same eld on the same day (6th April 2022) to ensure that eld and weather conditions were similar.

The event was inspired by farmer Andrew Ward, who trades as Roy Ward (Farms) Ltd. The farm includes some easy working lighter land on higher ground, but most is heavy clay (25%) with a particularly high (53%) silt content and 21% sand. Working conditions on the heavy soils are often challenging. Black-grass takes advantage of opportunities to thrive, so techniques to maintain control are a priority and a ect crop choice and timing of operations.

“We use a tra c light system to grade our elds in relation to black-grass density,” Andrew explained. “Previously we didn’t grow winter wheat on land graded ‘red’ and planted continuous spring barley instead. But having adopted a rigorous black-grass control policy, grass weed populations have reduced and elds which were previously red are now graded yellow.

“We create stale seedbeds and spray o before drilling, then use one pre-emergence spray followed by hand rogueing during the growing season. The system works and blackgrass populations are low, but the risk is always present.”

Despite being challenging to farm, the heavy soils are in good condition. Tracked tractors are used for most eld work to minimise ground pressure and compaction, and Andrew gave up ploughing in 2004 – when the plough was sold and replaced by a Simba Solo combination cultivator. Sewage sludge is incorporated to optimise organic content and improve soil structure. For autumn crop establishment, a min-till system relies on the Simba cultivator which has heavy discs, cultivation tines and a detachable trailed press at the rear to prepare land for drilling ahead of a Simba Free ow drill. The Solo provides exibility in that the cultivator can be combined with the press or operated separately when conditions allow.

The move to reduced tillage has been successful, and the Simba drill is also capable of direct drilling when conditions are suitable, and particularly in the spring. Cost savings can be achieved when the land is direct drilled, but the current Simba Free ow blocks frequently when high trash volumes are present in the autumn unless pre-cultivations are used.

“Our current drill was never designed to operate in that environment,” Andrew explains. “I wondered if we needed a drill which can handle our heavy soils and high volumes of chopped straw and stubbles in the autumn, and cover crops in the spring, so the demonstration was arranged so that we could compare machines which we believe might o er a solution.”

Manufacturers which participated at the event were invited by Agrii and Andrew. One plot was drilled using the farm’s own Simba Free ow to provide a base standard for comparisons.

Drills involved included:

The farm’s Simba Free ow ................. 8m

Dale Eco 6m

Weaving Sabre ........................................ 6m

Horizon DSX.............................................6m

Amazone Cayena 6m

Claydon Hybrid 6m

Horsch Avatar 6m

Sky EasyDrill 6m

Sumo DTS 3m

Simtech T-Sem 3m

The day before the trial, all the drills were prepared for the expected conditions, and a tyre specialist optimised pressures for the task.

Conditions leading up to the drilling day were wet, and a soil pit dug the day before the event accumulated water overnight. The wet, heavy soil proved a challenge for all the drills, and it was interesting seeing the di erence between the seeding systems. As expected, the tine drills created considerably more tilth and surface soil movement, while some of the disc drills moved so little soil that visitors had to look closely to nd the lines where the discs had operated, even in the wet conditions.

“You could argue that we shouldn’t have been drilling after the rain,” continued Andrew. “However, most years there will be occasions when we have to work when conditions are less than optimal, so pressing on and getting the crop in the ground was the right thing to do and re ected real-life farming.”

The rst crop to emerge was planted by Andrew’s Simba Free ow but, by ve weeks after drilling in early May, plants established by the other drills appeared to have caught up.

However, a eld meeting highlighted signi cant di erences in crop development. Plant roots in some plots were only 25mm deep, whereas in other plots they were almost 130mm. Generally, plots where drills had moved more soil were greenest, and plants had better roots.

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Dry weather arrived and a severe lack of rain and soil moisture continued until harvest – putting crops under pressure across the UK.

At harvest, yields from each plot were measured and recorded, and the results were quanti ed including potential gross margins based on prices Andrew had achieved for all his commercial barley.

Independent advisor on soils and cultivations, Philip Wright trades as Wright Resolutions Ltd, and he described the challenges the drills had faced and explained why the results are only a guide.

He suggested that factors which might have a ected performance included:

• The cultivation and drilling system already in use. (The eld hadn’t been direct-drilled previously)

• Variations in soil type and characteristics – even within the relatively small area

• Drills of di erent widths –particularly in the wet working conditions. Narrower drills required more passes to complete their plots which meant more of the ground had been compressed by the drilling tractor’s wheels

• Variations in tractor weight, and tyre size and speci cation –a ecting ground compaction

• The weather was also a major factor, and narrower drills were disadvantaged most by the wet conditions.

Interestingly, Andrew’s own, elderly Simba drill achieved the highest yield, but Philip suggested three potential reasons for its success.

• The 8m working width meant less of the wet ground had been driven on by the tractor wheels

• Similar drills have been used on the farm for many years, so the soil has become conditioned to the drill’s particular action

• It moved the most soil – in the exceptional, dry conditions of spring and early summer 2022, crop roots struggled to spread to nd nutrients. However, Andrew had applied fertiliser to the eld before drilling, and the thorough mixing action of the Simba drill made it easy for roots to access. “I was surprised by just how much di erence the easier access to the fertiliser made,” explained Philip.

Additional conclusions suggested by Philip included that in damp but rm surface conditions then a tine drill is more suitable, and speci c bene ts of a disc drill (including low disturbance, and ease of cutting through residues) become secondary.

Tractor tyre pressures have a greater e ect on results when disc-drilling very shallow compared to when using tine drills in wet conditions. There are minimal eradicator actions with a direct disctype drill, and a tine drill can loosen to drilling depth provided conditions and tine geometry are suitable. Reduced tyre pressures available through using trailed drills o er extra bene ts in marginal conditions. If rain had fallen after drilling (to help incorporation of the surface applied fertiliser), then the disc drills which generated less soil movement would probably have achieved higher yields by accessing this fertiliser in a timely manner.

Too close to call Philip pointed out that the di erence in yields between seven of the nine test drills (5.49–5.80t/ha) is insigni cant, as variations could be due to other factors rather than the drills themselves – the plots being un-replicated.

Agrii south region iFarm & Tech Centre manager, Steve Corbett provided margin analysis, based on Viterra pricing for a typical Laureate contract at £267/t for low nitrogen barley. He highlighted that the potential £684/ ha gross margin di erence between the highest yield achieved at £1,405/ha and the lowest at £721/ha means drill choice and establishment technique is signi cant, especially when farmers are seeking savings of just £20/ha by reducing their fungicide applications.

Steve also suggested that the short spring barley growing season means there is less time for the crop to compensate for weather extremes than for autumn-sown crops.

Andrew’s own gures suggest that using his current min-till system to establish spring barley provided typical returns of £1,714/ha for harvest 2022, whereas using a cover crop then direct-drilling reduced the gross margin to £1,164/ha – a di erence of £550/ha. “Using our current system of cultivating and then drilling seems our best strategy,” he observed.

Philip said that for those moving to reduced and zero-tillage systems, using strategic tillage including ploughing or other heavy cultivations when needed remains acceptable. “Andrew’s soils are a challenge as the high silt content means an armoury of equipment is needed to tackle problems, but a balanced approach will allow a system to develop which requires less and less soil movement and reduces costs.”

Asked whether the drill trial has helped him decide how to farm in future, Andrew said he believes that adding a wide, shallow cultivator and a tine drill to his machinery eet would add exibility for a range of conditions and help reduce costs. “This trial highlighted the challenges we face. When conditions allow, then direct drilling using the Free ow works well and minimises operating costs, and if intense cultivations are needed then the Simba Solo gives us the soil preparation we need. However, for situations where we could reduce cultivations then a wide, shallow disc cultivator would achieve high work rates and keep costs down. For high trash volumes in a wet season, then a tine drill would give us extra exibility.

“I’m a rm believer in reducing tillage which is why I was keen to have the trial, but we couldn’t rely only on a system of direct drilling and cover crops on our land.” FG

ERNEST DOE & SONS LIMITED