Tempo sets a new record in planting The business no longer uses the farm’s seven leg Shakerator subsoiler, which has been banished to the nettles. Previously he would subsoil out all the tramlines and compacted areas, then go in with a 3m Lemken Terradisc to level off the soils over several passes. This was pulled by a John Deere 930 or 6506. “Rape establishment is now a one man operation so we can be drilling rape at the same time as combining,” he says. “The TopDown and Biodrill can cover about 40ha a day. The purchase of the Biodrill in 2008 revolutionised crop establishment in my business because minimal soil disturbance from the TopDown means seed is being placed into fresh moist soils. Retaining moisture gives us the flexibility to choose the drilling date and therefore be more cost-effective too.” He adds that yields have also been going up since switching from a conventional plough based system, although he cannot put this down just to the Biodrill. But, establishment costs across the board have fallen by around £70/ha without compromising yields, which the TopDown and Biodrill have had a major impact on. Oilseed rape establishment costs are now only between £40-£45/ha plus £10/ha for rolling, including the cost of diesel. “Despite significant rises in fuel costs, metal and rubber, the fact that we have become more costeffective means we have not had to increase our contracting rates,” says Mr Culley. “We have absorbed these extra costs rather than us having to pass them on to our customers.”
On April 25th in a 24 hours race a Tempo F8 planted 212 hectares of corn at an average speed of 18kph. A 42% increase in capacity per row unit compared to the official world record carried out with a 24 row planter. “The race demonstrates Tempo’s ability to perform with great precision at high speed”, says Lars Thylén product marketing manager. Each row unit planted 26.5 hectares during the race which is a 42% increase in capacity per row unit compared to the official world record carried out with a 24 row planter in year 2012. The record attempt started at 10:50 on April 24th and finished 24 hours
later. Three drivers managed to plant 212 hectares of corn at an average speed of 18kph in two fields close to Kiev, in the area of fertile black soils. The planting was monitored and controlled by a committee from the Ukrainian Institute for Certification of Agricultural Machinery. The fields were planted with a seed rate of 85,000 seeds per hectare, seeded about 5.2cm deep, and fertiliser was applied with the rate of 130 kg/ha. “I feel very proud of the team of professionals who made this record happen and the people behind the machine”, says Vitaliy Filatov.
Last year Mr Culley desiccated 45ha of spring wheat (AC Barrie) and established oilseed rape straight behind the combine. The crop established well in an open season and by November it was at five true leaves. Had it not been for the cold weather in the autumn he was considering going in with a growth regulator.
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