Hybrid Grain Drill

Hybrid Grain Drill DRILLS Drills (42C) 5-5-22 Jerry Kruger, of Warren, Minn., wasn't satisfied with the depth control and seed placement of his air seeder but liked its transportability. He was having transport problems with his Deere 9300 grain drill, but liked its accuracy. So he decided to combine the accuracy of the drills and the easy transportability of the air seeder into one "hybrid" machine. "We bought three used 100 model IH grain drills for about $2,800. We removed the seed and fertilizer boxes and drives, leaving only the frame, openers and press wheels. Then, we built a 39-ft. frame and hitch which allowed us to æwing up' the two outside 12-ft. drills on the 14-ft. center drill. Lift assist wheels on the rear of the center drill raise the press wheels off the ground during road transport. Front wheels of the center drill were moved out and replaced with a heavy duty castor wheel for more strength and stability in the transport position. Seed and fertilizer is metered and delivered to the double disc openers with the same system of hoses and manifolds that were previously used with the air seeder and cultivator," explains Kruger. To test the new planter, he pitted it against his John Deere drills by seeding half his small grain acreage with one machine and half with the other. "We couldn't see any difference in stand or emergence and all the crops look good," says Kruger. "We're happy with the convenience of filling this unit. We fill it with 100 bu. of wheat and an equal amount of fertilizer. With this we can seed 50 acres of wheat or barley without stopping. And, unlike the drill transport, this drill folds quickly for road transport between our farms." The wings fold up with two 4 by 30 in. hydraulic cylinders. Jerry says he has separate hydraulics for the markers, transport wheels, and wings. Total cost of the drill, not counting three weeks labor, was about $8,000. Kruger says that's "less than the cost of a good drill transport system". Kruger notes that International Harvester engineers have been out to photograph his seeder and he's heard rumors that several air seeder companies plan to come out with a similar machine in the future. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kruger Farms, Rt. 1, Warren, Minn. 56762 (ph 218 745-5646, or 437-8435).

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