Conservatil: New Minimum Tillage Approach

Conservatil: New minimum tillage approach TILLAGE EUIPMENT New Tools 9-6-25 Latest new approach to minimum tillage of small grains and other crops is the Conservatil, a prize winning "Best of the Show" invention born in Adrian Dick's farm workshop. Large 42-in. dia. rotors, each equipped with three gooseneck-type shovels, are spaced 6 in. apart. The pto-driven rotors, turning opposite the direction of travel at 100 to 150 rpm's, slice through undisturbed stubble to prepare a narrow strip seedbed for each row. "Only 20% of the soil is used to make a seedbed," explains Adrian. "The Conservatil will plant small grain, sunflowers, pastures and other crops without any prior tillage, regardless how heavy the cover of stubble, straw or other heavy residue. Because only a small percentage of the soil is tilled, the horse-power requirement is only 3-hp. per foot of drill width. Tilling, seeding and fertilizing is all done in one pass. It all adds up to a tremendous cost savings," Adrian told FARM SHOW. The system also offers tremendous erosion control. Another key advantage is that fields can be grazed after planting until the new crop emerges. The machine will also mulch stubble. "Rectangular-shaped metal runners between the individual row rotors hold soil and stubble down to keep the seedbed strips clean and free of trash. Consequently, there's no problem with nitrogen lockup, as often happens with other minimum till systems," explains Adrian." Farmer, dealer and manufacturer inquiries welcome. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Adrian Dick, P.O. Box 244, Echuca, Vict. 3625, Australia.

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