Modified Direct Seeding Air Drill

Modified Direct Seeding Air Drill DRILLS Drills (42C) 18-2-7 Bill McLaren, Maidstone, Sask., made his own modified direct-seeding air drill that he says works better than anything on the market. "It's basically a 28-ft. 610 Deere cultivator with 8-in. spacing which is coupled to a 777 air seeder (manufactured in Saskatchewan by Flexi-Coil for Deere). Spring-loaded gauge wheels mount on back of each shank. Gangs of poly wheels on back were purchased from Valcon at Indian Head, Sask. (they're the makers and designers of the Conserva-Pak seeding system and are pioneers of direct-seeding in this region). I made up gangs of lightweight poly wheels and mounted them on back so they hang from old light duty cultivator shanks that apply about 50 lbs. per row packing pressure. These repack and reform the seed trenches from the front rows of shanks. "I put granular nitrogen down with the front knife, and seed and liquid phosphate Gown with the rear knife. The liquid fertilizer is carried on the tractor in saddle tanks and pumped with a belt-driven centrifugal pump mounted on the pto. This is distributed through blue 1/4-in. lines and fed into seed tubes at frame height so seed is coated with fertilizer before it hits the bottom. "Both knives are made by Dutch Indus-tries in Regina, Sask. Front knife is a Dutch Thunderbolt with replaceable chrome tips. My knives have seeded 1,150 acres and are like new. The rear knives are backswept with replaceable chrome tips. They're set 1 in. to the side and 1 1/2 in. above the fertilizer row. "This system places seed accurately and clears trash well. I've direct-seeded everything for the past three years and coarse grains for five years." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bill McLaren, Box 403, Maidstone, Sask. SOM 1MO Canada (ph 306 893-4751).

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