ISSUE 50
OPTIMA V SX ● Hydraulic telescopic frame ● SX high speed sowing units ● e-drive II electric drive ● 1,000 litre fertiliser hopper
Forward speeds are around 12-14kph, though Ed says that having increased tractor power with a New Holland T7.225 this year, there’s more capacity in reserve, particularly on sloping ground. “I’ve plenty of power now, rather than working my old T6.180 hard all the time,” he says. “There’s better oil flow for the fan drive, and everything just runs easier, with forward speeds held consistently on the steeper banks. Neither the drill, nor tractor, are limiting factors in ensuring maize is planted quickly and accurately in any conditions.” With electric seed metering drive and GECONTROL automatic section control operated via RTK through a Tellus GO in-cab terminal, Ed says
the technology is a no-brainer, and is very easy to use, thanks to the plug-and-play connectivity of ISOBUS. “Seed singulation is great, and we’re typically sowing 75cm rows using a 45,000 seed count and with 125kg of fertiliser/ha,” he adds. “And with AutoCommand, my T7 runs at around 1,300-1,400pm, so we’re also sipping fuel.” “For us, having two six-row Optima V’s is currently the best solution for our maize drilling workload,” says Ed. “We have output and precision, without needing to spend more on a bigger, heavier maize drill.”
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