There are a number of factors for success in direct seeding, and anyone either starting out or with several years of experience will concur with all of these as follows:
Details of each of these are illustrated in slides shown today, but the basic content is very important especially when it comes to consideration of machinery modifications and retrofitting.
It is very important to spread the straw and the chaff over as much of the width of cut as possible. Evenness of spread is important as well as length of straw. Anchored standing stubble is also a consideration; usually not much taller than the spacing between the shanks on a hoe-press arrangement. A disc type machine can work in slightly taller stubble as long as the spread is even enough to prevent hairpinning of the straw under the cutting edge of the disc. Chaff should also be spread as wide as practical, because it is often the forgotten factor in field and crop management from a rotation trouble spot as well as a disease prevention and management point of view. Standing stubble of any kind in my part of the farming world usually means extra moisture; a good factor for extended rotations. Erosion events are not a reminder anymore that we have done something wrong.
This is very often a regional or soil related problem. Weeds are always there and must be considered every year because this factor can dictate not only what species you have, but also the growth pattern that it follows. Most direct seeders will usually follow a program of pre-seeding burn down of existing growth, and team up with an in-crop product as normal, and could include a pre-harvest treatment on some of their fields as well. After harvest or winter annual management is still a valuable practice, despite so-called "newer technology." It is always important to know what species of weeds you have on your farm, and in the area, and where they are sourced. Do they come from your neighbor, float downstream unto you, blow in on the wind, or come with hay or machinery? Take the time to find their source and you will be well paid for your time, because you will learn something.
What options do you have in your area? Often fertilizer involves a lot of hauling, should you choose one type of product over another. A detailed review of your planned rotation will shed some light on just what type of plan you can put in place. If you select to use anhydrous ammonia, are you prepared to configure your equipment to assure seedling safety? If you select a liquid product, do you have the luxury of a surge storage tank available to you, to prevent stopping your seeding operation to go and acquire product without lengthy delays? Is a separate fertilizer application an option or a necessity for you? Seed-fertilizer separation is a very big and important question for most new direct seeders and deserves the necessary time to study it properly and not have a field blow up your profit potential.
Recommend a broadleaf-cereal rotation as follows: Cereal-Oilseed-Cereal-Pulse over four years. Check out the advantages for yourself.
The magic word here is openers. Openers are a very big question and cause a lot of indecision for many producers whether they are beginners or more experienced direct seeders. A good guideline, is to look to your neighbors and take into account how you compare to them. It is important to know what your soil type is, what your rotation may be, what weed pressures you have, what your residue management plan is, and how flexible you cvan be, once you have finally decided on your best choice of opener type. A disc type opener pulls a lot easier than a hoe type, but it is limited in straw performance and fertilizer limits for seedling safety.
Let's look at the systems approach to direct seeding. Most direct seeders follow a pretty set routine over the growing year. They start with a pre-seeding application of Roundup to control weed seedlings, followed about three days later with the one-pass seeding operation. They monitor the growth of the crops and spray at the appropriate time in-crop, watching for disease and insect potential. Their harvest is the same as the area surrounding them, with the possible exception of some pre-harvest application to control perennial weeds. Stubble is left as high as possible (according to the dictates of their seeding tool) to catch snow and allow their rotations to be extended to fit their four year pattern. Some continue to employ winter annual weed control measures. They use spare time to build more bins.
Remember, it takes 30% more power to pull a 40 foot-9inch space machine than a 40 foot,12-inch space machine. Most air drills require 5-7 hp/foot on a 12-inch space, depending on land slopes and tank size. Other things to consider are your methods of harvesting. If you must swath everything, then a paired row seed configuration is easier to swath onto than a single side band growth pattern. Wide (12-inch) spacing of rows means less cost per foot of machine to purchase, better residue clearance, but may reduce the ability of the crop to compete with weeds because of less canopy. If you are going to seed your entire farm with a one pass operation, you have more time, so you can make do with a smaller tractor and a narrower width machine. Speed of operation is a very important question that you should ask yourself on a regular basis. Four and a half mph is not too slow to direct seed; up to 5 or five and a half is possible, but there is usually a poorer seed bed left after a higher speed seeding job. For proper seed and fertilizer placement, it is advisable to keep your speed down.
Heavy soil, with larger percentages of clay, require different openers than loamy soils. An adaptable seeder frame is very often found right in your own yard, or district, perhaps not used for some period of time, but with a few modifications, is still perfectly functional. Local auction sales are often a good source of used machines that can be retrofitted to direct seed. Price is always an important factor. Conventional double disc drills give poor establishment results if straw or chaff is inadequately spread, because the downward pressure is insufficient to overcome hairpinning in heavy straw. Coulter assists in front of the discs may help, but often increase power requirements substantially.
Hoe type drills are good, if there is adequate under-frame clearance and row spacing combined with good rank spacing. Changing to narrow openers with side fertilizer banding capability is a cheap way to adapt these machines to direct seeding. Keep in mind that there are lessor amounts of fertilizer tolerated by plants when they are placed in a narrow band with very little separation between the seed and the fertilizer. An after market side banding opener is often the cheapest way to retrofit one of these machines, although a self designed opener is utilized by some farmers who are handy in the welding shop. Make sure you place the seed to one or both sides of the fertilizer row, and not on top of that row. Experience has shown that compromising seedbed quality for fertilizer placement is very undesirable. Seed always emerges and develops better if it is placed on firm ground at the right depth and packed from about.
On-row packing is pretty much mandatory in a direct seeding regime. You may "get by" for a year with coil type towing packers, but they are only about 20% efficient when you examine the actual seed in the row. Mounted packers on the back frame will work, keeping in mind that you only require some packing to be effective, and not huge amounts of pressure. Frame mounted packers will lift the back of the machine if you attempt to put large downward pressures on the packers, causing the rear rank of the machine to run shallow and result in poor or uneven emergence of the crop. A "floating" or flexible hitch is the best way to go in retro-fitting an existing cultivator frame to make it into a good seeding tool. This will mean a castor type arrangement needs to be fitted to the front frame to match the weight carried by the on-row packer sections at the rear of the frame. Shank mounted opener-packer units are also available, and will work in many soils.
Mid-row banding; this is a rapidly growing trend that reflects the need to place more fertilizer in a one-pass seeding operation, while maintaining seedling safety. The range of seeder openers available today does not always lend itself to adequate, safe application of large amounts of fertilizer or certain types of nutrient such as anhydrous ammonia. The development of mid-row technology has progressed very rapidly by many farmers and machinery manufacturers. Third tank technology has enabled many farmers to separate their nitrogen, starter phosphorous and seed into specific flow lines, or mix exacting amounts of phos with the seed and yet allow nitrogen to be placed mid-row to the shank opener. This mid-row concept is very safe for the seed and only adds a slight power requirement to the overall unit.
Tractor Factors: Does your tractor have sufficient hydraulic oil flow capability to allow fan drives and wing lifts to function? Would a gas or diesel engine drive on the airflow make more sense? Ground rive air-flow systems are a reality, but have some drawbacks in very wet seeding conditions of excess slippage on the part of the tractor.
Other "Didn't Think-of's:" Do you have a second truck to haul either seed or fertilizer? Is your sprayer capable of more use, often in somewhat rougher field conditions? Can you sell your discers, harrow-packer bar, extra field cultivator, before they become $40 per tonne, and utilize the money to modernize the tractor, or combine, or sprayer, or retrofit the drill to facilitate direct seeding?
There are plenty of good field seeding units out there on the farms that, with a few after-market items added or changed, and an understanding of the systems approach to direct seeding, will render you capable of direct seeding along with the best of them. You know about these machines; you quite often already own them, or you may have seen someone else modify them to do a pretty good job of direct seeding with them. After-market machinery manufacturers are listed here. You may also contact the SSCA at P.O. Box 1360, Indian Head Sk. SOG 2KO. 306-695-4235 or 1-800-213-4287
MACHINERY LISTING
A&M Distributing
45 909 E Hwy 212
Watertown, SD 57201
Phone: (306) 882-4369
Products: Chaff Spreaders
ADJA Marketing Ltd.
239 - 27th Avenue NW
Calgary, AB T2M 2H5
Phone: (403) 230-4721
Fax: (403) 276-8110
Products: Foam Maker
Ag Depot
Box 26007, 2191 Albert Street N.
Regina, SK S4R 8R7
Phone: (306) 545-2622
Fax: (306) 545-5963
Products: Willmar Air Rides, APACHE Spray Tractors, SPRAY-AIR Sprayers, DMI Liquid Coulters, RAVEN Flow Meters for Variable Rating, TRIBMLE & SATLOCK GPS Light Bars, Loral Floaters
Ag-Chem Equipment Canada Ltd.
3250 Idylwyld Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7L 5Y7
Phone: (306) 222-2872
Fax: (306) 249-3172
Products: RoGator, Terra-Gator
Agri-Tech Manufacturing Ltd.
Box 87
Nobleford, AB T0L 1S0
Phone: (403) 824-3737
Fax: (403) 824-3700
Products: Straw & Chaff Spreaders, Packer Wheels
Anderson Machine Inc.
Box 32
Andover, SD 57422
Phone: (605) 298-5663
Fax: (605) 298-5220
Products: Anderson PPF-System
BCL Land View Systems Inc.
600 - 10665 Jasper Ave.
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S9
Phone: (780) 448-7476
Fax: (780) 421-1270
Brandt Industries Ltd.
Box 317, Stn. Main
Regina, SK S4P 3A1
Phone: (306) 525-1314
Fax: (306) 525-9024
Products: Contour Commander Harrow, Brandt QF1500 Heavy Duty Sprayer, Brandt QF2500/S Heavy Duty Sprayer
Centrack Controls Inc.
Box 1722
Saskatoon, SK S7K 3S1
Phone: (306) 246-4687
Fax: (306) 246-2113
Products: MarkerMaster (control for hydraulic marker arms)
Conserva Pak Seeding Systems
Box 1420
Indian Head, SK S0G 2K0
Phone: (306) 695-2460
Fax: (306) 695-2666
Products: Conserva Pak Seeder
Creative Enterprises Inc.
Box 88
Woodrow, SK S0H 4M0
Phone: (306) 472-5785
Fax: (306) 472-5411
1-888-458-5756
Products: Landroller, Seed Boots
Degelman Industries Ltd.
Box 830
Regina, SK S4P 3B1
Phone: (306) 543-4447
Fax: (306) 543-2140
Products: Straw Master, Heavy Harrow Drawbar, Landroller, Shuttle Cart
Dutch Industries Ltd.
Box 568
Pilot Butte, SK S0G 3Z0
Phone: (306) 781-4820
Fax: (306) 781-4877
Products: Dutch Seeding & Fertilizer Openers, Tips, and Attachments; Packer Wheel Assemblies, Coulter Equipment, Cab Filters, Inoculators & Seed Treaters; Combine Chaff & Straw Spreaders, Crop Lifters, Combine Reversers, and Water Pumping & Aeration Systems.
E.X.C.E.L. Innovations
Box 1586
Martensville, SK S0K 2T0
Phone: (306) 931-3383
Fax: (306) 931-0082
Products: Camtrack Electronic Field Position Indicator
Everwear Ag Products Ltd.
999 - 29th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6N 1A2
Phone: (780) 413-9836
Fax: (780) 431-0041
1-877-413-4729
Products: Replaceable carbide tips for all soil openers
Ezee-On Mfg. Ltd.
5110 - 62nd Street
Vegreville, AB T9C 1N6
Phone: (780) 632-2126
Fax: (780) 632-6221
Products: Air Seeders, Air Drills, Cultivators, Chisel Plows
F/S Manufacturing Inc.
1102 Centre Street
West Fargo, ND 58078
Phone: (701) 281-1729
Fax: (701) 281-1412
Products: Hi-Trux High Clearance Sprayer; Pickup, Pull-Type, and 3-point sprayers; hopper extensions, chaff spreaders
Fab Tec Manufacturing Ltd.
Box 219
Spy Hill, SK S0A 3W0
Phone: (306) 534-2213
Fax: (306) 534-2074
Products: Spray Boom Kits, Sprayers, Floating Boom
Farm Land Specialty Products
R.R. #4
Red Deer, AB T4N 5E4
Fax: (403) 343-6112
1-888-268-8251
Products: Seed Boots, Ground Openers for Direct Seeding
Flexicoil
1000 71 Street East
Box 1928
Saskatoon, SK S7K 3S5
Phone: (306) 934-3500
Fax: (306) 664-7672
Products: 6000 No-Till Air Drill, 5000 air Drill, 7500 TM Air Drill, 1330 Air Cart, 1720 Air Cart, 2320 Air Cart, 3450 Air Cart, 1740 Air Cart, 2340 Air Cart, Variety of Openers - Disk Openers and Seed Boot Openers
Gaber Distributors
Box 1090
Roblin, MB R0L 1P0
Phone: (204) 937-4321
Fax: (204) 937-8070
Products: Narrow Openers - No-Till Knife, Soil Slitter, Quick change system for ease of changing or putting on openers, all you need is a hammer, Over 70 different types of openers, nearly 20 different brackets that can adapt to the quick change system
Gates Manufacturing
8710 33rd Avenue NW
Lansford, ND 58750
Phone: (701) 784-5434
Fax: (701) 784-5444
Products: Bag Lifter, Heavy Harrow
GEN Mfg. Ltd.
Box 560
Coaldale, AB T1M 1M5
Phone: (403) 345-3414
Fax: (403) 345-3413
Products: Ground Placement Tools - Seed Placement, Fertilizer Placement, Hard Points
Gray Seeding Systems
Box 42112, Millbourne
Edmonton, AB T6K 4C4
Phone: (780) 413-9159
Fax: (780) 431-0041
1-877-413-GRAY
Products: Double and triple shoot boot with carbide wear points
Gustafson
#10, 2712 - 37th Avenue NE
Calgary, AB T1Y 5L3
Fax: (403) 291-3239
1-800-880-9481
Products: Seed Treaters (for mounting on air seeders)
Harvest Technologies
(Division of Atom-Jet Industries)
2110 Park Avenue
Brandon, MB R7B 0R9
Phone: (204) 725-0705
Fax: (204) 727-8888
Products: Seed Openers, Fertilizer Knives, and Hydraulic Systems for Versatile Tractors
Haukaas Manufacturing Ltd.
Box 8
Mortlach, SK S0H 3E0
Phone: (306) 355-2718
Fax: (306) 355-2352
Products: Haukaas Field Marker (attaches to Air Seeders, ie. JD, Flexicoil and Bourgault)
Horvick Manufacturing
4350 48th Avenue North
Fargo, ND 58102-7404
Phone: (701) 280-2862
Fax: (701) 293-0961
Products: Spraying and Fertilizer Equipment
John Deere Limited
Box 1000
Grimsby, ON L3M 4H5
Phone: 905) 945-9281
Fax: (905) 945-3341
Products: 1860 No-Till Air Drill, 1820 Air Hoe Drill, 1900 Commodity Cart, Chaff Spreader
K-Hart Industries Ltd.
Box 520
Elrose, SK S0L 0Z0
Phone: (306) 378-2258
Fax: (306) 378-2926
Products: Double Disk Air Drills, Mid-Row Fertilizer Banders, Mounted Air Seeder Packers
Kyle Welding and Machine Shop
Box 310
Kyle, SK S0L 1T0
Phone: (306) 375-2271
Fax: (306) 375-2312
Products: Jacobson Single Disk Field Markers for Sprayers, Kyle Welding Galvanized Water Tanks
Mandako
Box 95
Plum Coulee, MB R0G 1R0
Phone: 1-888-525-5892
Fax: (204) 829-7712
Products: Telescoping Air Seeder Marker, Mandako Air Seeder Boot, Chaff Spreader
Morris Industries Ltd.
2131 Airport Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7L 7E1
Phone: (306) 933-8585
Fax: (306) 933-8626
Products: Maxim Air Drill, Concept 2000 Air Seeding & Tillage Systems, 7000 Series Air Cart
Phoenix Rotary Equipment Ltd.
8135 Wagner Road
Edmonton, AB T6E 4N6
Phone: 1-888-891-9929
Fax: (780) 466-1967
Products: Maxi Harrow, Phoenix Trailed Harrow, 3 Point Hitch Harrow
R. Roth Enterprises
Box 157
Landis, SK S0K 2K0
Phone: (306) 658-4401
Fax: (306) 658-4402
Products: Chem Handler (available in 3 sizes), Handler Seed Treater (available in 2 sizes).
Redekop Industries
R.R. #4, Box 178A
Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J7
Phone: (306) 931-6664
Fax: (306) 933-1088
Products: Straw Choppers, Chaff Collection Equipment
Rodono Industries Ltd.
R.R. #1
Clive, AB T0C 0Y0
Phone: (403) 784-3864
Fax: (403) 784-2402
Products: Replacement Rotor for Straw Choppers, Stationery Knife Kits
Schulte Industries Ltd.
Box 70
Englefeld, SK S0K 1N0
Phone: (306) 287-3715
Fax: (306) 287-3355
Products: Schulte Model 5026 26' Rotary Cutter, Schulte Model 3020 20' Rotary Cutter
Seed Hawk Inc.
Box 123
Langbank, SK S0G 2X0
Phone: (306) 538-2221
Fax: (306) 538-2228
1-800-667-4295
Products: Seeding Implements for one pass seeding, Banding fertilizer and packing
Setter Manufacturing Division
Box 686
Russel, MB R0J 1W0
Phone: (204) 773-2218
Fax: (204) 773-2375
Products: Sprayers, Banding Equipment for Liquid and Ammonia Fertilizer, Swather High Clearance Conversion Sprayer, 3-Point Hitch Sprayers, 2 Wheel and Front Wheel Assist, Sprayer Conversions
Skayman Openers
Box 363
Hamiota, MB R0M 0T0
Phone: (204) 764-2290
Products: Series of bolt-on and knock-on knives with replaceable tips, liquid fertilizer splitter boots
Swede Industries
Box 298
Tompkins, SK S0N 2S0
Phone: (306) 622-4428
Fax: (306) 622-2097
Products: Swede Hi-Crome Side Banding Openers with Hard Surfacing Options for extended life. Double shoot openers for air seeders, air drills and hoe drills.
Technotill
R.R. #5
Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 1X2
Phone: (780) 352-9890
Fax: (780) 352-9990
Products: Skid Plate Packer for Narrow Openers
Valley Packing Systems
Box 609
Wadena, SK S0A 4J0
Phone: (306) 338-2718
Fax: (306) 338-2709
Products: Shank mounted and gang mounted packers for air seeders
Wiebe Remote Controls
Site 407, Box 22, R.R. #4
Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J7
Fax: (306) 668-5552
1-888-327-6347
Products: Remote Control Chute Opener, Remote Control Hoist Lift, Combine Sieve Adjuster