Simba Great Plains will stage the UK launch of its new V-300 range of drills at Lamma 2012. The V-300 is a 3m mechanical drill that needs just 100hp and is designed specifically for Northern Europe. It can work in both non-inversion tillage systems and as a direct drill.
    The conventional V-300 features a 3,100-litre 'seed-only' hopper, while the V-300F has a split hopper to facilitate combined drilling of seed and fertiliser. When fitted with an optional small seed attachment, both models are highly effective at reseeding pastures.
    The drill creates a series of seeding zones using 19 Great Plains' Turbo Coulters, spaced 15.8cm apart and split into two rows to reduce blockage risks. Downward pressure on the coulters can be varied greatly, with up to 250kg available to maintain penetration in hard conditions. This is done by transferring weight from the tractor, or by adding weights to the drill.
    Where required, an optional central packer can be fitted between the drill's four main wheels, and running just behind them, to provide full width seedbed consolidation.
    Each Turbo Coulter prepares a 2-5cm wide strip of cultivated soil into which the 00 Series double-disc opener places the seed. The drill has a centre pivot located just behind the coulters to ensures each opener stays in its allotted prepared strip.
    These openers feature 34.3cm x 4mm off-set disc blades that are held in work via by a spring that enables the opener to reset in work after passing an obstruction, which minimises disruption to the accuracy of seed placement.
    Openers are staggered in two rows to reduce blockage risks, and set on a hydraulically adjustable mounting that can float vertically, which helps maintain consistent drilling depth. Drilling depth is set by a T-handle with 18 different settings available.

The new V-300 drill can be used for reseeding pasture.

    On the V-300F the hopper can be split between seed and solid fertiliser (at up to 800kg/ha) for combined drilling. A moveable partition is used to divide the hopper. This can be set in one of nine different positions to facilitate different seed/fertiliser ratios.
    An optional small seeds attachment (832 litres capacity) can be fitted to sow small seeds like clover. For pasture reseeding, both the main drill and this box can be filled with grass seed, so two different types of seed can be drilled at different rates in the same pass.
    The conventional version of the V-300 weighs 3.7t, while the V-300F weighs 4.2t.

For more information visit: www.simba.co.uk.