Vaderstad Rapid A Drill Brochure - LiveUpdater

CASE S
Minimum
Farm Background
This Estate covers about 1,600 hectares, with approximately
1,390 hectares down to arable crops and the
remainder is grassland and maize, which supports
two dairy herds and young stocks.
The soils are a chalky loam over chalk, with clay caps
in places.
Cropping
Winter Wheat
Winter Barley
Spring Barley
Oilseed Rape
Industrial Rape
Set Aside
Spring Peas
Spring Beans
Maize
Permanent Grass and Grass Leys
Total
670 ha
95 ha
95 ha
117 ha
64 ha
75 ha
145 ha
125 ha
95 ha
125 ha
1606 ha
The farm has moved from ploughing virtually everything
to more minimal non plough cultivations over
this last autumn.
Labour
The full time labour has been reduced from 8 to 5
arable staff including a foreman plus a manager.
3 casuals have been employed over the
harvest/autumn period.
Machinery
Tractors
The tractors and combine harvester are hired on long
term agreements.
Tractor 1 - 270 hp 875 hrs since 1st June
Tractor 2 - 170 hp 873 hrs since 1st June
Tractor 3 - 135 hp
In addition, 3 x 110 hp tractors were hired for 12
weeks this autumn. The dairy staff have their own
tractors.
Cultivation Machinery (Autumn 2000)
5 furrow plough with trailed press
6 m Väderstad Rapid System Disc drill
6.5 m Väderstad Carrier Disc
6.0 m rolls
4 m power harrow
Terradiscs and Flatlift
There are also 2 self-propelled sprayers and a forklift
with a pickup trailer hitch.
Cultivation policies
Original System (Fig. 7.5.1.)
This is the first autumn moving almost wholly away
from the plough. The previous system centred around
two 5 furrow ploughs with fixed 14” furrows, each
with presses and two 4 m power harrow drills. Much
of the land was ploughed and drilled on the same day,
so the soil did not have a chance to weather.
The land was also regularly “lifted” (e.g. once in 3
years) either by a Terradisc, which tends to leave the
surface rather flatter, or a Flat-lift. Sometimes just the
tramlines and headlands were broken up prior to
ploughing.
Fig. 7.5.1. Orginal System
Operation Cost per ha. Work Rate Labour
(£) (ha./hr.) (mins./ha.)
Plough & Press 32 1.2 50
4 m Power Harrow Drill 30 1.6 37.5
Rolls 10 4.0 15
Totals £ 72 102.5 mins