New air drill set to be a ‘game changer’

Butt joints are out and interlocking frame technology is in as the creators of Morris’ new air drill boldly label it a “game changer”.

Seeding specialist Morris unveiled the air seeder last week at the Canada Farm Progress Show, saying it had been tested across more than 10,000ha of land in Australia this season.

McIntosh Distribution director Cam McIntosh’s company is in charge of distributing the machine.

He said it was set to be a game changer for the durability of seeding equipment bars in Australia.

The seeder uses patent-pending, interlocking frame technology instead of butt joints, which Mr McIntosh said made it more than 150 per cent stronger than previous drills.

He said the strength, coupled with increased weight and stronger openers featuring 2.5cm chrome pins, would allow farmers to “dig deeper”.

Mr McIntosh said other key features included improved shank spacing options, 75 per cent less parts and 60 per cent less weldments and large single floatation tyres.

It also has 3m controlled traffic capability with metric spacing, 5.4m transport width, and a one piece packer arm.

Mr McIntosh said as well as the Australian trials, the machine had been “torture tested” across 800ha of stony country in Canada “without fault”.

“Due to the dry start of the season (in Australia) this year, it was some of the toughest conditions farmers had ever worked tillage into,” he said.

“There was absolutely no moisture down at depth, and it worked for them extremely well. On 30cm spacings, they were working 10cm deep and seeding at 1.5-2cm, and they were consistently achieving that in a wide variety of conditions.”

Morris Industries chief executive officer Ben Voss said the Quantum air drill represented a massive shift from the company’s earlier approach.

“That said, it comes to market built with the same practical, hands-on producer learnings that have been a foundation of our company,” he said.

He said the state-of-the-art air drill would deliver improved durability, productivity and agronomic performance.

“We have developed an air drill with significantly improved frame strength,” he said.

In addition to the frame technology, the new 10x15cm tubular frames of the Quantum are connected with chrome pins that are 27 per cent larger than those used before.

The redesigned heavy-duty hitch uses 20 per cent more steel than previous hitches and is connected to the frame with chrome pins that fit into hardened steel bushings.

Morris Corporate agronomist Garth Massie said the design and manufacturing improvements would allow farmers to plant more hectares per day and deliver agronomic benefits.

To find out more, visit innovationunearthed.com