Direct drill unveiled at Groundswell
OPICO used this year’s Groundswell event to introduce a new version of its Simtech TJG300 direct drill, featuring a larger 1,000-litre Stocks Ag steel hopper designed to increase productivity by reducing refill stops while maintaining the versatility of the existing pneumatic direct drill range.
Displayed publicly for the first time at the regenerative farming event, the new 3m-wide drill was launched at a time when applications under England’s FETF44 Direct Drill Grant scheme were beginning to translate into machinery purchases. The new specification qualified for the grant, making it eligible for up to 50% funding, with a maximum grant payment of £15,067.
The TJG300 features 20 spring-loaded opener discs mounted on 150mm spacings and is equipped with a pressurised 1,000-litre steel hopper supplied by Stocks Ag. Interchangeable feed block rollers allow operators to switch between sowing arable crops, grass seed, cover crops and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) mixes. When fitted with the optional high-capacity fan and feed block, the drill can apply seed rates of up to 320kg/ha.
Alongside the new model, OPICO demonstrated the TJG300 equipped with the smaller 400-litre Stocks Turbo Jet hopper, highlighting the flexibility of the Simtech range for different farming systems. The line-up also includes the 2.4m TJG240, which uses the same operating principles in a more compact format.
A defining feature of the Simtech drills remains the patented T-Slot seeding system. An opener disc works ahead of the distinctive Z Tip coulter to create a 40mm-wide inverted T-slot, placing seed into a protected micro-environment intended to promote rapid germination while preserving soil structure. According to OPICO, the system performs effectively in both grassland renovation and arable crop establishment, particularly under challenging wet or dry conditions.
Seed metering is handled by the Stocks Ag Turbo Jet system, controlled through the company’s 4.3-inch i-CON touchscreen controller, which provides forward-speed-related rate control. Variable-rate application is available through prescription mapping, while ISOBUS control can also be specified. Customers can choose between 400-litre and 1,000-litre hopper capacities depending on their workload and crop requirements.
In addition to launching the new drill, OPICO confirmed that replacement parts for both current and legacy Simtech machines had been made available through its MyOPICO online ordering platform, enabling owners to order genuine replacement parts directly.
The Simtech TJG300 fitted with the 400-litre Turbo Jet i-CON hopper carries a recommended retail price of £22,864, while the new 1,000-litre version is expected to appeal to growers seeking longer working intervals and wishing to take advantage of available FETF grant funding.
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