One-pass approach cuts grassland reseeding costs
A one-pass approach to grassland reseeding can cut establishment costs by up to 41%, while also reducing fuel use, labour requirements and soil compaction, according to machinery specialist Opico.
The company has compared traditional multi-pass reseeding methods with an approach using an Alpego Inversa rotary tiller combined with a Stocks Ag seeder.
Traditional reseeding can involve ploughing, power harrowing, rolling, harrowing and seeding, followed by a further rolling pass to achieve good seed-to-soil contact.
By combining cultivation and seeding, the Inversa system can complete the operation in a single pass.
“With fuel at such a high price, farmers are on the lookout for reducing costs and simplifying grassland reseeds,” says Glenn Bootman, Alpego Product Manager. “By using the Inversa fitted with a Stocks seeder, all the jobs involved in a traditional approach are combined, reducing the intensity of the operation, significantly reducing labour requirements and fuel consumption.”
Opico’s cost comparison, based on contractor charges from the 2026 Nix Farm Management Pocketbook, indicates potential savings of between 35% and 41%, depending on the traditional reseeding system used.
The Inversa works by rotating in the opposite direction to a conventional rotary tiller. Soil is lifted over the rotor and passed through two rows of spring-loaded screening tines. Stones, clods and crop residues are deposited beneath finer soil, creating a seedbed designed to provide good seed-to-soil contact while retaining drainage through the buried stone layer.
The manufacturer says its centralised rotor drive distributes torque more evenly and uses four rotor support bearings to reduce shaft flex and driveline loading.
Three ranges cover working widths from 2.5m to 5m, for tractors from 90hp to 280hp. Seeder mounting kits are also available for fields where shallow soils prevent conventional ploughing.
The combination is intended to provide a single-pass alternative for establishing new grass leys while reducing the number of machinery passes across the field.
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