New Crop Establishment Kit at Cereals 2025
UK agricultural machinery manufacturer Claydon , a specialist in direct drilling technology with its Opti-Till® crop establishment system,will exhibit the latest additions to its range of Opti-Till® crop establishment machinery at Cereals 2025 (11-12 June, Heath Farm, Leadenham, Lincolnshire).
The Claydon stand (Number 1016) will feature the company’s new NutriSeeder, which enables farmers to establish cover crops easily and economically, fitted to a 7.5m Straw Harrow. Claydon will also show its latest 4m Drill Toolbar and Twin Hopper Front Tank with press wheels, together with the new Mole Drainer. Other equipment will include a 6m Hybrid T6 trailed direct drill, a 3m 3MF Grain and Fertiliser drill, a 4m TerraBlade inter-row hoe and a 6m TerraStar ground-driven light rotary cultivator
David Furber, Claydon’s Sales Manager for the UK and ROI, states: “We will use the event to showcase our ability to offer flexible seed/fertiliser placement, meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes and those who are growing companion crops. The fact that also we have this option available on our 3m M3F Evolution and 6m T6 trailed drills demonstrates how we can offer flexible drilling systems that can benefit the soil structure and crops.
New NutriSeeder
Given the increasing interest in regenerative farming, cover and companion crops the NutriSeeder, which has been proven on the Claydon family’s arable farm, will be a popular addition to the range. Two versions are available for the Claydon Straw Harrow, a single 200-litre hopper with a single metering mechanism, or a twin-hopper design with dual metering systems. The latter allows two types of seed to be applied at the same time and mixed in the distribution head, providing higher capacity and more accurate metering whilst avoiding seed separation in the hopper.
Both NutriSeeder models incorporate a hydraulic fan and electronic control with forward speed rate mechanism. On headlands, the NutriSeeder is started and stopped by the operator, as best practice is to leave the Straw Harrow down so as not to release weed seeds or drop clumps of straw.
Fitting different metering wheels/sections enables seed rates to be adjusted up to 30kg/ha for wheat, 15kg/ha for grass seed and 25kg/ha for cover crop mixes, at a forward speed of 15kph. Eight spreader plates at the front of the Straw Harrow distribute seed evenly in front of the implement’s standard 14mm or optional 16mm-diameter tines which create a shallow tilth up to 30mm deep, ensuring good seed to soil contact.
Prices of the Claydon NutriSeeder, which incorporates an integrated loading platform that makes it easy to fill the hopper(s) from a safe height, start at £11,995 for the single hopper version and £15,495 for the twin-hopper model.
Evolution Front Hopper
With a total capacity of 2750 litres, split 45/55%, the Evolution Front Hopper is pressurised to ensure reliable high-volume material delivery to the rear distribution heads. Twin metering units deliver either mixed or separated seed/fertiliser flows to the rear-mounted drill, a simple airline box selector diverting the flow of material to the distribution pipes or combining the total output into one pipe. An ISOCAN terminal controls all front hopper functions and allows variable rate seeding, depending on the task controller and licence key.
ISOBUS compatible, the Evolution Front Hopper costs £27,291, is supplied with small, medium or large diameter interchangeable metering wheels to suit a wide range of seeds and fertilisers. Weighing 730kg, it measures 2476mm wide, 1803mm high and 1619mm long, incorporates two hopper sensors providing ‘low level’ and ‘empty’ warnings, a toolbox and foldable front footstep. Options include 550kg of ballast, packer wheels with passive steering and wheel scrapers and a light-vision kit with front work lights, two external and two tank cameras.
Evolution Drill Toolbar
The Evolution Drill Toolbar can be used in conjunction with the Evolution Front Hopper and is available in widths of 3m, 4m, 4.5m, 4.8m, 5m or 6m, costing from £32,871 To £65,178. The standard specification includes one distribution head with 38mm seed delivery hoses, but a second distribution head can be optioned, allowing fertiliser to be supplied to either the front leading tine or rear seeding tine.
Mole Drainer
The new single-leg Claydon Mole Drainer combines the benefits of mounted and trailed designs without the drawbacks of either. Enabling mole drains to be formed easily and accurately, its user-friendly design allows easy adjustment and even on very heavy land it can be handled by a well-ballasted 200hp tractor.
Mounted on the tractor’s rear three-point linkage the implement features a long, narrow beam which allows the 75mm-diameter mole bullet and following 100mm ceramic expander to run parallel, producing a uniform, stable channel at the correct depth and angle. The design also avoids excessive friction between the beam and soil surface, minimising draft requirement and fuel use.
The unique oscillating headstock features a swivel joint which makes the Claydon Mole Drainer extremely easy to manoeuvre and allows it to reach further into headland ditches or over drains. The narrow beam is held in the upright position, so there is no need for outrunner skids and the angle of the bullet can be precisely adjusted. Locked in place by a steel wedge, the blade pivots on three pins and the bullet angle is controlled by the narrow 200mm-wide front skid, allowing mole draining through standing crops with little damage.
Chains linking the oscillating headstock to the beam allow the tractor to turn easily and progressively lift the beam, enabling the mole to ski out of the ground gently with minimal soil disturbance.
Priced at £8,495, the specification includes mounting hooks for a spare blade and a toolbox, a lighting kit being optional.
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