Finally, an all till drill that proves itself as a great allrounder!
There are many direct drills on the market but the John Deere 750A All Till Drill offers excellent results in standing cover crop, stubble and cultivated soil.
Tried and Tested
For several years we have used the John Deere 750A drill across a large geographical area and a range of ground. Its primary role as a no till drill is where it excels, disturbing minimal ground and placing seed at an even depth.
We’ve seen great results using the drill through standing cover crop. Controlling the 750A on the coulter unit itself we can cut through the crops and place seeds at the desired depth. And, whilst its capability to drill through cover crop is impressive it is when drilling in stubble that you get to witness the drill in action, seeing the seeding units running through the ground.
Not only does the 750A perform well in a range of conditions but the ease with which you can change types of drilling is notable. We tried the 750A on consecutive fields and it moved easily between stubble and cultivated soil with no alteration necessary. The crop emergence has proved good and very even in a range of cereal crops and OSR.
It has also been reported that this machine is great for drilling into stale seedbeds created for Blackgrass control, where unnecessary soil movement could encourage further competitive weed seed germination and subsequent yield loss.
Other Great Advantages
Combine the 750A with the spoked gauge wheel and serrated cast closing wheel and you have the complete John Deere unit. This model allows you to drill in more tilthy soil as it can pass through the wheel and doesn’t build up, a great advantage for those wanting this drill to perform in many different situations.
Another advantage of the all till drill is the low horse power requirement. The 6m drill requires a 150hp tractor so you can really minimise running costs and get the job done in all but the worst conditions. The low horse power requirements alongside a reduction in the tyre pressure needed means that the 750A can be run for less than 10l per hour whilst achieving speeds of up to 15km/h.
The Features
We’ve talked about the advantages of the 750A but what are some of the key features that produce these results?
The 750A boasts seeding depths from 13 to 90mm. Seed is applied at a rate of 1 to over 400kg/ha via a central 1000 litre hopper and single metering system on the 3m version, 1800 litre hopper and single metering system on the 4m unit, or a 2300 litre hopper and twin metering units on the 6m model, which folds down to 3m for transport.
A single 46cm angled disc opens the furrow at 16.6cm row spacings, and has a depth gauge wheel mounted alongside providing excellent seeding depth control. A semi pneumatic press wheel pushes the seed to the bottom of the furrow for perfect seed to soil contact, and a cast iron closing wheel completes the job. There are 18 openers on the 3m model, 24 on the 4m and 36 on the 6m version.
There is also adjustable hydraulic down pressure of up to 250kg, although typically this would be below 50kg for most situations, which independently control each seeding assembly to handle the toughest soil and crop residue conditions. Other features include row marker and automatic tramline systems, micro metering for fine seeds, and an integral two-point hitch.
Conclusion
Overall, we have been impressed with the 750A All Till Drill from John Deere and have put it through its paces. It provides good outcomes in a wide range of situations and has proved itself a great allrounder.
By Tim Thornton, Agricultural Sales, P Tuckwell Ltd.
