A DEMO day near Lancefield has introduced NDF's no-till disc seeder to local croppers.
Pulled through a heavy stubble at Sir Rupert Clarke's property, the two-disc machine cut through thick stubble and combine residue.
Its management of heavy stubble loads also raised the possibility of croppers using the residual moisture to sow a secondary forage or cereal crop post harvest.
Bulla farmer Alan McKenzie said he was interested to compare the NDF no-till with his minimum-till tined approach. He plans to run coulters in front of his Gason seeder this season.
"We're not looking to change at this stage because of the money involved, but we're obviously interested in getting better crops."
The NDF has a large, free-wheeling disc - considered critical to managing heavy stubble. It cuts a slot from 15mm to 35mm deep.
NDF's Andrew Garwood said there had been huge interest in disc machines. "The technology is becoming more the norm for minimum or no tillage," he said.
The Lancefield demonstration was an example of what could be done with a no-till, disc-seeding approach.
Soil moisture from the retained stubble was sufficient to sow a secondary crop, Andrew said.
"In this country, it won't pull the rocks up, it retains the benefit of the stubble left standing so you can come back and inter-row sow it the following season and it locks in the moisture," he said.
"Part of our challenge is, perhaps, convincing farmers not to buy twice. We're not the cheapest and it's probably a price well above most, but with this you'll be sowing with it for more than a decade."
NDF wants farmers to make an informed decision.
"If you are prepared to pay for a quality Australian build, then you are probably better off. Any ground engaging or seeding equipment decision should be a 10-year investment," Andrew said.
NDF wants to get further involved in research groups as it takes small steps in its expansion.
"We're only a small company and we are fitting in days like this wherever we can," Andrew said.
"We'll certainly make smaller machines if there is a call for it - we can make discs from 4m to 24m and anything in between."
For more details, see ndf.com.au or phone Andrew on 0427 692 063.
