For one Herefordshire farmer and contractor, switching to the striptill drill system has seen improved soil health and drought resistance.
Prior to Mzuri, soil erosion was horrendous and the farmer remembers having to use a 21-tonne digger in a potato field to put the top soil back where it should be. Five years into striptill drilling, and the soil has changed unrecognizably, with inceased worm activity, improvements to water infiltration and more of a loam-like texture to the previously sandy soils.
Farmers Guardian reports.
For one Herefordshire farmer and contractor, switching to the striptill drill system has seen improved soil health and drought resistance.
Prior to Mzuri, soil erosion was horrendous and the farmer remembers having to use a 21-tonne digger in a potato field to put the top soil back where it should be. Five years into striptill drilling, and the soil has changed unrecognizably, with inceased worm activity, improvements to water infiltration and more of a loam-like texture to the previously sandy soils.
The Pro-Til Xzact striptill precision seeder by British manufacturer Mzuri Ltd, has won not one but two prestigious trophies at this year’s LAMMA Innovation Awards whereas the Mzuri Razorback self-levelling hedgecutter was awarded a Certificate of Merit.
The innovative seeder was chosen to be the winner of the ‘Best Product or Innovation for the Environment’ Category and awarded the IAgrE Ivel Trophy for its positive impact on the environment. The high standard of engineering and innovation of the Pro-Til Xzact was further acknowledged by the judges with the product going on to become the Overall Winner of the Awards and receiving the David Baggaley Memorial Cup.
Environmentally-friendly technology offers savings and improves soil
Marking a huge advance in seeding technology, the innovative Mzuri Pro-Til Xzact combines a striptill drill and a precision seeder in just one piece of equipment, meaning that one drill can now seed all types of arable and precision crops – in a single pass.
Pro-Til Xzact delivers exceptional seeding accuracy, typically awarded by conventional precision seeding drills, in a form of a single pass drill. The precision striptill approach eliminates ploughing and power-harrowing operations which are widely recognised as huge contributors to erosion and loss of moisture.
Capable of drilling straight into previous crop residue, the Pro-Til Xzact precision striptill drill has been proven to retain moisture, reduce soil and water erosion and improve soil structure whilst cutting diesel requirement by up to 80% compared with conventional seeding – without penalty to the yields.
The Xzact system features an electronic precision seeding unit and coulter assembly to deliver single seed placement whilst the constant hydraulic pressure exerted onto each coulter arm ensures the seeding depth accuracy.
The system uses adjustable-pressure vacuum metering to accurately space crops, regardless of the seed size. Each unit contains a metering disc and a singulator to prevent skips or doubles and is driven by an electric motor which maintains the same seeding distance at variable speeds.
The mini hoppers on the Pro-Til Xzact drill are automatically replenished by a bulk fill mechanism on each metering unit directly from the Pro-Til’s main 2800 litre seeding tank, thus extending the drilling time and reducing downtime.
Reduced operator fatigue and outgoings with Mzuri Razorback
Mzuri’s second entry, the Razorback self-levelling rotary hedgecutter, was also recognised with a Certificate of Merit in the ‘Best Product or Innovation in Technology’ Category.
Incorporating innovative self-levelling technology, Razorback is a rotary hedgecutter with smart Co-Pilot device that delivers increased productivity, ease of use and superior results.
Track record of innovation
Speaking of LAMMA Innovation Awards 2018, Martin Lole, Managing Director at Mzuri Ltd said: “We are delighted to have won the prestigeous IAgrE Ivel and David Baggaley Memorial Trophies this year. As a manufacturer of conservation equipment, soil and wildlife preservation have always been high on our agenda. We pride ourselves in producing highly engineered products that last and make our customers’ operations more efficient, whilst preserving the land for future generations. Pro-Til Xzact and Razorback designs build on years of innovation at Mzuri, with the company receiving a number of international awards over the past few years.”
Mzuri, a British producer of specialist agricultural machinery, will be showcasing its two latest innovations at LAMMA 2018. Visitors to Mzuri’s stand G41 will be able to see the new Pro-Til 3T Xzact one pass drill and the self-levelling Razorback Auto-Level 550 rotary hedgecutter.
State-of-the-art hedgecutting technology as standard
Featuring vertical-axis rotary design and self-levelling Co-Pilot technology, the Razorback Auto-Level 550 hedgecutter has been designed to reduce operator fatigue, increase productivity and reduce cost. The 1.5-metre-wide head incorporates a SoftStart triple rotor and additional mulching blades which are in continuous contact with vegetation during the entire 360° cycle, resulting in a much cleaner and faster cut and chopping action.
Razorback’s Auto-Level Co-Pilot technology ensures that the main frame of the machine remains level at all times, irrespective of the tractor angle in relation to the undulating ground. Subsequently, the requirement to make manual adjustments to account for the unevenness of the terrain is significantly reduced, making for a much easier, trouble-free operation.
The high-end specification comes as standard and includes a 1.5m wide, 5.5m reach head with hydraulically controlled front hood and rear roller, the Auto-Level Co-Pilot device with electronic proportional controls and a fully independent hydraulic system with an oil cooler.
Seed placement accuracy and cost savings from Pro-Til 3T Xzact one pass drill
Pro-Til 3T Xzact, Mzuri’s second innovation to be presented at the show, combines the accuracy of seed placement of a conventional precision seeder with the benefits of a Mzuri one pass striptill drill which include moisture retention, improvements to soil condition and significant fuel and time savings.
The Xzact precision technology is an optional extra that can be fitted to most Mzuri’s Pro-Til standard models, thus broadening their versatility to include crops such as grain and forage maize, sunflower and soya. The machine can be just as easily converted back to a striptill drill.
The Xzact conversion features an electronic precision seeding unit and coulter assembly to deliver single seed placement whilst the constant hydraulic pressure exerted onto each coulter arm ensures the seeding depth accuracy.
The system uses adjustable-pressure vacuum metering to accurately space crops, regardless of the seed size. Each unit contains a metering disc and a singulator to prevent skips or doubles and is driven by an electric motor which maintains the same seeding distance at variable speeds.
Unlike with conventional precision seeders, the mini hoppers on the Pro-Til 3T Xzact drill are automatically replenished by a bulk fill mechanism on each metering unit directly from the Pro-Til’s main tank, thus extending the drilling time and reducing downtime.
A retrofit kit has allowed Mzuri to add precision seeding to its repertoire. Precision seeding can now also be specified as an optional extra on new Mzuri Pro-Til 3T and 4T Select models.
The drill offers exceptionally accurate seed placement, quicker establishment through moisture conservation and a huge reduction in establishment costs. Find out how this latest innovation could change the landscape of precision seeding.
Farmers Weekly reports.
Being a mixed farmer is quite a juggle at the best of times. Throw into the mix the additional challenges of land distances, the extremes of sandy and heavy soils, managing a hairy herd and rearing beef cattle, then time efficiencies become even more of a priority.
Find out how switching to Mzuri strip tillage has helped Alex Felgate of Tindall Farm on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk to ease his mixed farm pressures.
Farmers Guide reports.