New electric-drive air seeder launched by Spaldings

A new electric-drive air seeder for grass seed, cover crops and oilseed rape has been launched by UK agri equipment supplier Spaldings.

Intended for mounting on subsoilers, cultivators, rollers and harrows, the Vento 8 pneumatic seeder is a new implement from German manufacturer Lehner. It distributes seed, as well as granular herbicides, from up to eight splash-plate outlets for widths of up to 6m.

According to Spaldings, the newly-launched Vento 8 comes with a frame for mounting on a subsoiler or cultivator for “low-cost” sowing of oilseed rape and cover crops. It is claimed it can also be mounted on a roller (set of rolls) or a flexible tine harrow – to broadcast grass seed for establishing a new ley or for pasture rejuvenation.

The seeder has a 230L steel hopper with a seed level sensor and full-width agitator. The cartridge-type metering roller can be pulled out, either for cleaning or to reconfigure the cell rings for different seeds and granules.

There are three cell sizes available for grass, cover crops or oilseed rape, and for granular herbicides. Also, blank segments can be put in or taken out for different working widths.

Spaldings Product Development Coordinator, Alex Smith, explained: “We currently sell a simpler seeding system but growers increasingly want something a bit more sophisticated that’s still easy to use.”

There is a 12V electric drive motor that, according to the distributor, is capable of a “broad” range of metering roller speeds and application rates – with “consistent rates across changing ground speeds allowed through automatic control – using GPS or a speed signal from the tractor”.

Another notable feature is the seed rate, which can be changed “on the move” with a turn-and-click dial on the control box to compensate for aspects that could impact on establishment, such as rough seedbeds. This can also be used to change fan speed to suit seed type and working width.

A maximum of 20 calibration settings for different seeds and granules can be stored, and other elements such as: power consumption and supply voltage; operating hours; single job and accumulated area readings; and a symbol that lets you know metering roller rotation is on, are all displayed on the controller.

Spaldings quotes a price of £4,975 (€5,670) for the Vento 8, which includes: the mounting frame; control panel and cabling; 25m of flexible pipe; and eight stainless steel broadcasting deflectors.

Metering rollers in four sizes – from 2.5cm³ to 20cm³ – are also available. In addition, a headland management system is available. Forward speed can be controlled through the option of a 7-pin data cable and a signal from either GPS or the tractor.