For over 100 years, Underhaug have been manufacturing and exporting an impressive range of premium agricultural equipment from their base in Norway, with a focus on simple, long-lasting equipment.

From their experience of dealing with Irish farmers, Top Chem recognised an opportunity in the marketplace for direct seeding equipment.

After studying seeding methods and manufacturers worldwide, they became Underhaug distributors for Ireland and Scotland in 2022.

The Underhaug Direct Seed Drill can sow all kinds of grass seed and most herb seeds.

It is the seed size that limits its use - ordinary grain seed is too large for the feed rollers.

On surface-cultivated grassland, it can be difficult to perform tillage - a direct seed drill is the answer.

Stones just below the surface are not an issue for the Underhaug seed drill - the spring-loaded seed coulters oscillate freely and slide easily over such obstacles.

The seed drill is also well suited for sowing specialist seed varieties in existing crops, such as clover in clover-poor meadows.

It is also useful for sowing herbs and other vegetable varieties for organic farming.

Its unique seed coulters consist of ‘skids’ with two slots that have sharp adjustable coulters, which offer adjustable ground pressure.

The coulter pressure is adjustable from 10kg upwards by means of a spring on each coulter arm and hydraulic depth wheels (standard equipment on all machines).

Each skid has two longitudinal slots, with a hardened steel knife in front of each that can be adjusted up or down to achieve desired sowing depth.

The seed is dropped straight into the rows created by the sharp coulters and this system has proven to be more successful than ordinary coulters.

In addition, the adjustable coulters avoid ripping up loose soil, stones, and plant residues.

The seed drill is equipped with a seed hopper featuring feed rollers. Each seed hopper has 26, 42, 50, and 66 outlets (1.5m, 2.5m, 3m or 4m machine), respectively.

The seed rate is set centrally and steplessly from 0-50kg/ha (5kg/0.1ha).

As the thousand grain mass varies quite a lot across grain types, it is recommended to calibrate the seed rate setting before starting the seeding operation.

For the metering system with displaceable feed roller, the amount of seed discharged depends on both how long the feed roller is pushed into the housing and on how fast the roller rotates.

If the feed roller rotates too fast, the roller starts to ‘cheat’ because it rotates so fast that the seed does not fill the grooves in the rollers completely. The seed rollers are driven via a chain by a land wheel.

It is not recommended to drive faster than 6-7km/h, which corresponds to 1.5-1.75ha/h for a 2.5m machine and 1.8-2.1ha/h for a 3m machine.

The seed drill is available in four working widths from 1.5m to 3m.

The UM7942 has 21 seeding units, with a total of 42 coulters, 42 rows, and a row spacing at 6cm. Working width is 2.5m.

The UM7950 has 25 seeding units with a total of 50 coulters, 50 rows, and a working width of 3m. Otherwise, the four machines are the same.

The knives are adjustable, with a recommended cutting depth of 2.5cm.

The simple and yet very functional Underhaug Um 6030 grass seed drill is a direct replacement for the well-known Fiona seed box and is suitable for seeding or reseeding grassland, existing pastures, lawns, etc.

It is delivered as standard with three-point linkage and an adjustable rear harrow. The seed hopper has an effective agitator shaft for precision seeding even on hilly ground.

The drive is transferred via chain drive to the feed rollers and the feed rate can be adjusted using a simple wheel.  With a choice of two speeds, the rear harrow is easily adjusted with pins either side.

This seeder can also be attached onto a power harrow for one pass operations and is available in 2.5m and 3m working widths.

Top Chem Ltd, originally known as Hilltop Engineering & Agri Supplies, are well-known across Ireland for their unique range of dairy hygiene products, which are distributed from their premises in both Belturbet in Co. Cavan and Derrylin in Co. Fermanagh.

Three years after becoming the Unerhaug distributor in both Ireland and Scotland and with over 40 machines sold locally, Top Chem are very pleased with both the build quality and performance of the machines and the level of support from Unerhaug.

The company feels the machine has a key role to play for all farmers seeking to improve grass quality for both grazing and silage production.

For further details please contact Garreth Lunney on +447973429127 or +442867742751 (office hours).

See us at the Ploughing, Block 3 Row 17 Stand 333.