Deere debuts largest air-seeder

John Deere's 23m (76ft) air hoe drill is the latest addition to its 1870 air seeder range, which currently includes a 12m and 17m model.

John Deere Seeding Group Marketing Manager John Peters says this wider air seeder integrates the latest in precision placement, depth and pressure control and other enhancements into "one of the most rugged, dynamic air seeders on the market today".

"The new 76ft model 1870 offers a time-saving 36 per cent increase in seeding width, better residue flow capabilities, and improved seeding and fertiliser placement and control," he says.

"Also, with the new retractable openers for easier servicing and improved transport, customers will gain more productivity when seeding small grains and oil seeds.

"When combined with a John Deere air cart and used on rolling, undulating terrain, this is one of the most accurate, productive air seeding systems available."

The 23m 1870 is a five-section seeder with 12-inch row spacing that is compatible with John Deere's 430 bushel tow-between and 430 or 550 bushel tow-behind seed carts.

It has a greater frame height and 56 inches of spacing between each rank – which John Deere claims is nearly 20 inches more space than other seeders – to help move residue through without clogging.

The new 1870 air seeder also features a floating front hitch and wings with a 25-degree flex range. High-floatation tyres installed inside the high-clearance frame are standard and are designed to provide better ground following and drill-to-soil contact for improved accuracy of seed placement when covering hilly, undulating terrain.

Another standard feature on the new model is the TruSet depth and pressure control. The system allows the operator to monitor, set and adjust trip force and packing pressure from the comfort of their tractor cab. It also makes side-to-side frame levelling easier, says John Deere.

Controlled through John Deere's GreenStar 2630 display, operators can set target seeding depth and adjust it 'on the go', saving time and making it easier to fine-tune settings as field and soil conditions change.

Another new feature on the 23m air seeder is John Deere's Relative Flow blockage system, which allows the operator to monitor the relative flow rate of both seed and fertiliser from the cab.

"Sensors on the primary and secondary hoses and an easy-to-read display help ensure proper seed and fertiliser flow across the drill, from opener to opener," Peters says.

For improved seed and fertiliser placement, the 1870 has independent hydraulic controls and openers for consistent seed placement and fertiliser separation.

Fertiliser can be banded six inches deep and seed tubes can be adjusted in 7mm increments. A new cam lever on each opener makes it easier for the operator to adjust seed depth across the entire seeder.

John Deere has also designed the 23m seeder for easier folding and transportation. It folds down completely in two minutes and the retractable openers narrow the folded width to 7m. The ability to retract the openers also makes servicing easier.

For easier transportation of the machine, John Deere has included 'bump up' and 'duck down' features. These allow customers to increase ground clearance by four inches to clear obstacles like railway tracks, and duck down by six inches to clear low hanging power lines or overpasses.

To help speed up planting and headland turns, full rise of the seeder has been optimised to 7.5 seconds.

John Deere has also updated its 1910 air carts to further boost productivity to the 1870 air seeder line-up.

The air carts now feature a new Air Power 2 dual fan option that delivers up to 249kg of total product per acre across the full width of the air seeder, using two independently controlled fans. The large, cast aluminium design and increased fan size allows higher-capacity performance, especially when operating on slopes or hilly terrain.

"From the strong, lattice structure frame to the retractable openers to the integrated software technology, the all-new 76ft 1870, combined with our updated 1910 Air Carts, help producers plant small grains and canola faster and more accurately than ever before," Peters says.

"This air seeder is the most significant addition to our air seeding portfolio in recent years."

Find out more about John Deere's 1870 air seeders on www.johndeere.com.au.