A survey of farmers has found that although disc seeders have had their share of teething problems, growers who have made the switch from traditional knife-points remain convinced of making long-term gains.
University of South Australia sustainable farming systems researcher, Jack Desbiolles, said a 2007 survey of farmers using disc seeders found that while there were a number of drawbacks, producers believed the long-term benefits of going to a zero-till cropping system using disc openers more than outweighed the negatives.
Dr Desbiolles said overall cropping system benefits, due to the disc seeders’ improved ability to get through crop residue when planting the next year, was the major deciding factor in converting across to discs.
The Grains Research and Develop-ment Corporation (GRDC) supported survey into the use of disc seeders found 95 per cent of those using discs used them to plant into retained standing stubble.
“The ability to retain stubble, and by extension, retain groundcover is one of the key drivers in people using disc seeders,” Dr Desbiolles said.
Full story in The Land January 21.
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