Test: the latest evolution of the Taege 6m air seeder
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Farm Trader discovers the latest technology and innovation behind the Taege air seeder. This Kiwi-made seeder is constantly evolving to adapt to the demands of New Zealand conditions.
Many readers will no doubt be familiar with the Taege air seeder, as it has been extensively put through its paces previously in Farm Trader. This is the second time I have tested it and fellow machinery tester Brent Lilley has also cast his eye over it, so what's new?
These machines look relatively simple (and they are), but they are also dripping with technology – all designed and made in-house by Taege, to the point where it does all its own electrics but outsource some of the fabrication work, instead of the other way around which is generally the case.
This test machine is owned by Mehrtens Ag Services in Oxford. The business runs a number of drills and has owned Taege drills for decades. However they wanted a large Taege drill, and have been hounding the Taege team for years. The key requirement was for the machine's simplicity and ability to cover ground quickly and cost-effectively (particularly for applying fert) as well as offering a backup for the other large disc and roller drills in its fleet.
During the test, driver Adam Green was at the helm of the Claas Arion 650. The project is a 200 hectare resowing job for the King family, where Gavin and his son Dougal are converting the 370-hectare sheep and beef property into a 1000-cow dairy farm, complete with six pivot irrigators, a new 80 bail rotary cowshed and associated infrastructure, all within reach of Canterbury's new water scheme which conveniently runs right through the middle of the property.
The Kings are not unfamiliar with the Taege drill themselves. In fact, they had one of the originals, which has been upgraded to a 3.6m version, as well as various other Taege gear. However, they specifically wanted the farm drilled with a Taege machine because of the results they have achieved over the years themselves.
Key features
Phased rams: This ensures all rams lift simultaneously at the headland which creates a nice finish both at the headland and the start/end of each run.
S-tynes: The tyne mounting allows 200mm of travel when on an angle and is the biggest breakthrough for the Taege drill. They create a shacking effect for excellent trash clearing and bite into very hard ground which would only be possible with very heavy disc drills and hydraulic down pressure.
These are fitted with tungsten tips which are very hard wearing and when compared to disc drills in terms of running costs per ha drills the difference between them is thousands, probably tens of thousands of dollars.
Tyne spacing: 49 tynes on the six-metre air seeder with 121mm spacing gives a total drilling width of 5.93 metres while still folding to three metres for transport.
Ram spacing: A number of different sized clip-ons go on the ram and with various different combinations on the rams (the inner rams are larger) can give drilling depth control to within three millimetres between clip combinations.
Tyne harrow: tyre roller optional extras.
Metering system: A combination of stainless steel, foam and plastic components in the metering system means corrosive and abrasive fertiliser will not cause any damage.
Hydraulic fan: The fan has a soft start valve which will not let any more oil the 47L/min through which will ensure the hydraulic drive motor will last for years longer as it will not be stationary one second and the next have 150L/min at 200 bar from the tractors hydraulics. A direct benefit of this also reduces the need for a cooler as the oil requirements (given between half and two-thirds) are sent straight back to the tractor.
Calibration
Existing Taege drill owners will vouch for this, but the ability to calibrate the drill within 30 seconds electronically within this price bracket can be put simply – it is a luxury. It is a simple and accurate process, which is due to the technology developed in-house and the accuracy of the sponge seed rollers.
Calibration is as follows:
Open the stainless steel grate on the venturi, place the small metal bagging shoot in the open slot and place the nice purple seed tray underneath.
Select the sowing rate (kg/ha on the monitor) and hit the prime button on the monitor (which plugs in by the hopper so you don't have to run in and out of the cab). All the prime button does is ensure the metering system is primed with product.
Empty the priming discharge into the hopper so the seed tray is empty.
Hit the calibrate button on the monitor, this will automatically discharge material for 20 seconds (although this can be altered as small seeds you would want to discharge for 40 odd seconds to have a more accurate weigh sample).
Weigh the contents and punch this number into the monitor, you are ready to drill, it really is that simple, no charts, calculators or even maths, it simply works it all out for you however for a simple check of accuracy Taege recommend you do one more step.
Hit run on the drill and manually turn the ground wheel the replicate 100th of a ha on the monitor and weigh the contents, if you wanted 25kg/ha and you have 250g you are bang on and now you are 100 percent certain you have the correct calibration and are confident to go drilling.
The verdict
There is no denying this machine is a very cost effective way of covering the ground quickly with average work rates of 4.5ha/hr in uncultivated ground. The machine is cost-effective in the respect that it has a significantly lower cost of ownership than its disc drill counterparts in both initial outlay and running costs per hectare.
There is no denying this drill has a considerable amount of technology. In my opinion, in some areas this is actually better than the larger, heavier and more expensive European drills. Given that it is Kiwi-made and they are doing a bloody good job of it, with exciting things to come in the future, why wouldn't you support them?
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