Giltrap Ag’s Duncan Kiwifruit Seeder is a purpose-designed and built seeder specifically for the requirements of orchardists, in particular, the kiwifruit industry
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The new Duncan Kiwifruit seed drill is ideal for tree crops with low branches
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Giltrap Ag’s Duncan Kiwifruit Seeder is a purpose-designed and built seeder specifically for the requirements of orchardists, in particular, the kiwifruit industry.
While it’s some years ago now that Giltrap Ag developed the Duncan Vineyard Seeder, a narrow disc drill designed — as the name suggests — to sow cover crops between rows in vineyards, this machine was well received and led kiwifruit growers to enquire about a lower, wider version that would work in their applications. The result is the Duncan Kiwifruit Seeder.
The Kiwifruit Seeder is a gravity-fed seed drill that is just 1480mm high and comes in working widths of 1650mm (11 rows) or 2100mm (14 rows).
Featuring Duncan double disc setups, Giltrap Ag national sales manager Matt Moodie the double discs are ideal for horticultural work because they can sow into a range of soil types and cut through small branches, prunings, shallow roots, and other trash.
“The new Kiwifruit Seeder is ideal for working under kiwifruit canopies or in orchards or other horticultural operations that have low branches. It’s also a good option for lifestyle farmers who want to sow small paddocks.
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The Duncan Kiwifruit Seeder has double discs that can sow into a range of soil types and cut through small branches and other trash
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“It can handle a full range of large and small seeds — from peas and sunflowers down to lucerne and clover — and it requires a tractor of just 50hp to operate,” Matt says.
The double disc seeding system can be used with or without press wheels. An optional set of front-opening discs is also available.
Drill rows on Kiwifruit Seeders are 150mm wide and both versions have twin seed boxes. The 11-row model has two 130-litre boxes, and the 14-row model has two 150-litre boxes. One box can carry seed and the other fertiliser or both boxes can carry seed.
The drill has a straightforward calibration system. A stainless steel agitator shaft prevents seed from getting compacted or bridged in the bottom of the boxes.
A three-point linkage hitch makes it easy to get the Kiwifruit Seeder in and out of the rows at the headlands.
Matt says the Kiwifruit Seeder can be ordered with an electric drive and touchscreen electronic rate control. This technology gives the ability to vary planting rates electronically and adjust calibration settings using the touchscreen.
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