The Irish Grassland Association (IGA) organised an excellent reseeding demonstration in Oldcastle, Co Meath last week attracting a delegation in excess of 500 farmers. The demo, sponsored by Goldcrop and held in association with Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal, took place on the farm of Paul Gilsenan. Paul runs a mixed dairying and beef enterprise and he had the land in perfect condition for reseeding having sprayed it off two weeks earlier and topping it down to 4cm.

The event focused on a number of areas including the cost benefits of reseeding, preparation of ground for reseeding, grass seed varieties and options for reseeding without ploughing. From a machinery perspective, it was a great chance to compare the finishes that four different min till reseeding machines could produce.

Speakers

Aidan fleming Teagasc, Dave Barry Goldcrop (speaker & event sponsor), Derek Casey, Irish Farmers Journal, Andrew Cromie President IGA & Vincent Tracey Teagasc

Donal Callery, IGA regional development officer for the North East, explained the event was organised in response to farmer demand. “A lot of farmers are asking about reseeding this autumn, so we put together a program that included contributions from Teagasc, Goldcrop and local contractors. It went very well – we got a far bigger crowd than anticipated.”

First up was the 3m Kuhn Power Harrow with mounted Fiona seed barrow. The seed barrow is gear driven with mechanical distribution of the seed. This unit can be used in either ploughed ground or stubble ground. The power harrow helps to bury stones that are brought up and the following packer roller aids this process as well. This unit was bought for €15,000 from Meath Farm Machinery. Forward speed (4kph) had to be slower than with the other machines on show because it used a power harrow. Looked a good finish, but not min till in the truest sense.

Next up was the 3m Einbock reseeding unit. This was quite a light looking unit and it used eight rows of tines to pull out dead grass and moss and before sowing the seed with an elelctric spinner mounted on top. The tine pressure can be adjusted for more aggressive action. This machine is valued at €4,000 and is supplied by PJ Callan of Ardee. Looked a bit light if working in longer grass, but a useful machine for improving grassland with minimal damage to an existing swath.

The Guttler Greenmaster is a combination of three machines; a ripper board with a double set of tines;a heavy roller that punches the ground and kneads in the seeds; and an APV air seeder. The roller is said to help control broadleaf weeds like dock, while the harrow rips out weeds and dead grass. Valued at €16,350 and supplied by Traynors of Clonmel. A nice finish with probably the best looking seed placement for a min till job.

The fourth reseeding option presented was this Atchison machine, which uses discs to cut into the ground before the following coulters place the seed. The coulters are staggered so as not to gather thrash and disturb the seed. A heavy chain then follows to help the soil seed contact but this was doing very little in a min till situation; it looked like it would have a greater impact in a ploughed ground situation. Valued at €20,000 and sourced in Britain.

Table; Summary of reseeding machines

Machine Overview Cost incl vat

• One pass system
  • Rotary Kuhn power harrow with mounted grass seed barrow.
  • Seed barrow is gear driven
  • Field rolled separately
  €70 per acre


• Gutler
  • Ripper board with double set of tines
  • Roller punches ground 300 times/sq meter
  • Seeds blown with air seeder
  €35/40
  per acre


• Einbock
  • Tine machine with different settings
  • Seed sown behind with electric seed spinner
  €40
  Per acre


• Atchison
  • Disc’s cut tracks into the ground
  • Coulters distribute seeds
  • Chain to cover seeds behind
  €40
  Per acre