Seeding accuracy lifted for Adelaide Plains croppers

The duo began sowing their 3500-hectare program on properties from Hamley Bridge to Auburn on April 10. Mr Bowyer said continued expansion in recent years had meant "it was time to upgrade" to become more efficient at sowing such a large program.

"We were having a few issues with the previous disc seeder so we knew we had to replace it, so we trialled a demo of the new seeder last year," he said.

But Mr Bowyer said reoccurring "hair-pinning" while sowing crops through high stubble loads in damp conditions was the main driver for changing seeders.

"We have wheat stubble up to about 1 metre and when it becomes damp or wet, sowing into it accurately is not easy," he said.

"We maintain a pretty high stubble load out here to retain moisture - that way we do not have the high evaporation compared with other systems - but it can be difficult to sow through."

Instead of the disc slicing through stubble cleanly, the previous seeder pushed damp stubble into the farrow, forcing the seed to sit on top of the stubble rather than in the channel.

But the Flexi-Coil 6100 sows nine out of every 10 seeds in the correct placement, while the previous seeder had at least 30pc of seeds in the incorrect position.

"The seed was not placing where we wanted it in the farrow, some would place up high and others down low so we were seeing uneven germination and less plants per square metre," Alec said.

"We are really pleased with it," he said.

Increased downward pressure on discs was also a feature of the new seeder that was resulting in better seed placement.

Mr Bowyer said a hydraulic system applied consistent pressure to discs to cut through stubble and "create a clean, perfect line" for seed to drop into.

"The pressure can be adjusted from the tractor and although the discs are smaller in diametre compared with the previous seeder, they are sharper," he said.

"Its placement is very even - it's steady progress in the right direction."

Section control is also a new feature that has helped Mr Bowyer sow effectively.

Each head on the seeder can be switched on or off to help limit overlapping at the end of rows.

"The program knows its already been over a certain section - sometimes you might overlap 20 metres to sow 1m at the end of a paddock but this seeder shuts off the heads and only sows what you need," Alec said.

"Our program just keeps expanding so every gain makes a difference," he said.

Investing in updated machinery is important for all graingrower Alec Bowyer, Owen, who says the benefits are far-reaching.

Mr Bowyer sharefarms with Ben Marshman and together they invested in a new disc seeder this year.

Alec said crops that were sown in mid-May appeared to have a greater number of plants per square metre and he hoped that translated into increased yield.

But the new seeder has also caused less risk of chemical damage.

"We spray herbicides seven days after seeding so the seed needs to be in the correct place," Alec said.

"If its an uneven seed placement and seed is too close to the top of the farrow, when the crop emerges it will get a gutfull of chemical," he said.

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