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Typically used for reseeding and overseeding pastures, the pneumatic Air 8 (8 outlets) and the Air 16 (16 outlets) are usually fitted to an OPICO Grass Harrow.
Designed to accurately meter and distribute grass and small seeds evenly across the full width of the grass harrow which opens up the soil, creating a tilth for improved seed to soil contact.
The seed roller metering is driven by a land wheel on the Air 8 and by an electronic GPS receiver on the Air 8E and Air 16E. The 8 outlet seeders have an electric fan whilst the 16 outlet has a hydraulic fan. Hydraulic fan upgrades are available for the Air 8 and 8E models.
The grass seeder seed rate can be varied from 1 to 80kg* per hectare, according to the type of seed being sown and whether reseeding or overseeding. Where oversowing only specific areas of a field, electronic seeders can also be switched on or off during the harrowing operation.
Sowing should always be followed with rolling to ensure good seed-to-soil contact is achieved.
GRANT ELIGIBILITY
As application deadlines have ended, now is the time to secure your purchase!
Air drill for establishing cover crops
FETF207 - Air drill for establishing cover crops
Eligible Items: Air Seeder E (400L)
Item must:
- be a pneumatic (air) drill
- be designed to be mounted on existing drills or soil tillage equipment
- have electronic metering
- be able to drill small cover crop seeds
- use either pipes, coulters or spreader plates to place the seed
- have a minimum 3m drilling width
- have a seed hopper with a minimum 300L capacity
Percentage paid towards item: 60%
Percentage based on RPA expected average cost of item
If you're interested in this machine, the first step is to apply for the eligible machine before the 17th April 2024. Secondly, once you have your application approved, and you’ve accepted your offer, the next step is to purchase the item/machine.
If your application for the above machine is successful, then speak to your local OPICO dealer in good time, to ensure timely delivery before the end of the claim window which is midday on the 10th January, 2025. Find your local OPICO dealer here.
Micro Seeder
Investment item: Micro Seeder
Eligible Item: Air Seeder E
Specification:
- small seeder, suitable for sowing small seeds such as grass, clover, rape, stubble turnips etc
- minimum hopper size 75 litres
- powered by an electric motor
- ability to calibrate and adjust application rate
- electronic on/off control system
- can be fitted to min-till cultivator, tractor or ATV
The grant will be a maximum 40% contribution against actual invoiced costs up to the maximum referenced costs as stated within Annex A.
If you're interested in this machine, the first step is to apply for the eligible machine before the 16th April 2024. Secondly, once you have your application approved, and you’ve accepted the contract within 30 calendar days of the offer date and adhered to all the requirements, the next step is to purchase the item/machine.
If your application for the above machine is successful, then speak to your local OPICO dealer in good time, to ensure timely delivery within 6 months of the submission of the claim. Find your local OPICO dealer here.
The productivity of old or patchy leys can be rejuvenated and the life of the ley extended, simply by overseeding. This is especially useful where poor drainage or flooding has killed off grass in certain areas of a field, or where livestock have poached ground near gateways and troughs. In addition, the field does not have to come out of use.
With few effective clover-safe herbicides around, many farmers have adopted the approach of ridding the leys of perennial weeds like docks and thistles first, and only stitching-in clover once a clean grass ley has been established. Using the OPICO Grass Harrow, bare ground is exposed onto which the broadcast clover seed can land and establish.
Typically a first year reseed is expected to give 25% more yield than an old ley, although improvements of 40% have been known. Furthermore the modern grass varieties in seed mixtures have been bred to utilise nitrogen better, and have higher yields and digestibility than older grasses.
In soil conditions where it is difficult to establish new leys, aggressively cultivating the surface and heavily overseeding with a OPICO Seeder in consecutive seasons can give a reliable alternative.
After the usual ground cultivations, always roll the field at least once to obtain a good firm seedbed before harrowing and seeding and then roll again after to ensure good soil to seed contact.
BEST PRACTICE
For leys to reach their full potential for yield and quality, an integrated approach to grassland management is essential.
As well as harrowing, this includes: maintaining good drainage, avoiding soil compaction, reseeding with grass and clover mixtures appropriate to livestock and purpose, timely weed and pest control and tailoring fertiliser applications to compensate for soil nutrient shortfalls.
Grass is a very valuable crop and treating it as such can dramatically reduce seed costs.
FEATURES & BENEFITS
Precise Seed Metering
Unlike most other types of seeders, the OPICO Air 8, 8E and Air 16E grassland seeder uses individual metering rollers for each seed outlet enabling extremely accurate seed metering and guaranteeing the same amount of seed is fed to each outlet.
This is crucially important when using low seed rates and small seeds.
Four types of metering rollers are available. Two of these quickly interchangeable seed rollers are supplied as standard - the coarse (green) and fine (blue), the third or fourth can be purchased as an extra.
Forward speed related metering
Mechanical seeders come with spoked land wheel drive to give constant forward speed related metering. The electronic machine uses a GPS receiver.
On some tractors it is possible to connect to the tractors own GPS system. Forward speed related metering means accurately maintained application rates on high draft machines and in awkward shaped fields where ground speed may vary.
Pneumatic Seed Delivery
A hydraulic fan or two 12v electric fans provide the airflow to deliver the seed down the pipe to the correct position on the machine.
Electric fans have a full wiring looms and switch unit in the cab. There is an optional air flow alarm to warn the operator in case of blockage or malfunction.
Hydraulic drive units (left image) include a fan speed sensor and alarm to warn the operator if the fan is not turned on when seeding or if there is a malfunction.
RATE CONTROL
The amount of seed applied is controlled by the speed of the metering roller and is adjusted until the desired seed rate is achieved. The Air 8 mechanical drive seeder has a clever step-less gearbox to ensure reliability in work and seed rate.
The Air 8E and Air 16E (electronic) seeders have a speed sensing motor that is constantly checked and adjusted by the computer control box to give you a constant seed rate at all times.
A stepless gearbox and lever are used to adjust the seed rate.
Electronic Versions
The control box in the cab allows setting and adjustment on the move, and records the area that has been travelled and how much seed was put on that area.
Calibration
On all machines this is performed by removing the metering roller cover and using the calibration tray.
Drive Mechanism
Toothed, non slip drive belts are used to transmit power to the seed roller and agitator. Agitator disengagement for delicate seeds is done by simply reversing the agitator drive pulley.
AIR SEEDER MODELS
Whether you are over-seeding or re-seeding pastures OPICO have a seeder to suit the job. The Air 8 seeder is designed to fit directly onto an OPICO Grass Harrow..
The seeder accurately meters and distributes the seed evenly across the width of the machine whilst the Grass Harrow opens up the soil and creates a tilth and then covers in the seed resulting in the ideal environment for seed germination.
The 8 outlet Air 8 has a twin electric fan, and the seed roller metering is driven by a land wheel. A hydraulic fan upgrade is available for the Air 8 model.
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Spread width up to 6m, hopper capacity 180 litres (400 litres optional)
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Individual metering roller per outlet – even seed distribution
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Green “coarse” and blue “fine” seed roller supplied as standard - other rollers available
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Powder coated and anodises – built to last
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Twin electric fans - easy fitting and control
| Model No. | Working Width | Seedbox Volume | Seed Outlets | Weight |
| 1739002 | Up to 6m | 180L | 8 | 123kgs |
Complete with NEW control box featuring low level sensor, fan alarm and belt drive sensor.
When ordering please state width of machine seeder is to be fitted to.
40kg per hectare when fitted to 6.0m working width.
80kg per hectare when fitted to 3.0m working width.
Options & Accessories
| Part No. | Description |
| 1739590 | 400L seedbox in lieu of 180L seedbox |
| 17930161 | Step and loading platform fits 3m, 4.5m, 5m & 6m harrows |
| 1793556 | Electronic hectare meter |
| 1763262R | Acoustic and visual fan alarm |
| 1739108* | Hydraulic fan for Air 8 - factory fit (requires speed monitor when fitted on mechanical seeder) |
| 67963269† | Speed monitor for Hydraulic fan fitted onto Air 8 Mechanical seeder |
* Hydraulic fan requires 0-20 l/min oil supply and free flow return (speed monitor is required for all hydraulic fan upgrade kits for mechanical seeders). Please order this in addition.
† Speed monitor is required for all hydraulic fan upgrade kits for mechanical seeders.
The 8 outlet Air 8E has a twin electric fan, and the seed roller metering is driven by an electronic GPS receiver. A hydraulic fan upgrade is available for the Air 8E model.
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Air 8E spread width up to 6m, hopper capacity 180 litres (400 litres optional)
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Individual metering roller per outlet – even seed distribution
-
Green “coarse” and blue “fine” seed roller supplied as standard - other rollers available
-
Powder coated and anodises – built to last
| Model No. | Working Width | Seedbox Volume | Fan Type | Seed Outlets | Weight |
| 1739002E | Up to 6m | 180L* | Hydraulic* | 8 | 123kgs |
Complete with electric in-cab control, variable seed-rate, low level hopper sensor, calibration control and hectare meter + fan alarm.
When ordering please state width of machine seeder is to be fitted to.
40kg per hectare when fitted to 6.0m working width.
80kg per hectare when fitted to 3.0m working width.
Options & Accessories
| Part No. | Description |
| 1739590 | 400L seedbox in lieu of 150L seedbox |
| 17930161 | Step and loading platform fits 3m, 4.5m, 5m & 6m harrows |
| 1793556 | Electronic hectare meter |
| 1763262R | Acoustic and visual fan alarm |
| 1739108* | Hydraulic fan for Air 8 - factory fit (requires speed monitor when fitted on mechanical seeder) |
| 67963269† | Speed monitor for Hydraulic fan fitted onto Air 8 Mechanical seeder |
* Hydraulic fan requires 0-20 l/min oil supply and free flow return (speed monitor is required for all hydraulic fan upgrade kits for mechanical seeders). Please order this in addition.
† Speed monitor is required for all hydraulic fan upgrade kits for mechanical seeders.
The 16 outlet Air 16E Pro has a hydraulic fan to distribute the seed on machines up to 12m wide, and the seed roller metering is driven by an electronic GPS receiver.
The Air 16E Pro suits applications where wider working widths, faster working speeds and/or higher seed rates are required.
The larger hopper, hydraulic fan and larger metering mechanism are designed to deal with high output applications.
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Air 16E Pro spread width up to 12m, hopper capacity 400 litres
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Individual metering roller per outlet – even seed distribution
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Green “coarse” and blue “fine” seed roller supplied as standard - other rollers available
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Powder coated and anodises – built to last
| Model No. | Working Width | Seedbox Volume | Fan Type | Seed Outlets | Weight |
| 1739008* | Up to 12m | 400L | Hydraulic* | 16 | 160kgs |
When ordering please state width of machine seeder is to be fitted to.
* Hydraulic fan requires 0-20 I/min max oil supply and free flow return.
40kg per hectare when fitted to 12.0m working width.
80kg per hectare when fitted to 6.0m working width.
Options & Accessories
| Part No. | Description |
| 1739590 | 400L seedbox in lieu of 180lt seedbox |
| 17930161 | Step and loading platform fits 3m, 4.5m, 5m & 6m harrows |
| 1793556 | Electronic hectare meter |
| 1763262R | Acoustic and visual fan alarm |
* Hydraulic fan requires 0-20 l/min oil supply and free flow return (speed monitor is required for all hydraulic fan upgrade kits for mechanical seeders). Please order this in addition.
† Speed monitor is required for all hydraulic fan upgrade kits for mechanical seeders.
AIR SEEDERS BROCHURE
Check out our latest brochure by clicking the image below, download is available.
