Mid-Range Equipment & Medium Size Producers
Rob Pickford of A4Farmers in North Wiltshire owns a Trimble EZ-Guide 500 and a Trimble EZ-Steer which he runs in conjunction with an OmniStar HP Correction signal to give him the 5 – 10 cm accuracy level demanded for drilling his broad-acre crops:
“We invested in the Trimble EZ-Steer and EZ-Guide 500 in 2009 to improve our drilling accuracy and reduce overlaps.
“With 1,000 ha of combinable crops and 100 ha of forage maize, on contract and share farming agreements, we had previously used bout markers for drilling and have a light guidance system that is quite difficult to follow. Using the EZ-Steer with the EZ-Guide 500 saves operator time, reduces fuel consumption and is incredibly easy to use in the field.
“We also subscribe to the OmniSTAR HP Service to improve the accuracy of our EZ-Steer system. With three main drilling periods – autumn combinable crops, spring crops and the forage maize – we appreciate the flexibility of the short term licence options.
“The improved drilling accuracy has reduced costs and improved the efficiency of field operations later in the season. Our tractor driver Alan, with 40 years experience drilling our farm, is a complete convert and is now loathe to go out without the EZ-Steer and OmniSTAR package at sowing time.
“We’ve already seen a significant difference, in some cases we’ve removed a whole tramline, and I believe the £6,000 investment will have paid for itself within two years”.