Case Studies
Case Study 1
600 ha home farm covering a range of soil types from clay through to sandy loam. Annual average rainfall
around 650 mm. Table 1 provides details of the machinery used in the arable operation which grows a
rotation of first and second wheat with oilseed rape. The aim on this farm is to create a 6 m CTF system
using a single pass with the nominal 6 m wide medium weight discs followed by drilling with the 6 m
Freeflow drill. Within the new CTF farming operation it is anticipated that there will be little need
for the Solo, and this demonstrates an immediate saving in equipment, time, fuel and tractor power.
View Case Study 1
Case Study 2
650 ha farmed in partnership on medium to heavy soils with an annual rainfall of 640 mm. Rotation of first
and second wheat followed by oilseed rape or beans. 10% setaside area sown with industrial oilseed rape.
All crops are desiccated pre-harvest with glyphosate. Table 2 provides details of the relevant machinery.
The present establishment system for wheat consists of a single pass with the Simba Solo with the
subsoiling tines working to a depth of around 230 mm. This is followed after an interval by a spray
with glyphosate and then the Freeflow tine drill sowing at a rate of around 200 kg/ha with grain having
a 1000 seed weight of 49 g. Sowing is completed with a pass of the rolls pulled by a hired-in wheeled
tractor. Slug pellets are applied pre- and post-sowing with a small all-terrain vehicle. Oilseed rape
is normally established by broadcasting into the desiccated standing crop of wheat, or following a single
pass of the Solo in front of the roll. Beans are sown in the same manner as wheat.
View Case Study 2
Case Study 3
360 ha on silty loam and limestone brash soils with crops grown principally for seed. These include:
- Sugar beet (grown on the lighter soils)
- Winter wheat
- Peas (grown for vining seed)
- Spring beans
- Spring and winter oilseed rape
- Oats
- Linseed
- Herbage (likely that this will be replaced by grass margins if 5 m headlands are allowed under
the new E.U. set-aside scheme)
View Case Study 3
Case Study 4
209 ha farm on 13 different soil types ranging from Oxford and Kelloway clays to sands and riverwash.
Cropping of continuous wheat and barley which since 1996 has seen a gradual transition from conventional
trafficking and mouldboard ploughing to direct drilling and an almost complete controlled traffic system
using a 5.8 m span gantry tractor.
View Case Study 4