Norfolk-based farming company Sentry has received funding of £20,522 to produce a 6m prototype cultivator drill that can carry out strip-till drilling of oilseed rape and sugar beet as well as cover crops.  

See also: Cultivator autodepth system set to take off

The award came from the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership and was given to Sentry to part-fund the £40,000 prototype that is designed cut compaction and improve drainage.

Richard Scholes at Yorkshire firm Cultivating Solutions, well known for its Rapidlift deep-tillage equipment and  innovative systems that automatically raise and lower the cultivator according to soil maps, is providing know-how for the new design of drill.

The plan is that it will go on sale, bringing benefits to other farmers who want to improve the efficiency of their cultivations and drilling.