Erth Engineering has unveiled a new combination drill that is inspired by the work of Northern Irish farmer Alistair Craig.

A couple of years ago, he cobbled together a versatile one-pass outfit for his light land, using a hotchpotch of second-hand components – several of which came from the County Down firm.

It is now replicating much of the format with its 3m Panbuster Drill, which conjoins two of its most popular implements.

First is the Panbuster subsoiler toolbar, armed with a row of low-disturbance legs protected by a high-lift hydraulic auto-reset system, shear-bolts and side-swing capability.

Wearing parts are fitted independently, with roll pins pegging the point and shin in position, and a bolt tethering the wing sections – a setup the firm says avoids owners having to replace any components prematurely.

The legs are also hard-faced to prevent soil flow causing tapered wear to the steel.

Behind these is a set of heavy-duty tines, a rubber roller and a drilling assembly lifted from the firm’s Agriseeder.

This comprises two rows of single discs on a simple frame, fed by a 1,000- or 1,500-litre hopper positioned directly above the legs to keep the weight close to the tractor.

© Erth Engineering

Success in light soil

According to Erth, the Panbuster Drill is best deployed on light soils that tend to slump under heavy rainfall. The legs will help alleviate compaction that has accumulated over time, while leaving crop residue on the surface.

As Alistair found with his iteration, the combination also promises a quick and low-disturbance means of establishing crops.

These benefits will be particularly attractive to those who are operating within a reduced cultivation or direct-drilling system and are regularly delayed by wet autumn weather.

The company says its first customers have reported a firmer, freer-draining seed-bed and similar crop yields achieved with lower establishment costs.

Prices start at £50,000 and a tractor of 150hp should have enough muscle to pull it.

© Erth Engineering