Having taken the trailed DSX no-till drill to 9m last year, Horizon Agricultural Machinery has followed suit with the mounted variant, now available in 7.5m, 8m and 9m sizes for the coming autumn.

Operated with a front-mounted hopper – such as Horizon’s 2,200-litre 60:40 split unit – to distribute the weight of the total package, the new MDSX models offer larger growers plenty of output in a lighter, more agile configuration.

See also: Direct drills revisited: 6m Sly/Horizon Boss

Horizon calculates the power requirement at 25hp/m and reckons the weight distribution of a front/rear setup works well in a late autumn drilling scenario in which a trailed drill might baulk at challenging field surface conditions.

The newcomers expand the MDSX sizes available from the rigid 3m and centre-split folding 4m, 5m and 6m sizes.

They are built with a three-section frame, comprising a centre section with two wings that fold to a vertical position for transport.

There is a choice of 220mm and 250mm row spacings, thanks to the ability to reposition the seeding assemblies on the toolbar.

As on all DSX/MDSX drills, the larger mounted versions have row units comprising parallelogram linkage with hydraulic pressure control and a single “undercutting” disc opener, with sowing depth regulated by a wheel positioned in line with the seed boot alongside.

Rear-mounted hopper and liquid tank options cater for fertiliser, micro-granules and additional seed placement.