Ultimate Guide to buying a direct tine drill 2027

Larger hoppers, wider working widths and additional coulter choices are key updates in this year’s guide to direct tine drills.

Prices move both ways, with some substantial increases alongside reductions on established models.

Here, we pick out what’s new and what’s not.

See also: Home-made toolbar drill adds versatility to contracting fleet

Agrisem

Agrisem enters the tine-drill section through UK distributor VSM with T-Boss and Vibrosem SD machines.

The French maker’s listings cover 6m and 8m mounted T-Boss drills, plus mounted and trailed Vibrosem SD versions from 4m to 9m.

Vibrosem models spread their tines over four rows on mounted machines and five on trailed versions, with seed-only or seed-and-fertiliser configurations to suit all customers.

Aerworx

The compact Grasshopper DT12 joins Aerworx’s listing at £7,995. The 1.5m mounted machine has 12 coulters, a 150-litre hopper and a listed weight of 395kg.

Aitchison

Aitchison’s range covers compact Grassfarmer and larger Seedmatic machines using inverted-T openers. The firm’s revised entries show 1,050-litre hoppers on ASM-4024C and CT models, up from 850 litres.

Amazone

Cayena, Condor and Primera DMC models provide different tine-coulter systems for direct and reduced-tillage establishment.

There are no major changes in this year’s guide; Cayena prices rise about 6%, while movements across Condor and Primera are mixed.

Bednar

The 6m Girona GN toolbar uses tine openers on parallel linkages and can work with a front hopper or other Bednar hopper and cultivation systems. Specifications and prices are unchanged from the previous edition.

Bramley’s

Yorkshire-based Bramley’s Seed Establishment adds a 9m version of its Zone drill to this year’s guide, joining the existing 3m and 6m models.

The concept centres on interchangeable tools to suit different soils and conditions. Buyers can combine leading serrated discs with two rows of seeding tines or dispense with the discs and spread the tines across three rows for greater trash clearance.

JJ Metcalfe points offer a choice of 12mm knives or 100mm band-sowing openers. Depth wheels, rubber tyre press wheels and pigtail harrows provide further scope to tailor the arrangement, while rubber-filled mounting clamps allow the working elements to flex.

Seed can be supplied from an on-board hopper or a tractor front-mounted tank, including Bramleys’ own 2,000-litre unit.

The new 9m iteration is listed at £87,500.

Claydon

The Evolution toolbar packages now list models with 2,000-litre single or 2,750-litre divided hoppers, offering buyers more flexibility in products applied at drilling.

Mounted Evolution prices generally ease, while most trailed Hybrid entries rise about 5%.

Dale

Dale offers mounted MTD drills and the Eco-Drill family, with the largest XL entries reaching 13.5m.

Its tine-based systems cover direct drilling and prepared seed-beds. Prices rise by 5-8%, with no substantive model additions.

Duncan

Renovators models combine leading cutting discs with spring tines carrying Baker T-boots. Box-hopper MK4 machines sit alongside pneumatic AS versions. The submitted line-up and prices remain unchanged.

Grange

Grange’s Tine-Drill Toolbar pairs a rear-mounted coulter frame with a front hopper. Four rows of rigid tines and hydraulically adjusted depth wheels form the drilling assembly.

The entry is unchanged; listed prices cover the coulter frame only.

Horsch

The Sprinter range includes front-hopper toolbar, trailed-hopper and seed-cart configurations, with coulter choices for line or band sowing.

Kockerling

Kockerling’s Ultima range uses a leading wheel to control each coulter’s depth, followed by covering tools and an STS packer. Prices have risen 2-5%.

KRM Sola

KRM’s Sola offering spans simple SD-3115 and SM tine drills, isobus-equipped SM-P Elektra machines and Aura front-hopper combinations. Most price changes are modest, although selected Aura configurations increase significantly.

Kverneland

The mounted ts-drill uses narrow, spring-protected tine openers, with widths from 4.8m to 6m. The range is retained and prices move in both directions according to specification.

Mzuri World

Following last year’s relocation of production and sales to Poland, Mzuri world has now substantially reorganised its Pro-Til offering.

Machines are sorted by available width and row-spacing designations, with Xzact-equipped versions alongside standard machines.

Smaller-frame entries now show hopper choices extending to 5,600 litres.

SimTech

SimTech’s drill range has been reconfigured following Opico’s takeover of manufacturing and distribution at the end of 2025.

Models fall into Gravity, Applicator and Pneumatic categories, with clearer naming and some previous variants covered by optional equipment.

No models have been discontinued, and the underlying construction and T-Slot seeding system remain unchanged.

The Applicator category uses Stocks Ag Turbo Jet metering and seed distribution, while Gravity machines have full-width box hoppers and Pneumatic versions use central hoppers with air distribution.

Across the range, drills gain refreshed branding and paint colours, with parts and service support now handled by Opico. Its MyOpico online system supplies parts for both current and older machines.

Sky Agriculture

Sky Agriculture has added a tine-seeding version of its M

ethys PCS shallow cultivator, listed as the LS P180, giving buyers a new option for establishing cover crops in dry conditions and chopped straw residues.

Initially available in 4m and 6m mounted widths, it pairs the existing cultivator chassis with fine seeding tines developed with Metcalfe.

The 12mm-wide tines have carbide reinforcement and are arranged in four rows, with 711mm of underframe clearance to help crop residues pass through.

Four wheels control working depth, while the rear harrow can be adjusted individually behind each tine row.

A dedicated distribution head supplies adjustable delivery tubes, positioning seed close to the slot while maintaining clearance for trash.

Seed comes from Sky’s Progress TF front hopper, available with two, three or four compartments.

The new tine drill broadens the choice of rear implements that can share the hopper, allowing growers to switch establishment systems without buying a separate seed tank for each machine.

The 6m version is listed at £40,160.

Sumo

 

The updated DTS gains a 5,000-litre hopper, up from 3,600 litres, on the larger hopper-equipped models. A new high-capacity roller metering unit and additional seed coulter options broaden fertiliser-placement choices.

The 3m entry also gains capacity, rising from 1,900 to 2,400 litres. Overall, DTS list prices increase about 5%.

Taege

Taege offers Utility box drills and larger DB and AS machines with spring-tine openers. The 6m AS600 DB now lists a 2,800-litre hopper, up from 1,700 litres, while retaining its £79,995 price.

The range is distributed by Retford, Notts-based outfit UK Farm Agri.

Triton

Triton’s Blade Closer drills use widely staggered rigid legs and slot-closing tools, with integral hoppers and GPS-controlled metering.

Specifications and prices remain familiar, while an updated note identifies Cousins of Emneth as the manufacturer of its range.

Vaderstad

Vaderstad’s Seed Hawk remains listed in 6m, 8m and 9m widths, with a three-compartment hopper and separate fertiliser and seed placement.

There are no substantive changes to these entries or prices.

Virkar

Virkar offers Dynamic C tine drills and Dynamic DC versions with leading trash-cutting discs, in widths from 4.5m to 7m.

Dynamic C prices rise sharply, by 20-32%, while the listed Dynamic DC prices are unchanged.

Weaving

Weaving extends its Sabre direct tine drill range with a new 12m trailed model, launched at Cereals 2026.

Previously topped by an 8m mounted machine, the two new versions of the 12m machine offer either 48 coulters at 250mm or 60 at 200mm.

Both come with a pressurised 6,500-litre hopper, Weaving’s own stainless-steel metering units and RDS isobus control.

Its purpose-built chassis carries the coulters at the rear, allowing them to fold alongside the hopper for transport.

Buyers can choose two rows of tines behind leading cutting discs, or three rows without discs for greater trash clearance. A double following harrow covers the seed.

The 12mm tines now use cast steel with tungsten wear pads, which Weaving claims last three times as long as the previous hardened-steel versions.

The new 12.48 model is priced at £148,800.