Kuhn has unveiled 7.2m and 8m versions of its Megant min-till tine drill, having previously offered it only in 6m mounted guise.

Recent challenging autumn drilling campaigns have driven an uptick in demand for lightweight setups capable of working in marginal conditions too sticky for heavy, disc-based drills.

See also: Direct drills revisited: 6m Virkar Dynamic DC

The newcomers offer the potential for significantly more output, and the 7.2m will hold particular appeal among those working on 36m tramlines.

They come with three tine options: a narrow 12mm version for minimal disturbance – the most popular in the UK – plus reversible forward-pointing and straight coulters.

Tines are spaced at 15cm on the 6m and 7.2m versions, and at 20cm on the 8m iteration. Recommended tractor power ranges from 150hp for the 6m to 200hp for the biggest.

They can be specced with four, six or eight wheels on the front to support the hopper, and optional rear press wheels to follow ground contours independently of the tractor and ensure even seeding depth.

Tank capacity is 1,800 litres across the board, and the firm’s SH 1120 110-litre seed hopper can be fitted at the rear and plumbed into the machine’s venturi. This allows application of companion crops, starter fertiliser or slug pellets down the seed spout.

The Megant offers 2×2 or half-width section control and there are single or double harrow options for the back. It’s also possible to operate the drill independently of the tractor hydraulics via a pto-driven pump.

A new 8m model is priced from £52,525.

© Adam Clarke

Espro trailed drill revamp slashes power needs

Kuhn’s Espro trailed min-till drill range has evolved, with the redesign aimed at reducing weight and tractor fuel consumption during operation.

The new Espro 1002 line-up replaces the outgoing 1000s and encompasses a rigid 3m 3002 and two folding models – the 4m 4002 and 6m 6002.

A key factor in the drills’ reduced weight is a new plastic seed hopper, which is about 600kg lighter than the previous design.

Also making it easier to pull are larger diameter front tamping wheels, which have been upsized from 450mm to 750mm to reduce rolling resistance.

This compliments the original Espro press wheel design, which is retained across the range. These are 900mm in diameter, staggered in two rows and spaced 200mm apart, limiting dirt and residue build up in front of the wheel set for easier pulling.

Another new option is a set of straight working discs, which limit soil disturbance to a narrow band ahead of the seed coulters to help retain seed-bed moisture.

A redesigned frame, which Kuhn says is lighter and stronger, sits slightly higher than previous iterations to accommodate the new discs.

Previous concave and notched discs remain available and disc scrapers now benefit from carbide plates, increasing service life eightfold compared with the standard.

Covering tines at the rear have also been toughened to increase effective working life by 50%.

Prices for an Espro 6002 start at £113,955. The 8m Espro is still available but doesn’t yet benefit from the lighter plastic hopper.