Getting Ready for Cultivation and Drilling Season: How to Make Every Pass Count

As cultivation and drilling season approaches, preparation can make all the difference.

For many farmers, the pressure to make the most of increasingly narrow weather windows means there is little room for unexpected downtime. Having machinery prepared, wearing parts checked and drilling equipment correctly set up before conditions are right can help you make the most of every opportunity.

For those using a cultivator drill such as the Väderstad Rapid 600, preparation is about more than simply making sure the machine starts. Correct settings, suitable wearing parts and a clear establishment strategy can all contribute to achieving the right seedbed and placing seed accurately.

Start with a thorough machinery check

Before heading into the field, give your drilling and cultivation equipment a comprehensive inspection.

On a Väderstad Rapid or Spirit, check key components including coulters, discs, bearings and hydraulic connections. Look for signs of wear or damage and make sure moving components are operating as they should.

It is also worth checking:

• Tyre condition and pressures
• Hydraulic hoses and connections
• Seed and fertiliser systems, where fitted
• Electrical connections and monitoring systems – including ISOBUS connectivity or iPad integration. Ensure the relevant app is up to date.
• Depth control systems
• Fans and air systems
• Calibration equipment and machine settings

Identifying a worn or damaged component now is considerably easier than discovering a problem during a busy drilling window.

Check your wearing parts

Wearing parts play an important role in the performance of cultivation and drilling equipment.

Coulters, discs and other working components gradually wear during the season. As they wear, machine performance can change, potentially affecting working depth, seed placement and the quality of the finished seedbed.

Before the season starts, inspect your wearing parts and replace anything that is approaching the end of its useful working life. Väderstad’s own pre-season guidance recommends checking disc and coulter condition as part of preparing a Rapid for the field.

It is also worth keeping commonly used spares readily available. When conditions are right for drilling, having the parts you need already on farm can help avoid unnecessary downtime.

The Ben Burgess Parts team can help identify the correct genuine parts for your Väderstad equipment and help you prepare for the season ahead.

Calibrate before you enter the field

Calibration is one of the most important checks before drilling begins.

Seed rates can change depending on crop, variety and drilling conditions, so don’t rely solely on last year’s settings. Take the time to calibrate the machine and confirm that the rate being applied matches your establishment plan.

If your drill is equipped for fertiliser application, fertiliser rates should also be checked and calibrated as appropriate.

Väderstad provides dedicated calibration and field-setting guidance for its Spirit drills, while systems such as SeedEye can provide additional monitoring and seed-counting functionality on compatible machines.

Getting the most from your Väderstad Rapid 600

The Väderstad Rapid 600 is designed for high-capacity establishment, combining soil preparation and seed placement in one pass.

Before entering the field, take time to check the machine’s settings and make sure it is configured for the crop and conditions.

Seed rate, working depth, coulter pressure and other adjustments should be considered alongside soil conditions and your overall establishment strategy. Wearing parts should also be checked carefully, as coulter and disc condition can affect drilling performance.

A few minutes spent checking the machine before drilling can help ensure consistent performance across the field.

Preparing your Väderstad Spirit 600

The Väderstad Spirit 600 is designed for high-capacity seed drilling, with different configurations available to suit different establishment and fertiliser requirements.

Before the season begins, check the drill thoroughly and make sure the seed and fertiliser systems are clean, calibrated and ready to go.

Particular attention should be paid to the seed coulters and depth-control systems. Consistent seed placement is fundamental to establishing a uniform crop, so making sure these components are correctly maintained and set up can help deliver a more consistent result.

For Spirit machines equipped with compatible technology, systems such as SeedEye can also provide real-time blockage monitoring during drilling.

Match your approach to field conditions

Good establishment starts with making the right decisions before the machine enters the field.

Soil moisture, structure and trafficability can all influence the way a drill performs. Working ground when conditions are unsuitable can create compaction or smearing, while drilling into overly dry or difficult conditions can make consistent seed placement more challenging.

The aim is not simply to cover ground quickly, but to achieve the right conditions for establishment. Having a well-prepared machine means you can make the most of the opportunities when those conditions arrive.

Don’t overlook the tractor and support equipment

Preparing the drill is only part of the job.

Before the season starts, check that the tractor and implement combination is ready for the work ahead. Hydraulic systems, tyres, electrical connections, guidance equipment and other relevant systems should all be checked before the first field.

It is also worth making sure operators are familiar with the machine’s settings and monitoring systems. A well-prepared machine is most effective when the operator knows what to look for and how to respond when conditions change.

Service and support when you need it

Even with the best preparation, farming doesn’t always go to plan. When conditions are right and there is a short window to get crops in the ground, an unexpected issue with a drill can quickly become a major headache.

That’s where the Ben Burgess team can help.

Our experienced Service and Parts teams support customers throughout the season, helping to diagnose problems, source the parts you need and get your machinery working again. We can also help you get connected and make the most out of your machinery technology, with support for connectivity, ISOBUS and work planners.

Getting ready for the season? Talk to your local Ben Burgess team about servicing, parts and support for your equipment.