Lighter, wider seed drills set for delivery in early 2024
Now available for order, John Deere’s new line-up of P600 precision air-hoe drills are lighter and wider than their predecessors.
Ranging from 12.2–27.4 metres in working widths, the range includes the P640, P650, P660, P670, P680, and P690 models – with the last two digits of each number being the tool width of the unit in feet.
Each unit has 25.4–30.5cm spacing and new dual knife openers to consistently place fertiliser 3.8cm horizontally and 1.9cm vertically away from the seed for even emergence and equal access to nutrients.
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John Deere’s P600 precision air-hoe drill
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The new models are up to 15.5 per cent wider and weigh up to 24 per cent less than the P500 range, helping to decrease compaction, labour time and fuel consumption.
The seeders come equipped with Deere’s JDLink connection to its John Deere Operations Center precision technology suite, helping users monitor what is happening during seeding and collecting data to inform future decision-making.
The company’s precision agriculture segment manager Ben Kelly says the introduction of the P600 range will round out John Deere’s integrated seeding offer – providing a choice to small grain farming operations across the country.
“Our focus is on providing flexible and adaptable seeding solutions for small grain farmers, which is why we offer tractors in wheel, two-track and four-track configurations, high-capacity air carts in tow-behind and tow-between options and, with the launch of the new P600 line-up, seeding bars in a range of working widths for both disc and tine,” he says.
“The increased working widths will not only mean more hectares can be covered per day, but the inclusion of 12, 18 and 24 metre widths will also suit existing controlled traffic farming systems for marked reductions in compaction.
“Additionally, the P600 provides ideal seed to soil contact, consistent seed and fertiliser depth, excellent residue flow and stubble management,” he adds.
The P600 seed drills incorporate Deere’s existing air seeding technologies with its RelativeFlow blockage sensing system, which allows farmers to see the flow rate of seed and fertiliser from inside the tractor cab.
The new P600 air-hoe drill will be available for order in 2023 for delivery in early 2024.
In the 2023 seeding season, John Deere will have the P600 on-farm in Western Australia to give producers the opportunity to see and experience the product prior to placing an order.