Väderstad debuts SeedEye precision system

Seed weighing and calibration will be a thing of the past for users of the automatic seeding control system, Australian distributor Claas Harvest Centre says.

Swedish cultivation manufacturer Väderstad has unveiled a new automatic seeding control system, just in time for the 2021 sowing season.

The technology, dubbed SeedEye, uses sensors mounted on each seeding tube as well as a non-retro-fittable ground radar mounted on the seeder, to deliver exact numbers of seeds per square metre regardless of the speed of the vehicle.

Designed to fit Väderstad’s Rapid seed drill range, the new technology differs to traditional sowing systems that rely on manual calculations of grain weights to determine a suitable sowing rate.

Claas Harvest Centre Product Manager – Väderstad, Murray Tuck, says slight deviations in manual calculations or variations in seed types can lead to “vastly significant differences in sowing rates” when relying on weight measurement.

Instead, the operator nominates their preferred seeding rate in plants per square metre; adjusting for germination rate or potential field losses, using the Väderstad E Control system – a tablet-based control system, only compatible with Apple iPad in conjunction with e-control machine WiFi, that can be used from the tractor cabin.

From there, SeedEye automatically adjusts the seeding rate based on the operating speed to maintain the selected seed rate, removing the need for prior seed weighing and calibration to maximise the time spent sowing in the field.

Tuck says SeedEye offers users a reliable mechanism for seeding in real time.

“This is not technology for technology’s sake – an accurate sowing rate helps produce a uniform crop for optimal results,” Tuck says.

“Sensors record the number of seeds passing through each individual seed tube.

“The controller then automatically adjusts the seeding rates based on the operating speed to maintain the selected seed rate.”

SeedEye technology can also be used to monitor fertiliser application and blockages in seed and fertiliser tubes.

The Väderstad SeedEye is available for purchase now across Australia. Claas Harvest Centre also has 3x6m machines in stock already fitting with the technology.