MACHINERY DATA ANALYSIS - SOWING 2024

With rising costs associated with machinery ownership and operation, optimising machine performance is becoming increasingly important. Recognising this need, RMS have begun analysing machinery data from clients who are a part of a database compiled from their farm management system (e.g. John Deere Operations Centre).  Data from 2024 winter crop sowing events was analysed, with a specific focus on differences between disc and tyne sowing rigs. As such, this newsletter article will consider the differences between disc and tyne seeders using real world data.

 Agronomic Caveat
It should be acknowledged that this article provides data on the operational costs of a specific sowing system, but does not address the agronomic consequences. Various agronomic factors such as how a particular sowing system might influence stubble management, pre-emergent herbicide use, plus the overall cropping rotation, need to be thought-through in the first instance.

 Database Details
The database from which this analysis has been conducted includes over 200 sowing events recorded by machines throughout the cropping belt of the Riverina. For the purposes of this analysis, a ‘sowing event’ is recorded when a machine changes paddocks, crop types or varieties. Therefore, it should be acknowledged that some sowing rigs are represented more frequently than others, acting as a source of bias. It was assumed that each sowing rig was running at close to optimal capacity in each sowing event.

 Results
As anticipated, the average sowing speeds of the disc seeders were faster than the tyne seeders (Figure 1). The 25% speed increase from the tyne to the disc seeder improves the total area sown per engine hour, impacting the overall machinery cost (as demonstrated in the economic analysis to follow). Disc seeders resulted in better fuel efficiency in tractors than tyne seeders in each horsepower class (Figure 2). This difference in fuel efficiency was more pronounced in the higher horsepower classes (i.e. 520 and 540HP) which were pulling an 18-metre bar as opposed to the 340-horsepower class pulling a 12-metre bar. Fuel efficiency also has an influence on sowing costs.

Both sowing speed and fuel efficiency are commonly mentioned advantages of disc seeders, claims which this dataset clearly supports.

Economic Analysis
To demonstrate the impact of both sowing speed and fuel use efficiency on overall operating costs, a hypothetical economic analysis between a comparable disc seeder and tyne seeder rig was conducted using the following assumptions:

*Assumes a modern parallelogram tyne seeder

The disc seeder was $13/ha (or 23%) cheaper than the tyne seeder, which over 2,000 hectares equals a $26,000 saving. This highlights the importance of sowing productivity and that optimising sowing speed, can result in substantial cost savings at scale. It is acknowledged that the overall sowing cost difference between the two seeder types is dependent on the cost of the respective sowing rigs and their associated repairs & maintenance, which will vary from business to business. Therefore, readers should evaluate how these assumptions apply to their own business before reaching a conclusion.

 Conclusion
The results of this machinery data analysis support the common claim that disc seeders are more productive and fuel efficient that tyne seeders. These gains in productivity can lead to substantial cost savings for growers with scale, provided that the equipment is appropriate to the size of their operation, plus the agronomic consequences of using a disc seeder do not compromise their production system e.g. weed and disease control.