Variocast Seeders

Variocast Pneumatic Seeders

The Variocast Seeder will seed oilseed rape on the back of virtually any cultivator and save you money. Adding a Variocast Seeder to a subsoiler has even greater benefits.

It cuts seed rates and establishment costs whilst improving yields - utilise a Variocast to take advantage of Till-Seeding techniques and
improve gross margins.

With the subsoiler working at medium depth and the Variocast Seeder set to seed in bands behind the legs you make serious in-roads into output and cost. Furthermore the loosened sub soil
promotes long, strong taproot growth.

Sowing in bands gives each plant the room to develop through better light interception, braching out and encouraging flower heads on the lateral branches as well as the main stem and overall requires less seed whilst still attaining good yields.

Variocast Seeder Features

Features Precise seed metering Even seed distribution Accurate seed rate control Forward speed related metering Robust build Easy to fit

Precise seed metering Unlike most other types of seed applicators the Variocast OSR Seeder uses individual metering wheels for each seed outlet enabling extremely accurate metering and guaranteeing the same amount of seed is fed to each outlet. This is crucially important when using low application rates. Four types of metering rollers are available for the Variocast. Any two of these rollers are supplied as standard with the Variocast Seeder, the third or fourth can be supplied as an optional extra. There are eight seed outlets as standard but it is possible to blank off a number of them using the Blanking Roller and Stop Kit, for example for applying seed in a band behind a five leg subsoiler with one outlet per leg, running directly in-line with each leg. Even seed distribution The Variocast Seeder can be used for either band application (recommended for OSR) or to spread seed evenly across the whole width. Modified Band Outlet Broadcast Outlet The standard broadcasting outlets spread the seed in a overlapping pattern for an even full width coverage. Alternatively modified outlets are used for band application of seed into rows. The seed placement is adjusted by changing the height of the distribution outlet, this will give you wider or narrower bands. Accurate seed rate control The amount of seed applied is controlled by the speed of the metering roller, this is adjusted until the desired application rate is achieved. The control box in the cab allows setting and adjustment on the move. Calibration is performed by removing the metering roller cover and using a calibration tray. Forward speed related metering All Variocast seeders comes with spoked land wheel drive to give constant forward speed related metering. The the electronic machine uses a pulse sensor to feed information back to the control box. An optional radar and cutout switch is available. On some tractors own radar system it is possible to connect to the tractors own radar system. Forward speed related metering means accurately maintained application rates on high draft machines and in awkward shaped fields where ground speed may vary. Robust build Variocast seeder's are supplied with a strong mounting plate which assist fitting to whatever cultivation machine is chosen. The hopper and chassis are built to withstand the rigor's of high speed seeding in hard ground. Easy to fit Three simple steps to mounting your Variocast for ideal seed placement: Step 1 - Hopper positioning The Variocast Seeder Hopper can be mounted anywhere but it is important to ensure that the pipes to the outlets are not too long and that the seed always flows downhill. Practicalities of calibration and filling the hopper should always be considered when mounting the hopper. A simple base plate is provided to bolt or weld onto the implement, the Variocast can then be mounted onto this and removed if necessary. Step 2 - Land wheel drive / radar Variocast's are capable of metering to within 0.1Kg/ha if required which is critically important with such expensive small seeds. The land wheel drive is an important part of this accurate metering and should be mounted out of the way of soil flow from the cultivator where it can float freely to follow the contours of the land. A correctly positioned piece of 50mm box section is all that is required to mount the land wheel assembly. The optional radar needs to be mounted at 45 degrees from horizontal and the sensor should ideally be mounted between 60cm and 90cm above the ground to ensure an accurate reading of the forward speed. A radar cutout switch may be needed to cut off reading when turning on the headlands. Step 3 - Outlets Positioning the outlets correctly is critical for good seed placement. With most applications the outlets should be mounted just behind the cultivation elements and in front of the press roller. Where possible some adjustment should be designed into the mounting of the outlets to allow fine tuning of the seed placement in the field. The optional 1.5m or 2m distributor holders assist mounting the outlets and allow horizontal and vertical adjustment to alter the spread pattern.

Variocast 8

Low cost seeding with your cultivation equipment, the Variocast Seeder can be mounted on any type of implement and used for sowing crops such as rape, stubble turnips, kale and other small seeds as well as distributing slug pellets. Being ground wheel driven it maintains a consistent seedrate whatever speed the implement is working at.

Drive is taken from the spoked land wheel and transmitted through a 12mm flexible drive cable to a variator gearbox.

A simple lever system on the gearbox adjusts the output shaft speed and therefore seedrate.

Groundwheel drive - consistent seedrate.
Stepless metering gearbox - accurate seedrate.
Special distribution plates - even seed distribution.
1 metering segment/outlet - precise seed distribution

Variocast 8 Electronic

The Electronic Variocast Seeder incorporates all the standard features of the Variocast but with a variable speed electric motor driving the metering roller. This allows infinitely variable seed rates to be controlled and altered from the control box in the cab whilst retaining the ground wheel drive of the mechanical machine to ensure accuracy. Oilseed Rape seed rates or rather seed numbers per square metre are critical to control cost and maximise yield and the Electronic Variocast allows unmatched precision whilst also monitoring the seed levels and work rates for the operator.

Calibration control - simple calibration at the press of a button.
Landwheel or radar - accurate ground speed related drive.
1 metering segment per outlet - precise seed distribution.
On the move rate adjustment - tailor application rates to each               part of the field.
Powder coated and anodised - built to last.

Variocast 8 Electronic Pro

The Variocast 8 Electronic Pro OSR seeder incorporates all the features of the Variocast 8 Electronic but has the added extra of a hydraulic fan.

The hydraulic fan is ideal if you require more air flow due to one of the following reason:

1) The Variocast seeder needs mounting a long way from the seed application point requiring seed hoses larger than 4m.
2) Where dividers are required to achieve 10 or more outlets.
3) Especially high seed rates or forward speeds are required.
4) Working widths above 6.5m are required (9.5m)

Calibration control - simple calibration at the press of a button.
Landwheel or radar - accurate ground speed related drive.
1 metering segment per outlet - precise seed distribution.
On the move rate adjustment - tailor application rates to each               part of the field.
Powder coated and anodised - built to last.
Hydraulic fan as standard.

Variocast 16 Electronic Pro

The Variocast 16 Electronic Pro has all the features of the Variocast 8 Electronic Pro but with twice the outlets giving you 16 in total.

It has a maximum working width of 12.5m and is the machine to use if you require more outlets than 8.

The Variocast Seeder also comes standard with a large 400ltr hopper, hydraulic fan and electronic control box.

Calibration control - simple calibration at the press of a button.
Landwheel or radar - accurate ground speed related drive.
1 metering segment per outlet - precise seed distribution.
On the move rate adjustment - tailor application rates to each               part of the field.
Powder coated and anodised - built to last.
Hydraulic fan as standard.

Variocast 8 Technical

Variocast 8 Electronic Technical

Variocast 8 Electronic Pro Technical

Variocast 16 Electronic Pro Technical

Till-Seeding Info

In 2005 OPICO launched the Till-Seeding concept at its Conference in Peterborough, most major UK agronomy companies now recognise Subsoiler Till-Seeding as one of the most influential changes in arable crop production in the past decade. The uptake of the concept in major arable areas is plain to see as you travel around, the vast majority of Oilseed Rape is now drilled in wide rows.

For more information on Till-Seeding methods please visit the Till-Seeding website.