Gil short disc harrows

A few weeks ago, the Spanish manufacturer Gil provided us with one of their disc harrows to test on different terrains, and we’ve had the opportunity to conduct the necessary trials on our farm. Before sharing our impressions, we would like to point out that Gil specialises in cereal seed drills, but for years they've also developed a strong line of sprayers and soil preparation implements. The fast harrows are one of the implements that have recently been added to its portfolio.

As for the Gil short disc harrows, we could comment:

• There are from 3 to 6 metres working width. 24 discs (3m) to 48 discs (6m).
• Discs of 22‘ or 24’.
• Ring or cage roller.
• Weights range from 1,210kg (3m) to 3,500kg (6m).
• Disc support can be with tichk rubber or vibro arm.
• All disc harrows are suspended.
• It is a maintenance free implement.
• Hydraulic folding with automatic locking.
• Its construction makes it light and very robust, ideal for all types of terrain.

We still need to test it under more temperate conditions, as the summer in our area is very dry and the soil is extremely hard. However, we’ve already used the disc harrow on fallow fields and stubbles with promising results. The work was done with a 4 metre discs harrow paired with our Deutz-Fahr M600 Agrotron tractor (130hp). The tractor performed exceptionally well with the implement, both in transport and in the field. Based on our tests, we can draw several conclusions:

• This implement is ideal for shallow tillage.
• It provides a very uniform mixture of straw and soil on stubble.
• Its high working speed allows for covering many hectares in a short time.
• It is maintenance-free, ensuring no time is wasted when heading out to work.
• The cage roller works effectively in sunflower stubble, breaking up the residue.
• On fields where there is a lot of residue or weeds, it is the ideal implement to work with.

In conclusion, the Gil folding short disc harrow has proven to be a reliable and efficient implement for shallow tillage, even under the challenging conditions of our dry and hardened summer soil. We look forward to further testing under different conditions, but so far, the results are promising, indicating that this implement could become a key tool in our soil preparation processes.

 Short videos on our YouTube channel:

• (I) Gil disc harrow.
• (II) Gil disc harrow.

Versión en español.

Finishing cereal campaign. Baling days

As we mentioned in our previous post, we have closed a historic year with exceptional results, achieving yields we had never seen before. At the end of the season, the only task remaining is the baling of cereal straw (barley, wheat, triticale) and pulse vegetables (yeros and lentils).

This work is normally carried out in our village by service companies from Murcia and some from Albacete. For many years now, for example, the Rosado Brothers (Bullas - Murcia) have been welcome here for baling the remains of the harvest. This year, other companies such as El Parra from Bullas, Murcia, and Soria Brothers from Pozo Cañada, Albacete, are also performing this task. Therefore, over the next few weeks we will inspect the plots to ensure the straw has been baledand so we will be able to complete this season and start the next one, that is to say, to begin preparation, including ploughing the stubble for future sowing.

Regarding straw yields, this year has been particularly interesting due to the exceptional height of the cereal crops, resulting in a high number of bales. Typically, the amount of straw generated is about half the amount of grain produced. For example, if a field yields 3,000 kg/ha of grain, it will likely produce around 1,500 kg/ha of straw. Bales usually weigh around 350kg. The working speed of the baler varies a lot depending on the amount of straw, but it can be around 7 km/h. As you can see in the video, this year we are using a JCB Fastrac 4220 iCON tractor paired with a Fendt 1270N baler, capable of producing approximately 15,000 bales.

In conclusion, this season's impressive straw yield highlights the efficiency and productivity of our baling process, ensuring a strong start to the next agricultural cycle.

Versión en español.