Castilian lentil. Sowing work with the MF 8S.225

We started the year visiting our friends Leoncio and Miguel, at the Casablanca farm (San Clemente - Cuenca), the aim was to see the Massey Ferguson 8S.225 Dyna-7 sowing Castilian lentils. We spent a fun afternoon watching the tractor in action... we really liked the tractor. MF certainly has a premium product with 8S Series. 

In our area, vegetables pulse crops are already very common and we use them in the rotations required by European aid (CAP). Cuenca is one of the provinces where most sunflower is sown, but in our area (southern part of the province) the sunflower is already a minimum crop due to the very dry and hot summers, so for years we have focused on winter crops and woody crops. We still sow some sunflower, but in very specific fields to control weeds, for example. 

In terms of machinery, the 8S tractor and the Aguirre seed drill made a spectacular team. We really liked the tractor, especially the breadth of the cab and its comfort. Miguel told us that he was very happy and that it allows him to work many hectares a day and many hours per day. As for the seed drill, it is a tried and tested machine that works without any problems.  

The data and technical featrues most important of the tractor are: 

• AGCO Power 7.4-litre 6-cylinder engine.
• Power ratings: from 205HP to 305HP.
• Transmissions: Dyna-7, Dyna E-Power and Dyna-VT (Fendt).
• Maximum Lift Capacity (kg): 10,000 kg lift capacity.
• Operator environment: Efficient and Exclusive.
• Hydraulic pump up to 205 l/min (1,650 rpm) with Closed Centre Load Sensing.
• Up to 8 electrical spool valves.
• Farming Technology 4.0: MF Guide system, MF Section & Rate Control, MF Task Doc Pro, MF Next Management FMIS and Fieldstar 5 terminal.
• Cab: 3.4m3 space, 6.6m2 glass surface and 68dB.
• NovAtel® and Trimble® GPS receivers systems.
• 3.05m wheelbase and 5.7m turning radius.
• Minimum weight of 10,000kg and Maximum Gross vehicle weight of 16,000kg.

We have to admit that we only looked at the tractor, as it was the first 8S we had seen working in a "real" field, far from fairs and demonstrations and we have to admit that we were impressed. If we have to make any improvements, perhaps the GPS screen (Datatronic 5) was too small with a dark interface... There is room for improvement, but the tractor is a premium tractor in every way. 

Versión en español.

Sowing days: Cereals and pulse vegetables

In our opinion, the sowing task is our favourite job. We work to sow a few days per year (about 15 days) but they are really funny. It is a job you must carry out with high accuracy (our Cerea autoguidance system by GPS helps us) because it is the first step to have a good crop and good harvesting yield... when we finish sowing a field we are satisfied with the work done, as long as the result is appropriate. In our area it rained in October and first days of November so soil was fine to sow. Our followers told us that in others areas of Spain it didn't rain for a few months and they aren't enjoying their sowing tasks.

This campaign we have diversified our crops and we have sowed a few varieties of cereals and pulse vegetables. We have been carrying out this process for many years to rotate our fields with different crops and in order to have better weed control. Normally, we sow sunflowers but this year we have already sowed all our fields except some fields that are going to be fallow whole year.

The seeding dose used in our crop sowed are below:

• PR Wheat: 240 kg/ha
• Narbonensis Vetch: 225 kg/ha
• Comanche Pea: 220 kg/ha
• Trujillo Triticale: 210 kg/ha
• Hispanic Barley: 210 kg/ha
• Mariana Vetch:  180 kg/ha
• Lentil: 150 kg/ha

What seeding dose do you use in your farm?

Our great friend Oscar (from El Provencio) sent us a few interesting pictures of his sowing works and his new Lamusa Europa 2000 XSR seed drill. He told us the seed drill works really very fine and he will be able to finish sowing tasks really soon... Unfortunately, the soil is dry and the work is not perfect as he likes it... we hope it rains soon because we need water in our fields. ​Also, Diego and Cesar sent us a few pictures about their Claydon, Aguirre and Lamusa seed drills...thank you very much!!​

Versión en español.