Used Direct Drills for sale in the UK

The drill you buy will depend on the type of tillage system that youprefer, and the soil type and conditions, amongst other factors that can change with the weather! Take advantage of expert knowledge by discussing your needs with our experts and we’re sure to source a great machine for you. Contact us today!

Direct drilling is very attractive to most farmers as it removes the need for multiple cultivation passes to create a seedbed. The main benefits of direct drilling  are cost reduction due to the reduced groundwork and soil heath as there is less traffic and soil disturbance helping the soil to work organically as nature intended.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for everyone; in some situations, the soil or conditions mean that more cultivation is needed to increase the germination of the crop.

To extend the life of your drill and to reduce damage how you store your drill after use is very important.  There are 3 main actions to carry out:

1. Ensure the drill is thoroughly cleaned out, and all the seed (and fertiliser if it is a grain and fert drill) is removed, leaving seed in the hopper can not only damage the drill but also encourages rodent activity which can cause a lot of expensive damage to the metering system and the electrics.
2. The drill should be cleaned and oiled/greased this will help keep any water out of the bearings and moving parts which will prevent them from being seized next time you come to use it.
3. Keep the control box in a warm, dry place. The control box is one of the most important parts of the drill but is also one of the most delicate.  Ensuring that it doesn’t get damp and is kept at a constant temperature means it’ll be working again next year.

A combi or combination seed drill is an agricultural machine that allows for efficient seed planting. A combination drill combines ploughing and sowing into one, using tine or disc cultivators to turn and produce a stale seedbed before sowing the seeds.

Väderstad is a Swedish company, and most of their products (including seed drills) are manufactured in Väderstad, Sweden, the town after which the company is named. All Väderstad Farm Machinery is manufactured at their factory in Langbank, Saskatchewan, in Canada.

Väderstad’s Seed Hawk line is manufactured in the company’s factory in Langbank, Saskatchewan, in Canada.

Row Crops – Precision drills are ideal for row crops like maize

Cereals and Beans – Cultivation and combination drills are better for cereals and larger fields. Direct drills can also be used when zero-til is the goal.

Oilseed Rape (OSR) – Oil drills are used but you won’t find these on our drills page! Oil drills tend to be seeders mounted onto subsoilers because of how OSR root systems develop.

Tubular Crops – Potato planters and other specialised equipment.

What’s more important to consider is matching the drill to the soil type and possibly swap out drills as soil conditions change over the seasons.

What is the best drill for different soil types, soil conditions, and tillage concepts?

Disclaimer: This list is to act as a starting point to help form decisions. It’s best practice to discuss your land type, geographical location, planned crops, and preferred tillage concept with machinery experts, neighbouring farmers, and your agronomist to help create a detailed view of your needs.

Based on soil types

• Heavy (clay) soils: when wet = combination drill, when dry = cultivation drill
• Sandy soils = cultivation/ direct drill
• Silt = cultivation/ direct drill
• Loam = cultivation/ direct drill
• Chalky soils = tine drill
• Peat soils = cultivation drill

Based on soil conditions

• Wet soil = tine/ combination drill
• Compacted, wet soil = combination drill
• Dry = cultivation and direct drills

Based on tillage concepts

• Controlled traffic method = direct drill/ strip drill
• Zero-tillage = direct drill
• Min-til = cultivation

Yes, combination drills are slower as they include an additional soil cultivation step. Direct drills are faster since they skip the heavy cultivation stage.

The Väderstad Rapid is engineered for high-speed drilling and features single-pass seeding, allowing for direct drilling or use after minimal cultivation. It is well-suited for high-output operations that require efficiency and versatility.

In contrast, the Väderstad Spirit is specifically designed for precision seeding in pre-cultivated soil. It features a pressurised seed metering system and advanced depth control, making it ideal for farmers focused on uniform seed placement and optimised germination rates.