The Great Plains box drill legacy continues with a new line of min-till folding box drills, the BD7600 Series. The new drills are offered in two-section and three-section models in sizes ranging from 26′ to 40′.
Chris Coleman, Great Plains Engineering Manager, says, “The BD7600 is an exciting development for the product line that launched the Great Plains story with its original 30-foot folding full press drill over 40 years ago. We have revolutionized the folding box drill with many new features that were previously exclusive to air drills, such as hydraulic drive to allow prescription map variable rate control and hydraulic calibration, changing row-spacings by closing the meter inlet, and the addition of scales. This drill was designed to provide maximum productivity and efficiency in the field.”
At the heart of the new box drills is an all-new feeder cup assembly, which meters by changing the meter wheel rpm. Staggered wheels and chevron-shaped outlet gates help to deliver seed and fertilizer more consistently. Input gates located above the meter adjust the seed flow to the meter wheels, which allows producers to turn off rows to change row spacing or assist in calibration.
“We’re excited to provide a brand-new feeder cup to our customers. The development of the feeder cup included rigorous testing to ensure high performance,” Coleman says. The feeder cup has been designed to meter seed, small seeds, and granular fertilizer with greater accuracy and easier calibration — saving producers time and money.
The BD7600 features a heavy-duty box design that has been rigorously tested, completing over eight million twist cycles, to ensure industry-leading durability. The new geometry allows it to be filled completely without moving seed by hand. A new split-box design allows three different fertilizer to seed ratios. To extend working hours, the seed boxes now have a larger capacity up to 3.8 bu. per foot and an LED light option has been added to help producers load their drill in the dark.
With optimum flexibility, the BD7600 plants over terraces and rugged terrain with ease, saving producers time and seed. Additionally, the 15″ disc blades on the row units are offset, with alternating leading edges to prevent side-shifting and enhance stability on side hills. This is especially helpful when planting with GPS-equipped machines.
For ease of maintenance and operation, a new, optional hydraulic drive system reduces moving parts. A new DrillCommand interface is compatible with most OEM tractor-based ISO controllers or with Mueller in-cab displays for section and rate control. “This new system allows the customer to have the latest seeding control technology at their fingertips, including variable-rate seeding from a prescription map or manually from the terminal,” says Coleman.
A fan favorite at the National Farm Machinery Show was the hydraulic jack. Other options include: a weight kit to monitor seed rates on-the-go with precision; blockage monitors to alert users to seed delivery issues; a high-vision camera that can be mounted in multiple locations; and Needham seed tubes for enhanced seed or fertilizer flow. The BD7600 also has several press wheel options to fit producers’ needs, including the all-new 3″ x 13″ double rib that applies even pressure to the seed furrow for superior trench closing.
As a result of continuous innovation, the new BD7600 offers producers legendary durability, seed performance, and a variety of options to make quick, efficient work of seeding.
To learn more about the Great Plains BD7600, visit their website.
