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Amity Technology based in Fargo, N.D. is launching its line of direct-seeding systems into Western Canada this year, with a machine that works well as a direct-seeding tool, but provides just a bit of black soil over the seed row to improve germination.

Guy Walker (left), who farms near Fairview, Alta., discusses features of the Amity twin disk drill with Gene Breker, Amity’s sales manager. -- Lee Hart photo

For 2010 Amity will introduce its twin-disk drill, a combination no-till and conventional drill, says company spokesperson Gene Breker, sales manager of Amity’s seeding division. The twin-disk drill is on display this week at the Agri-Trade farm show at Red Deer, Alta.

Described as “the first totally new seeding concept in generations,” the design features two opposing single disks that work well in high crop residue, but at the same time disturb the soil enough to produce a strip of “black” soil over the seed row.

“It provides a compromise for those farmers who want a no-till system, but often have cool soil at seeding,” says Breker. “The drill doesn’t disturb the soil surface, except over the seed row, which allows the soil to warm up faster.”

The drill, which comes in 10-foot width increments ranging from 30 to 60 feet, has paired row openers providing six- and nine-inch row spacing. The system has adjustable on-the-go depth control and seed placement, and is designed to eliminate sidewall compaction and hair pinning of crop residue.

The 18-inch diameter opposing discs produce about six inches of disturbed soil over the seed row. The drill can be outfitted with mid-row fertilizer banding capability, and has an optional feature for banding anhydrous ammonia. The drill requires between seven to nine horsepower per foot of drill.

“One of the nice features of the seeding system is that we have removed 75 per cent of the moving parts,” says Breker. “On many seeding systems you can have eight or more moving parts or pivot points per seed row, but with ours from front to back to get the seed in the ground we only have two moving parts, which means much less maintenance.”

The Amity drill has been displayed at Canadian farm shows the past couple of years, but the company plans to have western Canadian dealers handling the product for 2010. Its first dealer in Alberta is KeyAg Ventures of Red Deer.

-- Lee Hart is a field editor with Grainews in Calgary.