Small grains and oil seed producers can now plant more acres quickly and accurately with the introduction of the 23 m (76 ft.) 1870 Air Hoe Drill from John Deere.

This latest addition to the 1870 Air Seeder line-up, which includes 12 m (40 ft.) and 17 m (56 ft.) models, incorporates many new industry-leading features designed to improve seed and fertiliser placement and increased productivity.

John Peters, marketing manager for the John Deere Seeding Group, says this wider air seeder integrates the latest in precision placement, depth and pressure control, and other enhancements into one of the most rugged, dynamic air seeders on the market.

“The new 76 foot model 1870 offers a time-saving 36 percent increase in seeding width, better residue flow capabilities, and improved seeding and fertiliser placement and control. Also, with the new retractable openers for easier servicing and improved transport, customers will gain more productivity when seeding small grains and oil seeds,” Peters explains. “When combined with a John Deere air cart and used on rolling, undulating terrain, this is one of the most accurate, productive air seeding systems available.”

The 76 foot 1870 is a five-section seeder with 305 mm (12 in.) row spacing compatible with 430 bushel tow-between and 430 or 550 bushel tow-behind John Deere seed carts. It features increased frame height and 1,422 mm (56 in.) of spacing between each rank, which is nearly 508 mm (20 in.) more space compared to other seeders, to help move residue through without clogging.

The 1910 Air Carts have been updated to add even more productivity to the 1870 Air Seeder system. They feature a new Air Power™ 2 dual fan option that delivers up to 249 kg (550 lb.) of total product per 0.40 ha (1 acre) across the full width of the air seeder, using two independently controlled fans. The large, cast aluminum design and increased fan size allows higher-capacity performance especially when operating on slopes or hilly terrain.

The new 1870 Air Seeder also features a floating front hitch and wings with a range of 25 degrees of flex. High-flotation tyres placed inside the high-clearance frame are standard and provide better ground following and drill-to-soil contact, which helps improve accuracy of seed placement when covering hilly, undulating terrain.

Another exclusive standard feature to the 76 foot model is the TruSet™ depth and pressure control. TruSet lets the operator monitor, set and adjust trip force and packing pressure, from the tractor cab. TruSet also makes side-to-side frame levelling easier. Controlled through the GreenStar™ 2630 Display, operators can set target seeding depth and adjust it on-the-go, saving time and making it easier to fine-tune settings due to changes in field and soil conditions.

“Another new feature on this machine is our own Relative Flow™ blockage system that allows the operator to monitor the relative flow rate of both seed and fertiliser from the cab,” says Peters. “Sensors on the primary and secondary hoses and an easy-to-read display help ensure proper seed and fertiliser flow across the drill, from opener to opener.”

For improved seed and fertiliser placement, the 1870 has independent hydraulic controls and state of the art openers for consistent seed placement and fertiliser separation. Fertiliser can be banded 150 mm (6 in.) deep and seed tubes can be adjusted in 7 mm (0.25 in.) increments. A new cam lever on each opener makes it easier for the operator to adjust seed depth across the entire seeder.

With the new 1870 Air Seeder, folding and transporting can be easier and more manoeuvrable. The 76 foot 1870 folds completely in two minutes and the retractable openers narrow the folded width to a slim 7 m (22.5 ft.). The ability to retract the openers also makes servicing the seeder easier. And the use of more greaseless bushings and long life components cuts service time in half and increases uptime in the field.

To make transport easier, John Deere has included a “bump up” and “duck down” feature that allows customers to increase ground clearance by 100 mm (4 in.) to clear obstacles like railway tracks and duck down by 152 mm (6 in.) to clear low hanging power lines or overpasses. And to help speed up planting and headland turns, full-rise of the seeder has been optimised to 7.5 seconds.

“From the strong, lattice structure frame to the retractable openers to the integrated software technology, the all-new 76 foot 1870, combined with our updated 1910 Air Carts, help producers plant small grains and canola faster and more accurately than ever before,” says Peters. “This air seeder is the most significant addition to our air seeding portfolio in recent years!”