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Meir Soil Conditioner,

effective soil loosening. reduced soil disturbance. healthy soil promotion.

PROUDLY PART OF

Meir Soil Conditioner Features

  • Strong and dependable – bearings proven up to 44,000N
  • British designed and manufactured – high quality, innovative products at competitive prices
  • Long lasting – protected with the latest in tungsten wear prevention technology.

Overview

Healthy soils lie at the heart of the design of the Meir SC. Effective soil loosening throughout the root zone, whilst minimising soil mixing and surface disturbance, make the Meir SC an ideal partner in reduced tillage establishment regimes.

Strength has been poured into the Meir at every opportunity. The main frame is made from high grade steel and has been rigorously tested to ensure it holds up even the toughest of going. The bearings in the packer roller are proven up to 44,000N (30% more than typical competitors).

The Meir’s Hardox legs, fitted with shear-bolt protection, are spread over 2 rows, reducing the interference between tines, and therefore reducing surface disturbance. Wearing metal comes in the form of a single replaceable point-wing-shin combination, all protected with the latest in tungsten wear prevention technology.

The Meir’s 15mm wide point is positioned 140mm forward of the leaning edge of the wing in order to fracture the soil before the wing comes into contact with it, reducing wing wear and preventing smearing by the wing.

The 200mm wide wing lifts the soil 40mm to ensure effective vertical fracturing as the soil drops off the rear of the wing. The 200mm length of the wing provides a shallower angle of attack (10°) helping to reduce surface disturbance.

Removable straight discs positioned in the front of the legs, help to ‘crimp’ the surface preventing mixing of the soil at the surface. Fitted with hydraulic protection, the discs also allow the soil conditioner to work directly into thick cover crops and grass leys.

The Meir’s roller is fitted with deep angled points centred either side of each leg to leave a weatherproof, firm surface. Adjustable scrapers ensure the roller remains clean in stickier going. Optional extras include a rubber roller or a hydraulic adjustment of rollers.

Hydraulic Adjustment

Cutting disc hydraulically operated from tractor cab. Includes hydraulic protection.

Cutting Disc

Cuts through residue and reduces surface disturbance made by tine.

Two Row Tine Stagger

Reduces surface disturbance and allows each tine to work independently.

Steel Roller

Puncture proof roller provides consistent depth of work, whilst rings close soil behind tines and leave a weatherproof finish.

Heavy Duty Bearings

Provide long service life reducing downtime and servicing costs.

Shear Bolt Tine Protection
Long Lasting

Tungsten Carbide protection on point, shin and wing ensures longevity of points.

Effective Point

Positioned well forward of the leading edge of the wing, the point effectively shatters the soil across the full width of the wing.

Gently Lifting

The longer wing (200mm) provides 40mm lift but at a lower angle of attack, reducing surface disturbance.

Anhedral Wing

Wings are angled down from root to tip to create more universal depth of loosening between tines.

Trusted By Many

What Our Customers Say

You're In Safe Hands With Our Dedicated Aftersales Team

We understand how important it is to keep your drill running during the drilling period, therefore we strive to offer customers fast and effective solutions. Phone support and advice from our specialists, who have practical knowledge of the drills, is available whilst an ‘on the road’ mechanic is available if problems need more attention.

Every new drill we sell comes with one year warranty. Spare parts are normally available on next day delivery. Repairable parts can be collected from customers farms to be repaired.

Meir Soil Conditioner Specification

Working Width 3.00m 4.00m 6.00m
Hydraulically Folding No Yes Yes
Number of Legs 6 8 12
Attachments Cat 3 Linkage
Leg Spacing 500mm
Maximum Working Depth 275mm
Minimum Power Requirement 50hp/m

Meir Soil Conditioner FAQ’s

What is the power requirement for a Meir SC?

The horsepower required to pull a Meir SC depends on soil type, conditions and depth of working. We would recommend a minimum power of 50hp/m (200hp on a 4m Meir SC).

What is the working depth range of the Meir SC?

The Meir Soil Conditioner is capable of working down to depths of 11” (275mm) whilst it can be brought much shallower, to depths of c.4” (100mm). At shallower depths it is recommended that the tractors top link be lengthened to reduce the angle of attack of the Meir’s soil lifting wing so as not to create too much soil disturbance on the surface.

What is the tine spacing on the Meir SC range?

The Meir SC has a 500mm (20”) tine spacing. This provides a uniform loosening across the working width of the machine at a variety of different working depths. The anhedral wing design of the Meir Point ensures a more even depth of loosening across the working width.

What protection is fitted to the wearing metal?

The Meir SC point is fitted with a tungsten carbide tile up the leading edge of the point and up the shin. The wings are coated in a tungsten carbide coating and the base material of the point and legs is Boron Steel. Through thorough testing we have found this level of protection to offer the best longevity of the wearing metal, reducing downtime whilst replacing points as well as ensuring a low cost of operation.

What are the different Roller options available on the Meir SC?

The Meir SC comes as standard with a steel roller fitted with pointed cones positioned either side of each tine. This roller provides a ‘corrugated’ finish, closing the surface of the soil behind each point and creating a greater surface area to ensure the soil remains ‘weatherproof’. It is ideal in most arable scenarios.

Many Meir SC owners are using their machines as sward lifters in pastures. The cutting disc fitted to the Meir reduces any tearing of the sward, whilst the low disturbance tines further reduce sward damage. A rubber, semi-pneumatic roller can be specified for this scenario to ensure the sward remains level. Speak to one of our sales team to find out more.

Can seeder units be fitted to the Meir SC?

We have supplied several machines fitted with seeder units for establishing cover crops and OSR behind the Meir. Utilising our Dale Drills experience of efficient crop establishment, we have several options available in this regard. Please speak to one of our team to find out more.

General FAQ’s

What are the running costs of Dale direct drills?

Although the drills are working for much of the time in very hard abrasive conditions, the tungsten tipped coulters give a long wearing life. Running costs on earth wearing parts are generally less than £1/ac.

What is the output of the direct drills?

A 6m drill at 10kph will drill 6 ha/hr in a straight line. With a 30% reduction for filling the hopper and turning on headlands, an output of over 4 ha/hr can be achieved.

What is the row spacing and what effect does it have on yield?

The Eco-Drill has a unique adjustable row spacing. The drill can be adjusted to work at 5″ (12.5cm) or 10″ (25cm). A quick adjuster allows this to be done in a relatively short amount of time. The Eco-Drill is the only drill on the market to be able to direct drill at 5″ row spacing.

The MTD typically drills at 5″ row spacing although we are normally able to adjust this to suit users requirements.

The Zero Till drills a band of seed 77mm (3″) wide, which is firmed down by the press wheel. There is a gap of 173mm (6″) between bands. Wider row spacing than current ‘close spaced’ drills is essential to allow trash to pass through the drill. In trials, yields have been the same until row spacing exceeds 355mm (14″).

Why is the drill so easy to pull?

As Dale Drills are only cultivating and rolling the part of the ground where the seed is planted, with a 12mm wide tungsten carbide tip, and leaving the rest of the ground untouched, they only require 20hp/metre width to pull them.

Are slugs a problem with reduced cultivations?

Yes, the less cultivation of the soil, the fewer slugs are squashed. The trash on the surface also harbours slugs. Slug problems can be reduced by baling and removing straw, harrowing stubble to evenly distribute remaining straw and trash, and rolling after drilling. Slug pellets will probably need to be applied, especially at the crop emergence stage.

How do you deal with compaction when direct drilling?

If you have a compaction problem, then remove that problem before drilling. Dale direct drills work well on level lifted ground, especially if it is rolled down before drilling.

A Controlled Traffic Farming system can be used to reduce the amount of compaction and therefore the need to cultivate. See our Controlled Traffic page for more information.

What advice can you give on preparation of land for direct drilling?

Direct drilling has the potential to save money on establishment costs, save moisture (we might need it one day!) and improve soil structure, by keeping the organic matter on the surface and increasing the population of earthworms. It is therefore well worth taking the trouble to make sure it works well.

We have put together these guidelines:

  1. Fields that don’t have any compaction problems are in the correct state to direct drill. If the land does have compaction then level lift and roll prior to drilling.
  2. Choose fields that don’t have severe grass weed problems. Grass weed seeds are better ploughed down and then the blackgrass can be sprayed out in the years before direct drilling.

Stubble Management

  1. Use a chaff spreader on the combine.
  2. Combine the field using wide headlands, to prevent thick deposits of  straw when turning.
  3. Cut cereal stubble 150mm (6”) high or less, and if not baling, finely chop the straw and spread it as well as possible. Longer stubble tends to cause blockages in the drill and also shades the growing crop.

If the chopped straw has not been evenly spread then straight tooth harrow or use a straw rake on the stubble at an angle to the direction of combining, which spreads the straw evenly across the field, helps to break it up further, and may provide a very shallow surface tilth. It should also squash a proportion of the slug population, if present.

Drill Early
Have the direct drilling done as early as reasonably possible. Give the plants time to establish while the soil is warm so that they can grow through any straw mulch and away from slug pressure.

Increase the seed rates by 5-10%. We are after all doing much less to create an ideal seedbed, so it is understandable that slightly less seedlings will survive.

Put slug bait points down prior to drilling. If there is a slug problem, spread slug pellets at the same time as drilling, or mix pellets with the seed. I would only advise mixing pellets with the seed if the land is cloddy, and the drill has not completely firmed soil around the seed.

Roll after drilling, to put down any stones and firm the surface to help against slugs.

Check for slug activity approximately 1 week after drilling when the seedlings are just emerging. If required, apply half rate minislug pellets. The plants are at their most vulnerable at the seedling stage.

Weed Control
Spray off with Roundup pre drilling if you have weeds and volunteers emerged.
Alternatively use Roundup after drilling if you intend using a
pre-emerge spray, as many will mix satisfactorily.

Use this year’s tramlines for next year’s crop. They will still be visible, and provided they are not deeply rutted will be ideal for carrying the sprayer, as they tend to remain firm right through the autumn.

You should see far less weeds emerging in direct drilled crops, especially if you have chopped and spread the straw prior to drilling.

If you wish to use a soil acting herbicide, don’t be too concerned about straw residue on the surface. Most of the chemical will wash through the straw to the soil, and if the straw is very thick, the weeds cannot grow through it anyway.

You should expect a small yield increase from direct drilling, because of moisture conservation, better soil structure and a lower weed pressure, and on all but the very lightest soils you should save over £30/ac (110 euro/ha) on establishment costs. It is therefore well worth making sure direct drilling has every chance of succeeding.

What are the ideal conditions for 'Zero Till' or 'Direct' drilling?

Conditions for direct drilling need to be as follows:

  1. Soil needs to be dry enough to crumble and form some tilth when tines pass through it.
  2. Soil structure needs to be good.
  3. Direct drilled crops are generally slower to grow; so direct drilling should be done early to give the crop more time.
  4. Fertilizer applied at drilling will significantly improve crop establishment by promoting more rapid growth, and better root development.

Will the Dale direct drills work on conventional seedbeds?

The drill works on min-till or conventional seedbeds. Rolling the seedbed to make it firm before drilling is advisable to enable the drill to perform well. Adjustable pressure to the assembly rams on our drills allow for an appropriate amount of pressure to be set for the conditions.

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