VREDO, as a provider of through and direct seeding machines, also has many satisfied users in the Austrian agricultural sector. One of these is Andreas Wollendorfer from Niederkappel, in the municipality of Rohrbach (Upper Austria). He is the owner of the contracting company Wollendorfer Agrarservice & Erdbau, which in 25 years has developed into a leading company in the region.
The contracting company does about 80 percent of its work in livestock farming, mainly for dairy farmers. The remaining 20 percent revolves around arable farming, centered on cereal cultivation. “Typical for this region – especially towards the Danube Valley – are the large gradients of plots of up to 30 percent. Especially in arable farming, the prevention of erosion therefore plays an important role,” says Andreas Wollendorfer.
Easy operation
For 15 years, Wollendorfer has relied on VREDO technology for grassland overseeding and direct seeding of grain and green manures in the grain stubble. Since this year, a third machine has arrived on the farm: a DZ5 Agri Air 290 Twin. This is equipped with a pneumatic seeding system, split seed tank and a working width of 2.85 meters. “During the development and testing phase of this machine, I have been closely involved in the field,” says Andreas not without pride. One of the biggest changes, compared to his other two machines, is very important to the contractor. Namely, the latest machine is equipped with a new operating terminal. This color Isobus screen is linked to a GPS system and also equipped with a level sensor for the seed tanks, overview of the sown hectares and the control and setting of up to maximum seed types via one screen. “Especially the stepless, electrically adjustable metering system is easy to use and a major improvement. I can omit the manual turning off for the correct adjustment thanks to the new system.”
Adjustable pre-seeder
Wollendorfer normally uses the Agri Air 290 Twin behind a 150-hp tractor, with a cradle hanging in the front linkage. The overseeder is equipped with an adjustable pre-seeder, fitted with disc reamers. “We use these for direct seeding in the grain stubble. With these preprocessors it is possible to remove crop residues in front of the seeding discs. The intensity of the operation is hydraulically adjustable, making it easy to anticipate conditions. If you set the disc reamers at their most aggressive, this has the effect of a light tillage. Thanks to the pre-tiller, the machine has become more versatile.”
Grass and Grains
Wollendorfer’s latest machine is equipped with the hydraulically adjustable Crop Drill System (CDS). He also experiences this as a great advance. “Because I can now change the row spacing of the machine in no time between 7.5 and 15 centimeters, I can quickly switch between seeding grass and cereals. Because of soil erosion problems in our area, farmers like to leave the stubble from the previous crop on the land. This has greatly increased interest in direct seeding. With the new DZ5 Agri Air Twin, we can offer this efficiently to our customers.”
Ideal seeding depth
The contractor is particularly pleased with the Dual Depth System (DDS) on the machine. This allows each seed type to be sown at exactly the right depth, resulting in even seed germination. “This is important because of the crop rotation in our area of operation,” he explains. “After the grain harvest, grass is usually sown fairly shallowly in the stubble. In late summer and fall, two more cuts can then be harvested from this. At the same time, we can sow under the grass a legume such as peas or beans, which are harvested together with the grass. Thereby, the split seed tank – with twice 500-liter capacity – helps to sow different seed types.”
Conclusion
Andreas Wollendorfer summarizes, “You can’t find the technology we need at any other machine manufacturer like VREDO. As far as I’m concerned, nothing beats VREDO’s seeding machines for overseeding and direct seeding.”
