Wireless seeding with Seed Hawk iCon

It’s all to do with wireless technology to provide section control for the bar and variable rate capability for the air seeder – both via a cab-mounted tablet app.

A receiver mounted on the air seeder acquires the iPad signal and provides a virtual “bubble” of wireless signal around the bar and the air cart, enabling a one person operation of remotely calibrating the air cart and providing the necessary paddock map GPS coordinates for section control.

According to WA Seed Hawk product specialist Russell McCagh, the iCon Seed Hawk, with section control and variable rate capability, will cater to the needs of farmers looking for the accurate metering of seed and fertiliser while reducing input costs associated with overlapping.

“A new metering system for the iCon air carts allow accurate sowing between one and 500kg/ha of seed and fertiliser at speeds of up to 15km/h,” Mr McCagh said.

“Each individual tank has three load cells for accurate weighing of product and increases efficiency when filling a required amount to finish a paddock or planning a re-fill.

“The iCon carts feature up to eight independent electronic metering systems and each meter is driven by a high torque 40 watt electric motor fitted to a 64:1 reduction gearbox, allowing it to run efficiently at a low rpm while seeding at a wide range of rates.

“The metering roller itself is made of polyurethane, which prevents damage to the motor by a foreign object.

“The Icon system runs dual fans allowing for accurate air delivery especially for canola seed placement, reducing seed bounce and hose blockages.”

During a demonstration last week at north Cunderdin, the 660 Seed Hawk air cart was coupled to an 18.2m (60ft) 45 Series tool bar on 30cm (12in) spacings.

Purposely operating over seeded ground, the section control was evident as individual sections automatically lifted out of the ground.

“The driver does not have to worry about flipping switches to stop and start product flow or pulling levers to raise and lower the openers,” Mr McCagh said.

“The controller provides simple and intuitive control of all seeder and toolbar functions without the need for complex hardware/software interfaces or wiring.

“It combines real-time information with on-the-go automatic calibration, eliminating guesswork and the frustrating need to go back and forth from the cabin to the cart.

“Anecdotal evidence from owners have shown section control and variable application have the potential to reduce input costs by five to 10 per cent by eliminating overlap on headlands.”

iCon 800, 660 and 500 carts have a total capacity of 22, 18 and 15 tonnes across four, three and two primary bins, respectively.

An additional one-tonne bin on all three models allows small seeds, granular inoculants and micronutrients to be fed directly to the seed or fertiliser lines.

The operator can blend fertilisers from two different bins on-the-go, or incorporate granular inoculants directly to the seed row.

You also can divert the seed or fertiliser in each tank to either the seed or the fertiliser airstream simply by flicking a switch.

Standard features include easy access ladders and walkways, while optional high capacity augers, belt conveyors or bag-lifting systems ensure fast and easy filling.

The iCon air carts are purpose-designed for use with Seed Hawk 45 and XL toolbars, which span eight working widths from 12m to 25.2m (40-83ft).

Both series can be configured with 25 or 30cm (10-12in) row spacings.

In seeding mode, the Seed Hawk bars provide two openers with seed separated from fertiliser via a “shelf placement” effectively providing a 25mm (1in) separation from the fertiliser.

A following press wheel provides the seed-soil contact and the resultant water-harvesting furrow.

CLAAS Harvest Centre has demonstrated the iCon seeding rig throughout the Wheatbelt this season and according to Mr McCagh has impressed farmers with its capabilities.