The box drill that runs like an air drill

Great Plains is expanding its line of seeding equipment with the addition of a new 50-foot BD7600 Box Drill.

The BD7600 is now available in widths ranging from 26 feet to the new 50-foot model. With a box capacity of up to 3.8 bushels per foot, that means the 50-foot model has a capacity of over 180 bushels.

“With the increase in working width and box capacity, the 50-foot BD7600 brings productivity and efficiency together to improve producer profitability,” says Sterling Steep, associate product manager for Great Plains. “Whether producers need a simple-to-operate, ground drive unit or a technologically-advanced, hydraulic drive unit to overcome field variability, the new BD7600 50 ft. sets each operator up for success.”

Great Plains has focused on innovating and developing its box drills since the company was founded in 1976. Taking that further, the 50-foot BD7600 was created with the intention of doing more than your typical box drill. James Shurts, vice president of sales and marketing for Great Plains, says the company had to focus on its core base with this iteration of the box drill. Great Plains looked to see what it could do to blur the line between a box drill and an air drill, but at a more economical price point.

The new 50-foot BD7600 is aimed at large-acre producers who want the technological features with air drills, but with the simplicity and reduced maintenance of box drills.

Enhancements

Taking feedback from producers, Great Plains has introduced a number of enhancements to their whole line of BD7600 box drills. 

The hydraulic drive, previously only offered on air drills, is not only new to the BD7600, but to box drills as well. The drive, combined with the Great Plains DrillCommand technology, allows producers to use variable-rate seeding, with some additional cost-saving section control features. 

The DrillCommand technology has a simple, easy-to-use interface that works with most ISOBUS-compatible monitors for manual section control and full variable-rate seeding with a prescription map. This is also where operators can select seed rate and speed adjustment options from the cab, monitor seed levels, and receive in-cab diagnostics. 

The new BD7600 is built with a heavy-duty box design, rigorously tested by Great Plains through over 8 million twist cycles. The design allows it to be filled completely without moving seed by hand. A new split-box design allows the use of three different fertilizer-to-seed ratios.

Metering system

Great Plains’ metering system is core to the BD7600 series planters, allowing the metering of large and small seeds, fertilizer, and cover crops through the same seed cup. 

This is implemented with the goal of greater accuracy for both traditional and cover crops, and making for an easy calibration experience. Input gates just above the meter adjust the seed flow to the meter wheels, which producers can use to turn off rows to change row spacing and assist with calibration.

“The metering system makes the BD7600 a great candidate for cover crop applications where farmers are wanting to put in some small seeds like alfalfa, and then some grass seeds as well,” says Stepp.

Price and availability

The 50-foot BD7600 Box Drill starts around $190,000 and increases from there depending on the configuration. The box drill is on sale now and is expected to be delivered in early 2023. For more information, visit GreatPlainsAg.com.