Amazone has further expanded its Precea trailed precision seeder range with a 6m, eight-row version to suit contractors and growers who do not need the big capacity of the current 9m and 12m models or lack the pulling power to operate them.

Unlike those machines, which exclusively operate with a big hopper supplying the seeding units on an automatic top-up basis, their narrower sibling can have that system with an 850-litre hopper or individual 70-litre hoppers on each unit.

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While the former is attractive for loading seed quickly from big bags, the latter offers quick change-overs for growers or contractors frequently planting a number of different crops.

Both are supplemented by a 3,000-litre single-chamber fertiliser hopper to place nutrients at the same time, and can also have a 17-litre micro-granule applicator.

Common features include PreTeC mulch-sowing coulters, electric drive to the perforated singling discs and over-pressure singulation by a trio of auto-adjusted stripping fingers.

SmartForce auto coulter pressure is designed to maintain consistent planting depths at up to 15kph.

Amazone reckons a tractor of about 150hp should be happy enough pulling this seeder, on which the eight units can be set for 70cm, 75cm and 80cm row widths – and there are plans for a 12-row model to accommodate 45cm and 50cm spacings.

With individual planting unit hoppers, the Precea 6000 is priced at £107,825 and with one big hopper it’s £112,105.