Grimme has revealed a new version of its Prios 440 cup planter, which can place seed into prepared beds.

The firm launched the trailed four-row machine two years ago, designed to work in combination with a farm’s chosen tillage tool – typically a rotary tiller or power harrow sat beneath a swan-neck drawbar – straight into level ground.

Now, those who make a prior pass to prepare beds because they need to de-stone/de-clod can opt for the Prios 440 Bed, with its revised chassis opening up the planter to a broader market.

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New axle

The same modular design can be found on the Bed version and, thanks to a new axle, a generous steering angle of +/-30 deg is now possible for maximum manoeuvrability on headlands.

Seed hopper capacity is 4t and the “hybrid” ridge shaping unit from the Prios 440, which offers the advantages of cage rollers and shaping boards, is also available.

Another shared feature is individual depth control of furrow openers for each of the two beds, helping to achieve accurate seed placement on uneven ground.

One skid per row is used to scan ahead and inform planting depth, while coverage of tubers is measured behind the planting elements using an ultrasonic sensor to ensure all seed is blanketed with soil.

© Grimme

Section control

Section control for the fertiliser, barrel system and planting elements means all can be switched on and off separately, helping to save nutrient and seed inputs on awkward headlands or when creating sprayer or irrigator tracks.

Optional extras include guiding plates, which can be fitted to the coulters used for fertiliser application to keep the soil in the bed.

A fill level sensor for the fertiliser box is also available.