2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the Pro-Til strip-till drill from British manufacturer Mzuri.
Developed by farmer and engineer Martin Lole on his farm in Worcestershire, the Pro-Til’s first appearance was at the Cereals Event in 2011.
“I am fortunate to have seen first-hand the effects that converting to a single pass establishment method can have on a deteriorating arable unit,” says Mr Lole speaking of his conversion of Springfield, a 178ha arable farm, to strip tillage in 2010.
“When I first purchased the farm in 2005, I set about ploughing and combination drilling the Evesham Lias clay, but after rising input costs and dwindling yields it was clear that this approach was no longer financially viable.”
With a background in engineering from starting hedgecutter company Spearhead, Mr Lole was inspired to develop a better way to manage his farm and improve its margins.
Focusing on the area that was causing the greatest concern, he developed the single pass drill to consolidate seedbed preparation, fertiliser application, and seed distribution into a single pass.
“Under conventional establishment methods we were burning fuel and wearing metal like it was going out of fashion,” he adds. “Not to mention the huge power and labour requirements that were needed to create a blanket seedbed.”
“Engineering a means of seeding directly into stubble whilst targeting tillage to promote quick establishment at a fraction of the cost has been the driving force behind the Pro-Til’s development ever since.”
The Mzuri product range also includes the 7.5m Rezult stubble rake (pictured) and 3.0m Rehab sub-soiler.
Available as a 3.0m mounted model and 3T (3.0m), 4T (4.0m) and 6T (6.0m) trailed versions, the Pro-Til has been exported to more than 20 countries.
