A policy of choosing the best machine for the job has resulted in an eclectic mix of tractors equipment of all ages for Lincolnshire farmer and contractor Ollie Smith. A shift towards strip-tillageand direct drilling over the past decade followed by a recent search for a simple, low-cost and high-output establishment technique culminated in a 9.0m Horsch CO being converted into a direct drill using Metcalfe openers. Now in its second season, the drill is drawn using an impressive modern classic 325hp Case IH Steiger STX325 artic, with the combined outfit ticking all the boxes.
Based at Threekingham near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, the farming enterprise Ollie runs consists of a 650ha (1,600ac) block around the home farm, plus a joint venture of around 400ha (990ac) with the workload shared with a partner. The land is predominantly heavy, and cropping is strictly limited to combinables including winter wheat, barley, beans and spring linseed, with oilseed rape sometimes grown too.
In common with many farm businesses, the cultivations policy was once completely plough-based but a switch over to non-inversion-tillage, involving a Grégoire Besson Discordon disc and tine cultivator, gave way to strip-till and direct drilling in 2009 when a used 4.0m Claydon SR was purchased. Although the last ploughing on the farm actually occurred in 2012 at the request of the vining pea grower but due to the extremely wet autumn had to be carried out on the frost
