Aitchison Blog | Owning Your Own Seed Drill vs. Hiring a Contractor

Picture This: Autumn is here, and it’s time to sow. The temperature is still warm, the soil is moist, and the forecast is looking good. Except your contractor is booked up. For weeks. Sound familiar?

If you’ve been weighing up whether now is the time to buy your own seed drill, here are the three key reasons to help you decide:

Do it Yourself and Gain Back Independence

• It’s frustrating waiting for a contractor, especially when the weather conditions are perfect. Rather than joining the waiting list, take back control and just get on with it when the timing is right. The knock-on effects are great not only financially but also for your peace of mind.
  
  

• Trying to secure a contractor during peak season is tough. By the time they get to you, there’s every chance they’ll be sowing in suboptimal conditions. Missing the window is likely to reduce your strike rate. When growing rates slow down later on in the year, you could be left short on feed. Less dry matter means less milk solids or liveweight gain and, ultimately, less income.

• Owning your own seed drill gives you the flexibility to manage your property on your schedule, without the hassle of booking a contractor for every small job.You can oversow, undersow, sow break feed lines, and repair badly pugged areas as needed. 

• Contractors are busy, they prioritise big scale jobs and a 10-15 hectare paddock is likely to sit at the bottom of the list. With your own gear, it doesn’t matter whether your paddock is 30 hectares or 10, you can deal with it when you need to.

• Get more out of your pasture. Smaller paddock renovation jobs become much easier with your own seed drill. Get eaten-out paddocks resown, prevent weed growth and avoid big costly renovations. Over time you’ll have a more consistent pasture and more feed when you need it.

 Proven Machinery That Pays Itself Off 

Beyond having control of your schedule, financially it can be a smart move to own your own seed drill.

• Contractor costs creep up even for smaller jobs. If you’re sowing or re-sowing 10-15 hectares a year at $200 a hectare that’s $3,000 in contractor costs each year. With your own seed drill allowing you to maintain and renovate your pastures, you could increase those 10-15 hectares to 20 hectares as you increase your feed and returns. That would then be $4,000 in contractor costs, and once you add in rising fuel costs, it quickly adds up.
  
  
• Owning your own seed drill doesn’t eliminate costs, however, it does mean that you are investing in an asset that retains its value. And for many farmers, the numbers start to stack up and a seed drill pays for itself within a few years (often within five) thanks to better pasture performance.
  
  

Reliable Support

We understand that your time is stretched. A contractor is convenient and you don’t have to think about the gear, right? Yes and no. While operating the drill takes time, it’s time invested in your own land, not time spent chasing up on someone else.

• By choosing an Aitchison seed drill, you are choosing a trusted machine that is built to last and straightforward to operate and maintain, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.
  
  
• When you buy from Aitchison you get direct support, dealer backed assistance, spare parts, service and a two year warranty so if something does go wrong, you’ve got back up.

At the end of the day, pasture is your cheapest feed source, get it right and the benefits are huge, but get it wrong and financially the impact is great. By investing in an Aitchison seed drill, you’re in control from start to finish, not relying on others.

Stop waiting for your contractor to be available, use the link below to find your nearest dealer or give us a bell and get in touch directly.

FAQs

What are the top reasons for owning your own seed drill rather than using a contractor?

At a glance, the key benefits for owning your own seed drill are:

• Less reliance on contractors
• Greater control over your schedule
• Maximise your paddocks and pasture management
• Long-term savings and financial gains

Which Seed Drill Should I Buy?

Specifically designed for reseeding and renovating existing pastures or cultivated soils, the GrassFarmer ® drill is a nimble, basic three point linkage drill that’s robust, can go anywhere and makes it easy to get started with direct drilling without compromising on results.
But if you’re after a more advanced seed drill for wider applications, such as the ability to add fertiliser, then check out our Seedmatic ® drills.

Why Choose an Aitchison Seed Drill?

100% New Zealand family owned by Farmgear Ltd, Aitchison has been providing innovative and environmentally sustainable zero tillage seeding and soil management equipment for over 50 years. Our equipment is reliable, built tough, easy to operate and straightforward to maintain, plus with a local support team, you know that if things do go wrong, help is nearby.

Where Can I Buy an Aitchison Seed Drill?

All Aitchison seed drills are sold through authorised dealers, this ensures that your machine will be set up correctly and that you will have access to local support and service throughout the lifetime of your machine. You will find our dealers nationwide throughout New Zealand and Australia, as well as dealers in Japan, the US and UKSouth Africa. You can find a full list here.

What size property does owning a seed drill make sense for?

Even smaller properties of 10–15 hectares can benefit from owning your own drill. Contractors tend to prioritise large-scale jobs, meaning smaller paddocks often wait longest. With your own machine, paddock size doesn't dictate your schedule — you can get on with it when the timing is right.

How long does it take for a seed drill to pay for itself?

For many farmers, a seed drill pays for itself within a few years, often within five, thanks to better pasture performance, reduced contractor costs, and the ability to renovate more hectares as feed and returns improve.

What happens if something goes wrong with my Aitchison drill?

Aitchison seed drills come with a two-year warranty, dealer-backed support, spare parts and servicing. If something does go wrong, you have a local support network to get you back up and running quickly.

Can I use an Aitchison seed drill for fertiliser application as well?

The GrassFarmer® drill is a straightforward direct drill designed for reseeding and renovating pastures. If you need additional functionality such as fertiliser application, the Seedmatic® range is worth looking at.

Where are Aitchison seed drills available?

Aitchison drills are sold through authorised dealers across New Zealand and Australia, as well as in Japan, the US, UK and South Africa. 

Learn More About Aitchison Seed Drills