Genesis drills

[Dukslayr]

I did a fir search but didn’t come up with a ton. Does anyone have current experience with the Genesis 5 or 8? Curious to know what you’re hearing/seeing with these drills. I know they’re “newer” but hoping someone has one or has been around one to give feedback. They only have a single box so I’m curious how it does with planting multiple species through one box. The drills certainly seem heavy enough to traditionally no-till without any real issues but at the price they’re getting dangerously close to a used Land Pride/Great Plains of comparable size (if you can find one). Anyone have any experience with them yet?

 

[swat1018]

They are probably a descent drill, and at a lower price point I would consider one, if I needed a drill. When I saw the price, I don't see how anyone would buy one over a GP. Disclaimer: I'm a happy GP owner.

 

[Dukslayr]

They are probably a descent drill, and at a lower price point I would consider one, if I needed a drill. When I saw the price, I don't see how anyone would buy one over a GP. Disclaimer: I'm a happy GP owner.

I get that. Not looking for happy GP owners (they all are)...just seeing if anyone owns and can comment on the genesis.

 

[swat1018]

They've only been on the market a few years. I've never seen one in action.

 

[Dukslayr]

They've only been on the market a few years. I've never seen one in action.

I think that’s going to be my struggle.

 

[yoderjac]

First let me say that I have no experience with Genesis drill, and don't say this to bad-mouth them specifically. I'll be the first to say that there are significant differences between planting food plots for deer and for farming and sometimes there is a specific need to deviate from equipment built for farming. When I see a piece of equipment generally used in farming like a no-till drill, my first question becomes "Are there brands or models built for farming that won't work for me." Are farmers buying this model or is it only being marketed to food plotters. If so, why...is it too light duty...is it too expensive for the quality...or does it do something that is important to a food plotter but not important to a farmer.

In a few cases, I see equipment marketed to food plotters that truly has an advantage over standard farming equipment that performs that general function. I'll use my no-till drill (Kasco Versa-Drill) as an example. The sole advantage is cost. I was able to find a used one for 3K. I'm suffering from the poor performance compared to a Tye or GreatPlains or other "bigboy" drill, but I could not justify the cost. My drill works. I've had to make a lot of mods to it and I'm still making them. There are all kinds of compromises (you can search these threads for Kasco Versadrill for details). But it does what I need for a very low cost.

In many more cases, I see equipment marketed to food plotters that is high cost and low performing. So, if farmers are buying the drill and are happy with it, that would give me higher confidence. If not, that does not exclude it, but it makes me go in with a very skeptical eye.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Dukslayr]

First let me say that I have no experience with Genesis drill, and don't say this to bad-mouth them specifically. I'll be the first to say that there are significant differences between planting food plots for deer and for farming and sometimes there is a specific need to deviate from equipment built for farming. When I see a piece of equipment generally used in farming like a no-till drill, my first question becomes "Are there brands or models built for farming that won't work for me." Are farmers buying this model or is it only being marketed to food plotters. If so, why...is it too light duty...is it too expensive for the quality...or does it do something that is important to a food plotter but not important to a farmer.

In a few cases, I see equipment marketed to food plotters that truly has an advantage over standard farming equipment that performs that general function. I'll use my no-till drill (Kasco Versa-Drill) as an example. The sole advantage is cost. I was able to find a used one for 3K. I'm suffering from the poor performance compared to a Tye or GreatPlains or other "bigboy" drill, but I could not justify the cost. My drill works. I've had to make a lot of mods to it and I'm still making them. There are all kinds of compromises (you can search these threads for Kasco Versadrill for details). But it does what I need for a very low cost.

In many more cases, I see equipment marketed to food plotters that is high cost and low performing. So, if farmers are buying the drill and are happy with it, that would give me higher confidence. If not, that does not exclude it, but it makes me go in with a very skeptical eye.

Thanks,

Jack

Good points Jack. I’m curious if there’s any reason a farmer wouldn’t want one of these drills other than the potential for not having a large enough size available (10’ is the largest model). From what I see and understand they are well built, heavy, and appear capable for farming...but I’m definitely no farmer nor have these drills been out long enough for anyone to get a real handle on their durability. They are most certainly marketed directly at food plotters, though.

 

[yoderjac]

Good points Jack. I’m curious if there’s any reason a farmer wouldn’t want one of these drills other than the potential for not having a large enough size available (10’ is the largest model). From what I see and understand they are well built, heavy, and appear capable for farming...but I’m definitely no farmer nor have these drills been out long enough for anyone to get a real handle on their durability. They are most certainly marketed directly at food plotters, though.

Certainly not a large farmer, but I believe Tye and Great Plains make smaller 3-pt no-till drills as well and they are probably used by smaller farmers.

I'm not suggesting you avoid going this route, but i think it boils down to what you get for the price. I went this route myself. Kasco is largely marketed to food plotters. I could not justify even the cost of a new one. I found a used 4' 3-pt model for 3K. I knew when I bought it that it was not in the same class as the farm drills, but for the price, it made sense.

There were a host of issues I had to work through and it is pretty effective in my hands now. I have one last issue to work out and I think I finally have a solution for it (at least in my head). The openers on it have mud scrappers. Vegetation debris builds up between the mud scrapper and the opener. After a while, the debris clogs the planting shoe and seed builds up in the tube. I have to constantly stop, check, and remove debris. It is funny that it only happens in certain rows. I've tried all the adjustments I can think of but those same rows continue to have the problem.

All of my thinking previously has been how to keep the debris from building up and clogging the planting shoes. I just could not think of a cost effective way to modify it to prevent the debris. Last spring I decided to use it to plant buckwheat. I prefer buckwheat to be broadcast rather than row planted, but I don't have an independent cultipacker yet. The only cultipacker I have is part of the drill. Since I was going to use the drill to cultipack it anyway, I decided to simply disconnect the tubes from the planting shoes and let them bounce around. This model of Kasco doesn't have individual pressing wheels behind each row, it has a cultipacker that runs the entire width of the drill instead. It worked great.

That gave me and idea. Rather than trying to keep debris fro building up in the planting shoes, I plan to attach metal tubes behind the existing planting shoes and attach the seed tubes to them instead. If I align them correctly they should still drop the seed directly in the opened row before the cultipacker covers it.

I have not tried this yet but I plan to add these metal tubes this winter when I'm doing equipment maintenance.

It is all about balancing your objectives and budget with the equipment options. I'm sure you will find the right balance in time.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Bill]

What’s the cost on one?

Can’t say it won’t work. But like swat said a GP or landpride will work.
As you mentioned on another thread it is a buy and cry item. But once the crying part is over it’s a darn nice piece of equipment..

Maybe I should let you borrow mine for a test ride. But then you’ll want one. :)

 

[Turkish]

I see prices for a 5 footer on TractorHouse from $13.5-15k.

 

[Bill]

I see prices for a 5 footer on TractorHouse from $13.5-15k.

For a Genesis?
If so I’d go Great Plains in a heartbeat

 

[Turkish]

For a Genesis?
If so I’d go Great Plains in a heartbeat

Yes and heck yes.

 

[IkemanTx]

I see prices for a 5 footer on TractorHouse from $13.5-15k.

For a Genesis?
If so I’d go Great Plains in a heartbeat

For a Genesis?
If so I’d go Great Plains in a heartbeat

Yes and heck yes.

Aren’t the Great Plains 5’ compact no till drills pushing 20k msrp? 7k would be a decision maker for me.


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[MN Slick]

It's really hard to find any info on these drills. I've contacted Jeff Sturgis, who is sponsored by them and runs the 3 footer, multiple times and haven't gotten a response.

Anyway, this video talks about how the drill meters out different size seed in blends. Sounds great if it works. The 3' is cutting through sod pretty well in the video.

https://www.whitetailhabitatsolutio...food-plotting-with-the-rtp-outdoors-genesis-3

 

[IkemanTx]

It's really hard to find any info on these drills. I've contacted Jeff Sturgis, who is sponsored by them and runs the 3 footer, multiple times and haven't gotten a response.

Anyway, this video talks about how the drill meters out different size seed in blends. Sounds great if it works. The 3' is cutting through sod pretty well in the video.

https://www.whitetailhabitatsolutio...food-plotting-with-the-rtp-outdoors-genesis-3

Grant Woods at growing deer tv has run the 5 footer since they came out. I am very impressed with how it handles the extremely rocky soil on his place.

Either way, a drill will be out of my price range for a VERY long time.


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[yoderjac]

Aren’t the Great Plains 5’ compact no till drills pushing 20k msrp? 7k would be a decision maker for me.


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I think an important point is that a high quality drill is maintainable for many years. It takes some searching, but because of the larger farm market, you can usually find used drills from some of the proven companies on the used market. Generally, for food plots, we are putting a lot less miles on a drill than a farmer so a used drill will probably last longer than us. I don't know if Genesis has been on the market long enough or with enough volume to find one used.

As for seed metering, one aspect where my Kasco shines is the simple seed metering system. It will plant about any seed mix you want. It is simply a matter of making sure the seed is mixed well in the hopper and calibrating it for the mix. The way seed metering works on my kasco is this. It has an octagonal rod that runs under the hopper that spins. It has holes in it that match the size of the large holes in the hopper for each row. The seed flows through the holes in the rod to the tubes and then into the planting feet. There are two adjustments, The size of the holes (by sliding the rod in and out), and the speed with which the rod rotates with respect to ground speed (gearing system). I regularly mix soybeans with a light mix of corn and it plants them well.

No drill will plant row crops with the accuracy of a planter. A drill is basically a controlled spill of seed. A planter has a more precise delivery of individual seeds per foot. Typically a planter counts on seeds being close to the same size for this. Most drills are more forgiving in seed size.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Turkish]

Aren’t the Great Plains 5’ compact no till drills pushing 20k msrp? 7k would be a decision maker for me.


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This is anecdotal but there is a new GP 606nt with small seed box on TractorHouse advertised at $15.2k.

 

[Dukslayr]

I

What’s the cost on one?

Can’t say it won’t work. But like swat said a GP or landpride will work.
As you mentioned on another thread it is a buy and cry item. But once the crying part is over it’s a darn nice piece of equipment..

Maybe I should let you borrow mine for a test ride. But then you’ll want one. :)

I have no doubt about that Bill. I checked with the NRCS and the only thing they have is a 10’ drill and my tractor doesn’t meet their requirements to use it. I can the 3pt Genesis 5’ drill for 13.5k new. The 8’ model runs 17.5k new. Certainly not cheap but I also don’t think they’re built cheap. Only having the one box is interesting as well...they claim to be able to plant everything with only needing one box.

Finding a used 706NT or 606NT fur anything reasonable is like waiting on your lotto number to be called. One of our NRCS offices is selling their 2012 706NT with 4500 acres on it...starting bid is 15,500.

 

[IkemanTx]

Not that I’m in the market, but what is considered low to moderate acres on a good drill?


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[Bill]

This is anecdotal but there is a new GP 606nt with small seed box on TractorHouse advertised at $15.2k.

I called. That one is sold. More coming in but not at that price. They didn’t give me the cost for the ones coming in.

There’s an orange one in Iowa for $17.4
https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/27854975/2018-land-pride-3p606nt

One in Georgia for $16.9
https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/10023163/2016-land-pride-606nt

Not cheap by any means for food plots.