NEW Great Plains Line of Small Drills?? 3 to 5 foot 3 Point drills.

Foggy47

Foggy47

5 year old buck +
Just saw this on YouTube while surfing as I watched football today. I think this needs it's own Thread. 3', 4', 5' Drills by GP

Great Plains Ag

www.greatplainsag.com www.greatplainsag.com


OR HERE:

Great Plains Ag

www.greatplainsag.com www.greatplainsag.com
 
here are some spec's.....available both with and without front slicing coulters. Small tractor guys....pay attention here!

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I saw these a while back. Maybe I’m wrong, but I didn’t see where you could get one with a native grass box. If they had it, I would happily be the guinea pig for the group here.
 
I would never get one with a Native grass box. Mine doesn't have it, but a buddy does. It makes the drill way heaviev and about twice as long. It really leverages a tractor. The average guy doesn't plant native grasses regularly. Maybe a once in five or ten year operation for me. I'll just rent the NRCS drill when I do.
 
I just got off the phone with KanEquip who is our local Great Plains dealer. Funny enough Great Plains is only 40 miles from my house. Anyway, he quoted me a new GP 606NT for $26,700 with all three boxes and a Stealth Pro 6 with the two boxes and it was $22,700. He didn't have a 606NT worked up with just the two boxes, but he thought he remembered them being around $5,000. That would mean you could get a 606NT with the same setup for about the same money. He didn't think it was worth it in his opinion as the stealth downgraded a few parts to "save cost". He thought all they actually did was put the little camo sticker on it. 🤣 It might come down to the capacity of your machine as he said the Stealth models were built lighter in a few areas.

Being so close to GP, he has talked with them about places to cut cost on their regular 606NT. He has told them their boxes are oversized. If full he said you can plant around 10 acres per fill. Guys who are buying such a small machine probably wouldn't mind filling the box more often. If you are an actual producer you are buying the 40' model anyway. I thought that was a valid point.
 
T-Max said:
I just got off the phone with KanEquip who is our local Great Plains dealer. Funny enough Great Plains is only 40 miles from my house. Anyway, he quoted me a new GP 606NT for $26,700 with all three boxes and a Stealth Pro 6 with the two boxes and it was $22,700. He didn't have a 606NT worked up with just the two boxes, but he thought he remembered them being around $5,000. That would mean you could get a 606NT with the same setup for about the same money. He didn't think it was worth it in his opinion as the stealth downgraded a few parts to "save cost". He thought all they actually did was put the little camo sticker on it. 🤣 It might come down to the capacity of your machine as he said the Stealth models were built lighter in a few areas.

Being so close to GP, he has talked with them about places to cut cost on their regular 606NT. He has told them their boxes are oversized. If full he said you can plant around 10 acres per fill. Guys who are buying such a small machine probably wouldn't mind filling the box more often. If you are an actual producer you are buying the 40' model anyway. I thought that was a valid point.
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I didn't think there was much "news" to offer on the 6 foot and larger machines. Such drills have been available for many years. Instead, I thought the 3, 4 and 5 foot models may appeal to food plotters here. There has not been much in the way of lightweight, 3 point drills for the smaller tractors until now. Personally, I think the models without the cutting coulters should be of interest to the 20 to 30 HP tractor owners that want to drill switchgrass, clovers and brassica......especially if you have lighter soils. Perfect for food plotting.....IMO. However, I have not heard a price on any of 'em.
 
I'm assuming pricing somewhat like this for a similar market?
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2025 ESCH 5603 For Sale in Bethel, Pennsylvania

2025 ESCH 5603 For Sale in Bethel, Pennsylvania at www.zimmermanfarmservice.com. 2 seed boxes included, New Technology High Speed Drill 8mph!, Food Plot Drill, 3 FT Drill. We deliver to US and Canada for reasonable rates.Will plant bin run grain, Ask about $217 a month, Weight 2100 LB
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After having used/borrowed a 606NT pull behind model now a few times I can't ever see me getting a 3 point model. From what I have seen it takes a lot more 3 point lift ability than most tractors with 55 hp and under have to run a comparable size drill. Drill weight, plus additional weight if cutting into tough soil or through heavy crop residue, plus full seed load means the 3' model is the limit for a lot of folks. My plots are not huge, but I dont want to spend 2x the time planting than I would with the 6' pull behind model.
 
Turkey Creek said:
After having used/borrowed a 606NT pull behind model now a few times I can't ever see me getting a 3 point model. From what I have seen it takes a lot more 3 point lift ability than most tractors with 55 hp and under have to run a comparable size drill. Drill weight, plus additional weight if cutting into tough soil or through heavy crop residue, plus full seed load means the 3' model is the limit for a lot of folks. My plots are not huge, but I dont want to spend 2x the time planting than I would with the 6' pull behind model.
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We have a difference in opinion TC. For my land, I love a mounted drill. If I had big farm-type fields I would want a pull type drill.

The ability to lift and reposition with the three point trumps the pull type drills for me. It's hard to get into smaller, dead-end plots with the pull type implements. As far as pulling a drill....that part does not require much HP. Many of the 30 HP tractors with a loader have the ability to lift 2,600 lbs or so.....plenty of lift for these drills. My five foot drill will do two acres in an hours time. Not bad.

I think soil structure is going to be the determining factor on the drill weight. Some heavy soils may not be ideal with a light drill. I have a 5 foot drill without any coulters on the front.....and in my sandy soils I have little problem drilling seeds to most any depth I need. My tractor pics up the drill and full hoppers and can pull it without breaking a sweat.
 
I was looking at the Genesis drills and the 3' version was the only that my 52 hp Kubota could lift. I agree it isn't always easy to turn around with pull behind equipment.
 
I know they sound big but in the lighter soils it doesn't take much to pull a 13ft solid stand that I bought for 500.00. It wasn't fun loading 1200 lbs of wheat seed with 5 gal buckets in the drill
 
Turkey Creek said:
I was looking at the Genesis drills and the 3' version was the only that my 52 hp Kubota could lift. I agree it isn't always easy to turn around with pull behind equipment.
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Yeah, but those Genesis drills are quite a bit heavier weight than the new small drills that are being sold by Great Plains. Compare the specs. Some may need that weight....others (with light soils) may not need the weight. I do just fine with a lighter weight 5' drill....and several other folks on this site are also using lightweight 5 and 6 foot drills with 40 HP tractors.

Now...these 3, 4, 5 footers are available without front coulters (or with them) which may be perfect for a small operator with ten or less acres to drill. (or perhaps more acres if you got time). I think the 20 and 30 horsepower guys finally have a product designed for them. Still....not sure of the prices??
 
That might be just a little less than I paid for my entire Kubota L2501 brand new. I love my little tractor but on stuff like this I wish I had a 70 or 90 hp tractor instead to give me more options.
 
bjseiler said:
That might be just a little less than I paid for my entire Kubota L2501 brand new. I love my little tractor but on stuff like this I wish I had a 70 or 90 hp tractor instead to give me more options.
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Yeah...prices in general have really gotten high.....and it's taking me some time to adjust to the new prices for such things too. Drills have always seemed to cost more than they are worth....given the relatively low tech being sold (no engine or electronic stuff) purely mechanical.

( ^ Having said that....mechanical stuff seems to bring a premium over electronic stuff these days. Maybe we need an electronic drill? Grin.)

I found a lightly used 3 Point GP drill....and saved a little money that way. But, you wont find any of those little 3 and 4 footers used. (but can find used Genesis 3' drills, or an Etch drill.)

Drills are one of those items that you may have for a lifetime......so for me......I just swallowed hard and bit the price bullet. I could get rid of some tillage equipment to offset the cost...but I wont. The drill is a game changer including time spent on my land, and in keeping moisture in my soils.
 
Turkey Creek said:
After having used/borrowed a 606NT pull behind model now a few times I can't ever see me getting a 3 point model. From what I have seen it takes a lot more 3 point lift ability than most tractors with 55 hp and under have to run a comparable size drill. Drill weight, plus additional weight if cutting into tough soil or through heavy crop residue, plus full seed load means the 3' model is the limit for a lot of folks. My plots are not huge, but I dont want to spend 2x the time planting than I would with the 6' pull behind model.
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My 38 hp kubota lifts a 6’ 3p600 sufficiently. It’s a load but works fine on my flat ground. I’d be surprised if your tractor couldn’t handle a g5 3 pt if you have a loader.
 
Turkey Creek said:
After having used/borrowed a 606NT pull behind model now a few times I can't ever see me getting a 3 point model. From what I have seen it takes a lot more 3 point lift ability than most tractors with 55 hp and under have to run a comparable size drill. Drill weight, plus additional weight if cutting into tough soil or through heavy crop residue, plus full seed load means the 3' model is the limit for a lot of folks. My plots are not huge, but I dont want to spend 2x the time planting than I would with the 6' pull behind model.
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Not sure the soil you got there TC.....but if it's reasonably light soil (as I expect) then you could get along nicely without having coulters on your drill.....and that would make a big weight difference.....especially if you dont need to plant over about 1.5" in depth. Of course...that is MO. But those front coulters are not needed by many of us....and only serve to require more weight .

This is a big deal....but if you have light soil....I do not think those front coulters do much good...unless you have super heavy trash to get thru. A five or six foot "minimum till" drill may just be the ticket for you.....if you meet the above criteria.
 
Yea I have loader on my tractor. I have not looked at the Great Plains drills as much once the price tag scared me off. The Genesis drills over all must weigh more. Just going by the on-line specs for my tractor and going by what the guys at Genesis told me, a 5' drill loaded is not recommended as 3pnt on my tractor. Our soils vary a lot from clay to loam. I will have corn, sunflower and milo stalks to have to cut through.
 
Turkey Creek said:
Yea I have loader on my tractor. I have not looked at the Great Plains drills as much once the price tag scared me off. The Genesis drills over all must weigh more. Just going by the on-line specs for my tractor and going by what the guys at Genesis told me, a 5' drill loaded is not recommended as 3pnt on my tractor. Our soils vary a lot from clay to loam. I will have corn, sunflower and milo stalks to have to cut through.
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Hmmm.......your situation is more difficult for no till....and I can see the need for a heavy drill, given those circumstances. I have no experience in your situation.
 
Turkey Creek said:
Yea I have loader on my tractor. I have not looked at the Great Plains drills as much once the price tag scared me off. The Genesis drills over all must weigh more. Just going by the on-line specs for my tractor and going by what the guys at Genesis told me, a 5' drill loaded is not recommended as 3pnt on my tractor. Our soils vary a lot from clay to loam. I will have corn, sunflower and milo stalks to have to cut through.
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The "min-till" 3p500 and 3p600 great plains drills are quite a bit lighter than the X06 no-till line up.

I think the Genesis lineup would do better getting seed into med-heavy soils than the 3p500 or 3p600 but have not used them. Primary down side IMO is they dont come standard with small seed box and charge a fortune to add one. The openers and prior design closing wheels are not as solid as the great plains models but i kind of doubt it'd be an issue for the type of acreage most food plotters plant.

Pull type is going to plant a bit better in most situations but certainly can get great results with a 3 point model. I'd like a 606NT but dont have storage that one would fit in, I dont know if I could get it to one of my food plots, and they are expensive.

When I was looking in '22 there was a lightly used genesis g5 for under $12k if i recall correctly. I think they start at over $17k right now which is nuts. I got an unused prior model year 3p600 for $11.6k IIRC in '23, i think most places list them a little over $15k new now. I think pull type 606NT were around for $17-18k when i started looking in '21. Now if @T-Max can get one for $22k or less, that seems like a steal. Seems most are $24k-27k+ now.
 
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