A new range of seed drill assemblies will be displayed at this years Cereals event.

A new range of seed drill coulter assemblies for mintill and direct drilling, including a conversion kit for Horsch CO drills, will be introduced.

The Universal series coulter range from Canadian manufacturer Dutch Openers offers a choice of easily fitted low-draft points for single and double-row seeding, band sowing and liquid or solid fertiliser placement.

They can be installed on a number of tine drill makes and models used in the UK and Ireland, with replacement bodies making it easy to convert to the new points.

Dutch Openers is a division of Saskatchewan-based engineering firm Dutch Industries, specialising in coulters for mintill and direct drilling.

The Universal series is the most versatile design, while the other five ranges produced by the company are for specific North American seed drills.

Nigel Whelan, Spaldings marketing director, said: "The Universal coulter assemblies from Dutch Openers have earned a good reputation for low draft, wear resistance and consistent seed placement.

“We’re stocking a range of popular models which can be purchased through our sales team or directly off our website, with more specialist designs also available to order.

“Whether you prefer single-row, double-row or band sowing with or without fertiliser, the points in the Universal series all fit the same body.

“And because they are held in place by just a single roll pin, they are quick and easy to exchange or replace.”

Common features include wear-resistant tungsten facing, a prominent leading point for good soil penetration, and a shallow wing angle for low draft.

The back of the rear-delivery points is designed to resist plugging up in wet soils.

Available from stock at prices from £42.30 to £92.70, each are a 25mm single-row point; 50mm and 127mm band sowing points; and double-row points in 64mm, 89mm and 127mm sizes.

When the liquid or solid fertiliser delivery tubes are attached to the back of the double-row points, fertiliser is placed between and 9.5mm below the seed rows where it is readily available but with sufficient segregation to avoid scorch.

A leg conversion for Horsch CO and Sprinter tine drills enables any of the Dutch Universal coulter points to be fitted to these ploughed land or min-till tine drills for direct drilling into stubbles.