Introduction
With Yirsa Farms’ equipment sizing study complete, the next step was to design a seeding system that balanced performance, cost-efficiency, and real-world logistics.
Repurposing and Retrofitting
Instead of purchasing a new tractor, Yirsa Farms repurposed a 2013 John Deere 5115M that had been sitting idle, occasionally used as a forklift. This 115 HP machine, already supported by Sabanto, was a perfect match for the autonomy retrofit, enabling the farm to avoid new capital outlay altogether.
For the implement, Yirsa Farms purchased a 15-foot 2008 John Deere 1590 No-Till Drill, the most common box drill on the market. Its compact width made it easy to transport on narrow roads, and the abundance of used units available made it both affordable and replaceable.
Sabanto worked with Yirsa Farms to design a seeding system that is practical, reliable, and cost-effective. Source: Sabanto
Maximizing Field Time
To optimize seeding performance while extending time between refills, a 320-gallon liquid fertilizer tank was mounted on the drill’s tongue. This dedicated the entire seed box to seed, reducing stops. With an application rate of 4 gallons/acre, this setup enabled 60-acre runs between fertilizer refills.
Monitoring was critical. Productivity gains would be lost if flow stopped and no one noticed. To prevent downtime:
- We installed a DICKEY-john Vanguard VM-5600 monitor and Recon blockage sensors to monitor seed flow in real-time.
- We added a Raven RFM 15P flow meter to track fertilizer flow and application consistency.
Table showing equipment and add-on costs for Yirsa Farms’ autonomous seeding system. Source: Sabanto
Built for Reliability
Every decision in this design phase followed a clear principle: low-cost, off-the-shelf components that worked without fault. The result was a reliable, self-contained autonomous seeding unit, built with discipline and common sense.
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