In recent years, a steady trend towards expanding corn and sunflower acreage has emerged among agricultural producers. For example, sunflower acreage was 4 million 417 thousand ha in 2010, and 4 million 558 thousand ha in 2011. Corn acreage was 2736 thousand ha in 2010, and 3 million 626 thousand ha in 2011.
Responding to market demand, “Astra” has been supplying seed drills for row crops such as corn and sunflower to Ukraine for several years now. These seed drills first appeared in Ukraine under the White name, and were later improved and became known as the Massey Ferguson 555. The factory that manufactures these seed drills is now part of the AGCO group, and the seed drills are produced under the Challenger brand.
Striving to meet every customer’s needs, “Astra” presents three seed drill models: the 8-row 8108 model, the 12-row 8122, and the 16-row 8186. They’re designed for any acreage and any tractor power. The seed drills can work with conventional, minimum-till and no-till technology. The seed drills’ design allows simultaneous application of fertiliser and crop-protection products alongside seeding.
| Specification | Model | ||
| Challenger 8108 TSB | Challenger 8122 TVF | Challenger 8186 HFF | |
| Number of rows | 8 | 12 | 16 |
| Frame, 178×178 mm | rigid | vertical fold | horizontal fold |
| Row spacing, cm | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Toothed disc marker | Hydraulically operated | ||
| Seed hoppers, l (optional) | 105 (70.5) | 70.5 | 105 (70.5) |
| Granular mineral fertiliser hoppers, kg | 908 (4×227) | 1363 (5×227+2×114) | 1816 (8×227) |
| Liquid mineral fertiliser hoppers, l (optional) | 1134 (2×567) | 1512 (2×756) | 2268 (4×567) |
| Herbicide/insecticide tanks, kg (optional) | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Hydraulic pump | 1000 rpm drive | ||
| Seed flow monitor, SM-300 | + | + | + |
| Press wheels | + | + | + |
| Seeding discs for different crops (6 sets) | + | + | + |
| Single- or twin-disc coulters for fertiliser application | + | + | + |
| 13-wave coulter disc with combined residue manager | + | + | + |
| Heavy-duty press springs | + | + | + |
| Number of wheels | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Transport width, m | 6.3 | 6.5 | 4.5 |
| Required tractor power, hp | 160 | 240 | 300 |
The seed drills’ high work quality and reliability, along with “Astra”‘s responsible approach to customer service, have won over both small farms and large agricultural producers such as “Ukrainian Agrarian Investments” and “Myronivsky Khliboprodukt”. For two years running now, they’ve been buying Challenger row-crop seed drills from “Astra”, and the circle of users keeps growing.
