Avatar – Proven Success in Soybeans
In 2017, the North American market gained its first look at HORSCH Avatar single disc technology. During that year, a German built Avatar 12.25 SD seeded a variety of crops in various farming conditions through Louisiana, Kansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Manitoba. Through those experiences gained, along with some changes to suit North American conditions, the domesticated Avatar 40 SD was launched in 2018. In 2021, the first Avatar 60 MD units arrived from Germany for customers across the continent. Since then, the Avatar series of single disc technology has been proven in many regions and cropping environments.
Avatar owners today are using the technology for seeding cereal crops, row crops, specialty crops, and cover crops. Many farmers are using the Avatar for seeding soybeans, which have been traditionally planted with a row crop planter. Research over the past decade has proven that narrow row spacing and earlier planting date with soybeans are keys to increasing yield along with other agronomic benefits. With these changing dynamics, the use of Avatar single disc technology in soybean production continues to increase.
Phil Panek, New York State
New York is known for its dairy industry, specialty crop production, and row crop production. In the northwestern part of the state, Phil Panek farms with his father and brother on their 11,000-acre (4450 hectare) family operation which includes corn, soybeans, green beans, sweet corn, vegetable crop, and wheat. The farm was started in the early 1980’s by Phil’s father, uncle, and grandfather along with having a construction business. In the early 2000’s, the farm began growing to the diversified operation it is today.
Many row crop farmers in North America have and still use planters for soybeans. The most common row spacing being 30 inch (75 cm), but also 20 inch (50 cm) and 15 inch (38 cm). Today there has been a trend of using narrow row spacing versus the traditional 30 inch. “Since the early years of the farm, we have almost always used seeders for soybeans”, relates Phil. “We began running smaller box type drills years ago then moving to larger 42-foot (12.8 m) air seeders, both on 7.5 inch (19 cm) row spacing. We always found our best yields, usually a 5–6-bushel (0.3-0.36 ton/hec) advantage, with narrow rows versus wider rows. And with the Avatar using 10 inch (25 cm), we have seen no difference versus 7.5 inch”. In addition to yield, the 10-inch rows give a quick canopy that gives an advantage with weed control.
In the North American market, there have been compromises to planting soybeans with current domestic air seeder technology. One of the misconceptions of using air seeders in soybeans is seed distribution. Phil explains, “With the Avatar, our rows are uniform not only with seed depth but also with in-furrow and row to row distribution. The air system design is clean, and we seed the advantage in our crop. Our previous 42’ drills would leave clumps of seed and had poor distribution. We had to increase our seed rates to accommodate. With the Avatar, we are reducing our seed rate, which saves seed costs, simply due to our crop stand being much better than before”.
“We are now planting 500+ acres (200+ hectares) per day with the Avatar 60 MD versus maybe 300 acres (120 hectares) per day with our previous 42’ unit”, explains Phil. This daily productivity increase has allowed the Paneks to get more seed in the soil at the optimum time, which secures maximum yield potential. In the past decade, through research across the continent, many farmers now are planting soybeans at the same time they are planting corn. Earlier planted soybeans proving to be higher yield potential. Beyond the wider working width, there is also a seed tank capacity advantage as the Avatar 60 MD has 355 bushels (12,500 l) with three tanks vs 100 bushels (3500 l) with one tank of the previous 42’ unit. “Having three tanks allows us to carry two different soybean varieties in the field, using for example a shorter growing day variety along a tree row and a longer growing day variety in the main part of the field. This equalizes maturity for harvest”, relates Phil.
Transporting large farm equipment in this region can be quite difficult. With narrow roads, bridges, and being in a highly populated area, safety is a big concern. “With the 42’ air seeders we had difficulty with the transport width and height of those units. With the Avatar 60 MD, we did not only gain productivity of working width and speed, but also more comfortable and safe transport in our area”, Phil explains.
Amos Troester, Iowa
As a contractor, Amos Troester operates two Avatar 40 SD units in his custom operation for planting cover crops and soybeans for customers in northeastern Iowa. In the fall of 2023, the Avatar 40 SD was incorporated into his machine fleet, replacing one no-till box style drill, then adding the second in 2024. Being a seed dealer, Amos started growing his custom seeding business in 2018 as farmers in the region began incorporating covers crops into their operations. Soon, the business expanded into custom seeding soybeans. “In our first year, we started with a 25-foot (7.6 m) box drill and seeded 500 acres (200 hectares). Each year, we have increased exponentially to seeding 17,000 acres (6900 hectares) in 2024”, explains Amos. “We started with a 25’ no-till box drill, then went to a 40 foot (12 m) no-till box drill as our custom acres increased.”
“There were several key dynamics that made our decision to put the Avatar into our custom operation”, Amos relates. In covering 17,000 acres, there are many road miles to travel between customers. “Safety is a huge concern for us. Our previous 40’ drill was heavy, bulky, slow, and in ways dangerous when traveling from field to field. The Avatar 40 SD is only 12 feet (3.6 m) wide, well balanced, and we can travel faster with it down the road. This allows for a much safer transport plus increases our efficiency by not spending so much time on the road”.
Providing a quality seeding experience for his customers is essential for Amos’s business. “Seeding soybeans on narrow row spacing gives us several advantages”, Amos says. “First, quicker canopy gives us better weed control. Second, in our area we see better soil erosion control with narrow rows. And the narrow row spacing consistently gives higher yields”. In securing the yield potential, seed depth placement is critical. “We can achieve field speeds of 6-10+ mph (9.5 – 16 kph) and still maintain desired and precise seed depth”, Amos explains. “We cover a lot of acres and across those fields there are many different soil types, residue levels, and seedbed conditions. The Avatar gives us versatility in varying conditions to have precise seed placement quality”.
Having efficient, productive, reliably machinery is critical for contractors. “Our first Avatar 40 SD we got back in 2023 now has over 20,000 acres (8000 hectares) on it. We are just now at the point of replacing some wear items. On our previous no-till box drills, we were lucky to get 5,000 acres (2000 hectares) before needing major repairs. To cover the acres we do, I keep around $1,500 of spare parts on the shelf. With the previous drills we kept $30,000+”. Not only from a maintenance savings, Amos talks about other overall productivity. “In 2024, with both Avatar 40 SD units we covered 28% more acres with 38% less time than before. Being a contractor, this is huge. We have a reliable machine that just goes to the field and performs while providing our customers with quality seeding.”
With adding two Avatar 40 SD’s to his operation, Amos talks about the overall view and how these two units have enhanced his contractor business. “Time is valuable. The Avatar has opened more opportunity to grow our business. If you can find ways to expedite time to find more opportunity in life, that’s where you succeed. With Avatar, I am buying time and opportunity. HORSCH has done a great job with the product and supporting it.”
Blake Foxley, South Dakota
In the south-central region of South Dakota, Blake Foxley focuses on growing row crops and small grains. Farming alongside his father, brother and uncle, the farm has operated for six generations. As this area has evolved more into row crops in the past generation, seeders that were used in small grains have been used in soybeans. Since the early 1990’s, Blake has been using single disc drills to plant soybeans. Using previous seeders on 10-inch (25 cm) row spacing and converting them to 20-inch (50 cm) row spacing in some conditions.
“A big deciding factor in moving to an Avatar 60 MD was the overall simplicity and compact design,” explains Blake. “We had been using a 60-foot (18 m) seeder with 10-inch (25 cm) row spacing, but it was wide transport width and had a towed cart with it too.” Covering 5,000 acres (2020 hectares) of soybeans, and having fields miles apart, having quick and safe transport adds to productivity. “With our previous seeder, we had a lot of tire issues. That is something we have had zero issues with on the Avatar,” Blake adds.
Seeding into a variety of conditions, Blake points out the overall seed placement quality of the Avatar 60 MD. “Seed depth placement is very consistent. What we have found, due to the compound engagement angle of the opener, is that we get better furrow creation along with excellent closing quality”. In his crop rotation, no-tilled soybeans are seeding into corn stalks from the prior year. “With our previous drill, we had difficulty with the openers having enough down pressure to slice though the corn root mass. The Avatar has no issue with maintaining consistent seed depth through these varying conditions,” Blake says. By having an integral design with the weight transfer system, wheel tracks from a cart are eliminated. “Our overall crops stands are uniform row to row, in-furrow, and across the working width,” he adds.
Maintaining seed rate accuracy is another key observation in using the Avatar in soybeans. “With our previous air seeder, we were always plus or minus from our target rate. With the 60 MD, we are pinpoint on target seed rates,” explains Blake. He attributes that superior rate accuracy to the meter design and the electric meter drives. “Our other air seeder used a mechanical system, which was prone for errors.”
“With our previous 60-foot air seeder, we had a lot of maintenance points. Three grease zerks per opener. And about every 5 years, we would have approximately $40-50,000 rebuild costs. In our first season with Avatar, we can already see the simplicity of design and only a few service points will definitely equal a lower cost of ownership,” relates Blake. He mentions the ease of calibration, how the single rank toolbar is easily accessible for adjustments and maintenance, and how the ground engaging parts are lasting longer than his previous air seeder. “We are excited to get back in the field with our Avatar 60 MD here in the spring of 2025,” he adds.
