I therefore imported enough tines from 'Seed Hawk,' Canada's most successful drill manufacturer, and made a 6 metre drill to try on my land in Lincolnshire.

Since then a more compact 6m drill has been launched, as have 3m and 4m models. An 8m model has also been produced, utilised on our farm in a Controlled Traffic system.

As well as having sold drills, which are working on farms, we also do contract drilling locally and hire drills out to people further away.

This gives my staff and I a constant stream of information on how the drill performs in differing conditions all over the U.K, which has enabled us to develop and improve the drill to match these conditions.

In 2000 we were awarded the Science into Practice award from M.A.F.F. for the drills ability to create wealth by reducing cost, and to improve the quality of life with a beneficial environmental impact.

In 2005 at the Royal Show, the drill was presented with the Institution of Agricultural Engineers award for sustainability in design and use.

In early 2007 it became clear that larger drills were required, not only here in the UK but also in the new EU countries of Eastern Europe. Although 6m Zero Till drills were able to fold down to road transport dimensions, the 8m version could not. A drill that was compact enough to fold down to road transport widths whilst also being large enough for the farms of Eastern Europe and capable of coping with the difficulties of direct drilling, was needed. The All Till Drill is the answer to these requirements, and after being used extensively during autumn drilling in 2007, the 8m All Till Drill is producing very promising results.

In November the All Till Drill was shown at the Agritechnica Show in Hanover, Germany. Many farmers showed huge interest in the drill and some returned to the stand after being around the whole show to say that the drill was the most impressive machine they had seen.

Whilst the All Till Drill solves the problem of a direct drill that will fold to road transport widths, customers wanting smaller drills were still interested in the Zero Till Drill. After almost 10 years of producing Zero Till Drills with the Seed Hawk tine assemblies we saw an opportunity to improve them. In 2009 we built the first ECO-Drill.

The ECO-Drill, manufactured entirely in the UK, gives superior contour following, accurate seed placement and leaves a more level surface than the Zero Till tine assemblies. At LAMMA 2010 the ECO-Drill won three trophies:

• Best new product or innovation worth over £5,000.
• Best new product or innovation from a manufacturer based in Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshuire.
• Best new product or innovation at LAMMA 2010.

John Dale Zero Till trading as J E Dale (Farmers) Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 4591463.
Registered Office: Pepperdale House Farm, Howsham, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. LN7 6LF