Baldan, a manufacturer of agricultural implements with 97 years of history in Brazilian agriculture, launched Donna at Agrishow 2024, a new planter with 11, 13 and 15 pantographic rows, which includes a precise depth control system. With high precision power in crops of coarse grains, such as soybeans, corn, millet, beans, cotton and sorghum, Baldan Donna presents high-tech versions, using both electric motors and a mechanical planting system.
This new line also features an innovation: a specially designed chassis, with a strategically positioned center of gravity and a design optimized for planting operations. This chassis has a greater capacity to absorb the efforts of following the terrain, ensuring a lower power requirement, reducing the strain on the tractor and providing greater operational efficiency. This allows for earlier planting with lower power consumption, representing greater fuel savings and greater use of the planting window.
The new chassis also ensures greater flotation of the equipment, allowing planting to begin even in unfavorable humidity conditions, generating better use of the agronomic window, which results in increased productivity. Donna is already prepared to receive 600-liter furrow spraying systems.
The Donna precision planter is the result of a robust, efficient project geared towards the real needs of Brazilian farmers. With a focus on high performance, Donna combines national technology, precision, agility in transportation and low power requirements, promoting the latest in plantability. The result? High productivity, greater savings and uncomplicated operation in different soil conditions.
The Baldan Donna grain planter ensures a plant stand (population) with a level of excellence and precision, resulting in superior crop productivity. This allows farmers to achieve an optimized productivity curve. Achieving the projected plant stand is one of the main factors that determine the success of a grain crop. Uniform distribution of plants maximizes the use of inputs and enhances harvest results. In this context, equipment that offers high distribution precision - with low coefficients of variation (CV) and excellent singularity control - are strategic allies for farmers. When the machine is able to place each seed in the right place, at the appropriate depth, and ensure uniform crop establishment, it delivers more than just planting: it delivers profitability.
Therefore, solutions that directly contribute to achieving the planned “stand” are, without a doubt, a technological advance that generates real value in the field.
Seed distribution is one of the main functions of a precision seeder. Planting rates vary by crop, ranging from three to 25 seeds per meter. In addition to the mechanical system, Donna has two types of solutions: hydraulic motors and electric motors, replacing the chain transmissions based on the planter's tire. The electronic system operates these motors according to the planting prescription map and operating speed.
The search for better planting performance begins before sowing, with soil preparation, selection of implements and proper adjustment of the planter. Baldan Donna combines mechanical structure, precision technology and ease of adjustment for planting crops such as soybeans in small, medium or large areas. The equipment has multiple seed metering options, adapted to the reality of each producer.
Offering horizontal mechanical and vertical pneumatic dosers (operated by cable or electric motor), Donna enables a high level of precision in seed distribution and line-by-line cutting in the electric version. Customers can configure the equipment according to their daily needs or the planting technique adopted.
The Baldan Donna grain planter has two versions of depth control wheels. The far-away wheel can be adapted to more clayey soils and those with higher straw density. The CPP (Precise Depth Control) system maintains the seeding at the same depth even on uneven terrain, reducing variations and favoring crop uniformity. This system results in a lower coefficient of vertical variation, helping more uniform germination by avoiding competition between plants.
Straw flow is essential in direct planting, a practice in which the plant cover is maintained on the surface. The Baldan Donna was developed to withstand high residue density, preventing clogging. The offset lines on the Donna facilitate cutting and distributing the material, reducing blockages. The cutting disc line is 350 mm, while the fertilizer deposit tools have an offset of up to 480 mm, depending on the adjustment. The 20” Baldan discs - smooth or turbo - promote efficient straw cutting, improving furrow opening and seed and fertilizer distribution.
The ability to handle high straw flow makes Donna an option for both direct and conventional planting. The design includes weight per row and features that aim to meet different planting conditions, contributing to operational efficiency and crop productivity.
When it comes to transportation and logistics, Donna offers a configuration that fits the needs of rural producers, with a width of 3,2 m for transportation by truck, reducing the risk of accidents or structural damage to the machine and assets. The maximum width of 3,20 m complies with the resolution of the National Department of Traffic (Denatran). If the machine needs to be transported by truck or flatbed trailer, the width of 3,2 m allows for faster and safer loading, minimizing costs. In addition, the length of 3,20 m without disassembling items or elements ensures accommodation and movement on local roads and highways.
With an optimized design, Donna requires less power per line, expanding the possibilities of mechanization even for tractors with lower capacity. According to farmer Frederick Wolters, from Itararé (SP), the equipment consumes less tractor power, has a good straw flow, is easy to transport and change areas, characteristics that contributed to the plantability on his property.
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