At Moore Unidrill, we’re always proud to see our drills delivering results in the field and few stories capture that better than John’s. Based in West Sussex, John has been putting the MDH-1700 Trailed Direct Drill through its paces, and despite a few early hurdles, the machine has proven itself to be a reliable and versatile workhorse.
John’s MDH-1700 is a 24-row trailed direct drill fitted with a Guttler-style prism packer. It’s already sown a wide range of crops on his farm, including barley, wheat, beans, and peas. In the video above, you’ll see it sowing a wildflower mix containing triticale and barley as part of a Countryside Stewardship scheme demonstrating its flexibility across both commercial and environmental applications.
What drew John to the MDH-1700 was its simplicity. “I bought it because it hasn’t got any of this fancy electronics on it,” he explains. That no-nonsense design means fewer things to go wrong and more time spent drilling.
As one of the first MDH-1700 twin tank/hopper machines built as a trailed model, John’s drill came with a few teething issues. “There were a couple of niggles early on,” he admits. “Being one of the first of its kind, it took a bit of tweaking to get everything running smoothly.”
Some of the initial challenges included fine-tuning the calibration of the twin hopper system and adjusting the packer settings to suit different soil conditions. But thanks to support from the Moore Unidrill team and John’s own mechanical know-how, these issues were quickly resolved.
“I was told it wouldn’t go into cultivated land, but it does,” John says. He’s been cultivating with a Vaderstad Carrier and then drilling straight in with the MDH-1700. “I can keep it going, 10 to 12 km/h, no problem.”
While many UK farmers favour the mounted version of the MDH-1700, John opted for the trailed model and he hasn’t looked back. “It follows the ground better, gives better penetration in dry conditions, and puts less strain on the tractor,” he explains. His Massey Ferguson 6616, with 150 horsepower, handles the drill with ease.
The trailed design also offers improved contour-following ability, which has been especially useful on John’s varied terrain. And with the dual hopper system, he’s able to sow seed and fertiliser or two different seed types simultaneously, making it ideal for mixed cropping and stewardship schemes.
From spring barley to wildflower mixes, the MDH-1700 has proven its worth across a range of crops and conditions. Its rugged build, ground-following ability, and straightforward design make it a reliable partner for farmers who want performance without complexity.
📸 Check out the video above and the gallery below to see John’s MDH-1700 in action and the results it’s delivering in the field, from wildflower mixes to a thriving spring barley crop.
Spring Barley sown in March 2025. Picture taken early June 2025.
John’s MDH-1700 Trailed Direct Drill with Massey Tractor
John with his MDH-1700 Trailed Direct Drill sowing a Wildflower seed mix into field margins
