Building on the best features of the 1990CCS Air Seeder that has been the standard for small-grains seeding for the last decade, John Deere introduces the redesigned N500C Series Air Drills for 2019.

These new air drills integrate the latest in seeding technology, including new ProSeries Openers, to provide small-grains producers the most productive, accurate and smart seeding tools in the industry.

According to Ryan Hough, marketing manager for John Deere Seeding, the N500C delivers on the top requests of producers in improvements to small-grains seeding equipment.

“Easier meter access, improved seeding accuracy and increased capacity with less compaction were the most common requests we heard from customers,” Hough said. “The N500C Air Drill was designed to give operators much easier meter access, and the latest in integrated technology for improved seed placement accuracy, control and confidence, to help them do the best seeding job possible for cereals, canola, soybeans and other crops.”

The first thing customers will notice on the N500C is the main frame and commodity tank have changed, with the blower mounted in the forward position and a raised platform, to give operators easier meter access to clear blockages or clean out seed.

Unlike chain-driven air seeders, the N500C features electric-drive volumetric meters that offer greater seed population control and four-section variable-rate seeding capabilities with SectionCommand.

In addition, new technologies have been added to the N500C Air Drills, including John Deere ActiveCal tank scales for on-the-go seeding calibration from the cab, RelativeFlow blockage for row-to-row seed-flow monitoring, TruSet down force control from the cab, and the SeederPlus™ app for convenient calibration of meters and weight monitoring for tank scales.

“The N500C Air Drills may be the most advanced small-grains seeders on the market, giving operators much more control of seeding operations and the ability to monitor and adjust seeding rates, down pressure and other machine functions on-the-go from the cab,” Hough explained. “We’ve even made curve compensation available on air drills for the first time to reduce overlaps and skips around contours and obstacles in the field.”

The N500C Air Drills also feature the new no-till ProSeries Openers for improved seed placement accuracy across a wide variety of soils and ground conditions. The low-maintenance ProSeries Openers are designed with a narrow seed boot and narrow, flexible press wheel that provides up to 40 percent more consistent seed depth across the width of the seeder. This results in more even stand emergence, uniform crop maturity and higher yield potential at harvest.

The N500C Air Drill is available in 30-, 36-, 40- and 42-foot (9.14-, 11-, 12.2-, 12.8-meter) widths with 100-bu. or 120-bu. central commodity tanks, depending on tool width. The machines have front and rear ranks – with either 7.5-inch and 15-inch (19- and 38-cm) row spacings, or 10- and 20-inch (25.4- and 51-cm) row spacings – that can be hydraulically raised and locked. Machines with a single rank with 15-inch (19-cm) row spacings are available. 

Something else seeding customers will notice with the new N500C Air Drills, noted Tyler Rumbold, product manager for John Deere Seeding, is a new product naming system. The “N” stands for machine type, or no-till drill; “5” is the series number; followed by the two-digit tool width; and “C” or product differentiator at the end, which stands for Central Commodity System.

“More importantly, the introduction of the N500C Air Drills with no-till ProSeries Openers is a continuation of John Deere’s commitment to meeting the needs of cereal, canola, soybean and other crop growers,” Rumbold added. “These new tools offer significant improvements in seeding rate and placement accuracy, capacity, and other production benefits that provide real economic return.”

The new N500C Air Drills can be ordered beginning in June with delivery expected to start by the end of 2019. For more information on the N500C Air Drills and the full line of John Deere seeding tools, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit JohnDeere.com.