Saskatchewan company set to expand its range of seeding equipment offerings beyond openers and toolbars
The Ag in Motion farm show offered a perfect opportunity to look at the variety of different seed drill openers on the market in Western Canada. This is one article in a series that looks at what choices producers have on how to place their seed and fertilizer. We examine the different opener designs manufacturers offer, along with other new equipment they’re introducing for the next growing season.
Anyone attending farm shows in Western Canada over the past few years has likely seen a Pillar Ag drill on display. The company from Warman, Sask., has been a player in the ag equipment market for a few years now.
“The founders of Pillar left another organization in 2005 to pursue their dream of improving seeding accuracy for drylands farming,” says John Gibson, sales and marketing manager for Pillar Ag.
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Pillar Lasers Inc. began operation in 2003 as a custom welding and fabrication business, servicing other ag equipment manufacturers. In 2008, it started building its own unique single-disc opener.
Its current opener and toolbar were on display at the Ag in Motion farm show in July.
“The Mark III opener is Pillar’s flagship opener,” says Gibson.
“This is the third iteration. It’s a single disc, double shoot opener, which is a different concept than most other products in the marketplace, being that it’s single disc but double shoot.
“There’s a compound angle on the disc. The seed delivery system is protected behind the disc.”
The opener places fertilizer three-quarters of an inch beside and an inch and a half below the seed. But that is adjustable.
“One thing to keep in mind with this opener is even though it’s making a trench, the furrow is always closed over the seed,” says Gibson.
“There’s guaranteed seed to soil contact.”
The Mark III opener can be fitted with one of three different packer wheels: a standard rounded wheel, a ribbed shoulder design for a little more aggressive packing and a double shoulder packer wheel.
The ribbed shoulder will provide great packing in a large variety of conditions, says Gibson.
Pillar had more to show at the 2024 show than just its opener and toolbar. It debuted an all-new prototype air cart, which it intends to have in production by next year. The cart on display was an alpha (early) prototype.
Typically, alpha prototype designs are the first iteration built by manufacturers, and they reveal any needed changes or redesign during trials. The resulting updated versions enter the beta stage for the last round of field trials.
“It’s the first new air cart entry in probably 20 years into the air seeding market,” says Gibson.
“It’s been a passion of the owners to provide a complete seeding system to their farmer customers. And this has now come to fruition after a number of years.
“The cart is a modular system, designed so it can range anywhere from two to five compartments, including canola. It’s completely stainless steel construction, top to bottom, including the metering system. It can handle liquid and dry fertilizer. There’s no need for a bladder when it comes to handling liquid fertilizer. It’s very adaptable to farmers’ needs, which is what we’re trying to do.”
Pillar anticipates offering the carts in sizes from the 550 to 600 bushel range all the way up to 1,100 bu. in a tow-behind cart. The largest anticipated tow-between model would likely top out at 900 bu.
“Sectional control and all those types of features will be available on it,” says Gibson.
“This is the alpha prototype, so we’re working with the programming to get to sectional control.”
Gibson expects the cart will be ready for limited release in the spring of 2025, with full production to begin in 2026 or 2027.
“We have a few dealers across Western Canada and are expanding our network,” says Gibson.
