OPICO will be hosting the first working demonstration of the HE-VA G-Drill at ScotGrass 2026, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see this new drill operating in actual field conditions.
Attendees will also be able to gain first-hand insight and technical expertise from the OPICO team throughout the event. The demonstration marks a significant milestone for the drill, which was first introduced to the public at LAMMA 2026.
The HE-VA G-Drill was developed in response to market demand, offering a low-cost means of establishing grass, grain and cover crops. It is designed as a straightforward machine built around proven components, ensuring seed placement at a consistent depth while consolidating the seedbed with a weather-resistant finish.
The Core Design: Vector Scalloped Discs
At the heart of the G-Drill are two rows of 400mm diameter vector scalloped discs, set at a 4-degree angle to the direction of travel. This angled configuration allows the discs to cut through soil efficiently while minimizing surface disturbance.
Each disc is paired with a replaceable coulter boot that runs in its “shadow” — a design that creates a particularly narrow seed slot. This narrow slot is important because it reduces soil disturbance, preserves soil moisture, and helps the seed establish more quickly.
The discs’ narrow pitch also means wear is kept to a minimum, contributing to lower running costs over the life of the machine.
Row Spacing Options: 9.4cm or 12.5cm
The 3-metre G-Drill can be specified with two different opener configurations, allowing farmers to choose the row spacing that best suits their crops.
With 32 openers, the drill provides a row spacing of 9.4 centimetres — an ideal spacing for drilling grass seed, where dense establishment is beneficial.
Alternatively, the 24-coulter option provides a wider 12.5 centimetre spacing, which is suitable for either grass or grain establishment. The wider spacing allows for better airflow and light penetration for cereal crops.
Contour Following and Obstacle Protection
The G-Drill employs a rubber-damped torsion-arm arrangement on each opener unit. This design provides ultra-accurate contour following, meaning the discs maintain consistent seed depth even over uneven ground.
The same suspension system allows the discs to kick out of harm’s way when obstacles such as stones are encountered — a common occurrence in old grass leys. This protects the drill from damage while ensuring precision depth control.
Additionally, the vibrating action of this set-up helps create a tilth-rich, smear-free slot for the seed, promoting better germination and root development.
The Star Ring Roller: Consolidation and Closure
Crucial to providing consistent depth control — as well as generating surface consolidation and suitable seed-to-soil contact — the G-Drill is equipped with a 450/500mm diameter Star Ring roller.
This roller is of the type found across HE-VA’s grassland machinery range, and it has been proven effective at:
- Breaking up clods in cultivated ground
- Consolidating the seed slot
- Closing the seed slot after seeding
The roller leaves a porous surface for weather to penetrate, allowing water and air to reach the seed while ensuring seedlings can emerge evenly.
For farmers who prefer a different roller type, a 600mm diameter flat roller can also be fitted as an option.
Metering and Distribution: Two Hopper Options
Previously, the G-Drill was only available with a 400-litre Stocks Ag Turbo Jet Hopper. However, it will now be optional with a 1000-litre Turbo Jet Hopper for those looking for more capacity and grant eligibility.
The larger hopper is particularly useful for farmers covering larger acreages or those who want to reduce the frequency of refills.
Twin Digital Fans
The metering system is powered by twin digital brushless 12-volt electric fans, which provide high output airflow sufficient for seed rates up to 300 kilograms per hectare.
For farmers who predominantly use the G-Drill to sow cereals and pulses — which often require higher application rates — an optional hydraulic fan is available. The hydraulic fan provides even greater volumes of air, making it a useful upgrade for those applications.
i-CON Controller: Precision Rate Control
The G-Drill comes equipped with Stocks’ 4.3-inch colour touchscreen i-CON controller, which provides automatic forward speed-related rate control for ultimate accuracy.
This means that as the tractor speeds up or slows down, the drill automatically adjusts the seed application rate to maintain the target seeding rate per hectare. This prevents over-seeding or under-seeding in headlands or variable field conditions.
Variable rate application — where seed rates are adjusted based on mapping data — is also available with an unlock. This feature allows farmers to apply different seed rates in different zones of a field based on soil type, organic matter, or yield potential.
For farmers who prefer an ISObus controlled system, that option is also available. ISObus compatibility allows the drill to be controlled through the tractor’s own terminal rather than a separate screen.
Grant Eligibility: FETF44
The HE-VA G-Drill, when equipped with the new Stocks Ag 1000-litre hopper, is eligible for the English FETF44 grant.
The FETF (Farming Equipment and Technology Fund) grant helps farmers invest in new equipment that improves productivity, animal health and welfare, or the environment.
For the G-Drill, the grant offers:
- Maximum funding amount: £15,067
- Score: 57
This grant eligibility makes the G-Drill an even more attractive option for English farmers looking to invest in low-cost establishment equipment with financial support from the government.
ScotGrass 2026 Event Details
The OPICO ScotGrass working plot is stand 101, located near the clamp demonstration area.
ScotGrass is one of the UK’s premier events for grassland farmers, featuring working demonstrations of the latest machinery, technical seminars, and trade exhibits.
The event provides an ideal setting for the G-Drill’s first working demonstration, as attendees can see the drill operating in real field conditions and ask questions directly to the OPICO technical team.
Background: The HE-VA G-Drill at LAMMA 2026
The HE-VA G-Drill was first introduced at LAMMA 2026, one of the UK’s largest agricultural machinery shows.
LAMMA is traditionally held in January, so the introduction at LAMMA followed by the first working demo at ScotGrass (typically in May) represents a natural progression from static display to field demonstration.
The drill was developed in direct response to market demand for a low-cost, straightforward establishment drill that could handle grass, grain, and cover crops without the complexity or cost of higher-specification drills.
Who Is OPICO?
OPICO is a well-known agricultural machinery distributor in the UK and Ireland, specializing in grassland, tillage, and seeding equipment.
The company represents several leading manufacturers, including HE-VA (Denmark), and is known for its technical expertise and customer support.
By hosting the first working demonstration of the G-Drill, OPICO is giving farmers the chance to see the drill in action before making purchasing decisions.
