Description
The rangeland drill was designed for seeding non-cultivated rangelands. It is a rugged, versatile implement for drilling in rough, rocky, or brushy areas. Many drills are configured with three seed boxes, grass (primary box), fluffy (shrub), and legume boxes. The grass and legume boxes are set to drop seed in the disk furrows, while the fluffy box tubes are typically removed so seed is deposited on the soil surface. The drills can be paired with a drill-cart to pull two drills at a time.
Application
Considerations:
- While a rugged, large rocks and very rough terrain can damage rangeland drill disks and other parts.
- Cannot be used in wet conditions. Even a little mud will clog up the disks and prevent them from cutting an appropriate furrow.
- Most rangeland drills require hydraulics, but there are older “baby” rangeland drills measuring only 5 ft wide with just one seed box. The baby rangeland drill does not have hydraulics so it can be pulled by a truck or a UTV.
Images
References / Additional Information
Allen, B. 2025. NDOW Seed-based habitat restoration. In: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Council. 2024. From beginning to end: The equipment, methods, and processes of seed-based restoration. Revegetation Technology and Equipment Council Symposium (SRM 2025); 2025 February 9-13; Spokane, WA: YouTube video (48:25-1:05:07).
Booth, D.T. 1983. Gel seeding woody plants—Progress report. In: 37th Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1983 February 13-14; Albuquerque, NM. Missoula, MT: U,S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Equipment Development Center: 8.
Calhoun, D. 1981. A reclamation contractor’s experiences with equipment. In: 35th Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1981 February 8-9; Tulsa, OK. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Equipment Development Center: 26-27.
Clary, W.; Johnson, T. 1983. Land imprinter results in Utah. In: 37th Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1983 February 13-14; Albuquerque, NM. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Equipment Development Center: 23-24.
Great Basin Research Center (GBRC). 2024. Loading/unloading checklist for rangeland drill. In: GBRC Equipment Workshop Handout distributed 19 June 2024. Ephraim, UT.
Great Basin Research Center (GBRC). 2024. Drill calibration summary. In: GBRC Equipment Workshop Handout distributed 19 June 2024. Ephraim, UT.
Haferkamp, M.R.; Miller, R.F.; Sneva, F.A. 1985. Seeding rangelands with a land imprinter and rangeland drill in the Palouse Prairie and sagebrush bunchgrass zone. In: 39th Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1985 February 14-15; Salt Lake City, UT. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Equipment Development Center: 19-22.
Laird, J. 1980. Improvements to the rangeland drill. In: 34th Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1980 February 10-11; San Diego, CA. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Equipment Development Center: 14-15.
McKenzie, D. 1983. Accomplishments of the VREW—development life of the rangeland drill. In: 37th Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1983 February 13-14; Albuquerque, NM. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Equipment Development Center: 44-48.
Newingham, B. 2025. Getting SEEDS on and off the ground: Challenges and opportunities for developing a large network of experimental, post-wildfire seeding sites. In: From beginning to end: The equipment, methods, and processes of seed-based restoration. Revegetation Technology and Equipment Council Symposium (SRM 2025); 2025 February 9-13; Spokane, WA: YouTube video (1:06:14-1:21:09).
Young, J.A.; McKenzie, D. 1990. Rangeland drill. In: 3rd Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1989 February 19-20; Billings, MT. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Technology and Development Center: 1-7.