Case Study
Sumo Trio Makes for Healthy Soil and an Even Healthier Balance Sheet
Farm Profile
Customer:
Simon Viner – Farm Manager
Location:
Kempsford Farms, Gloucestershire
About:
400ha arable cropping (winter wheat, spring barley, winter oilseed rape)
Plus a poultry unit
The Challenge
At Kempsford Farms, soil compaction had become a major concern.
Decades of traditional cultivation practices — ploughing, followed by power harrow, discs and press — had left a legacy of plough and disc pans, and overworked soils. Simon was looking for a more effective solution.
“We needed to improve our soil structure, reduce compaction and regenerate the soil after years of over-cultivation. The traditional methods were time-consuming and costly.”
He wanted to move away from heavy, repeated cultivations and instead adopt a system that would loosen, mix and consolidate in a single pass — reducing input costs while restoring soil health.
Our Solution
Sumo Trio
After seeing the Sumo Trio at the Tillage Event, Simon arranged a demonstration. Impressed with its simplicity and build quality, he purchased a mounted 3-metre version.
“The Trio looked right, was well built, and very simple to set up and use. It fitted the bill brilliantly. It was just what we were looking for.”
He later upgraded to a trailed version of the 3m machine, adding front discs and a Sumoseeder.
The flexible setup allowed him to incorporate chopped straw and chicken litter, or remove the discs and band-sow oilseed rape using GLS legs and points.
“It’s now doing the job of five previous machines. We use it across the whole arable area.”
Machine Specifications
Key benefits include:
Results
“We’re now able to go straight into stubble after the combine, loosen, mix and consolidate all in one pass. It’s halved our stubble-to-planting time and saved a fortune in diesel and man hours.
We’ve gone from 1.25t/ha to 3.55t/ha in oilseed rape and we’re achieving that consistently.”
The Trio immediately helped break up compaction and recondition tired soils. By combining three operations into one, Simon was able to dramatically cut time, fuel and labour.
One of the biggest benefits came in oilseed rape establishment. Working at shallow depths with a consistent finish, the machine created a firm, moisture-retentive seedbed leading to vastly improved germination and yields.
Incorporating chicken litter and straw has also improved soil biology, helping to build organic matter and support long-term sustainability goals on the farm.
Why Sumo?
Interested in Achieving Results Like These?
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Product Guide
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See Sumo In Action
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