Equipment Rental

Watonwan County Land Management / Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) began our seed drill program in 2016. In 2016, our Board of Supervisors utilized our capacity funding to purchase a Great Plains 1006 No-Till Seed Drill for residents in the county to rent to complete various seeding projects.  Then in 2020, our Board of Supervisors decided to expand our program and added The Dew Drop seed drill.  In 2023, we expanded once again and purchased a new Tree planter and an 8' Trillion Broadcast Seeder.

Seed Drill Rental Agreement Forms

In order to reserve any equipment from the Watonwan County SWCD office, the landowner / operator can contact our office at 507-375-1225.

The Equipment Rental Agreement must be filled out and signed prior to picking up the equipment.  You can complete this agreement at the following location:

 Watonwan County Land Management / SWCD office

108 8th Street South, Suite 2, 

St. James MN 56081 

Great Plains 1006 No-Till Seed Drill

  • Rate: $10 per acre charge (Minimum of $75.00 or 7.5 acres & minimum $125.00 outside Watonwan County).
  • Tractor: minimum 75 HP w/ Pioneer Hydraulics and must provide the operator.
  • Seeding width = 10 feet / 15 rows at 7.5 inch spacing
  • Reservation of the seed drill required.

It can be used to seed into standing corn stalks, bean stubble, cut grass, and standing grass.  A firm seed bed is preferred to ensure a proper seed to soil contact and protect from wind or water erosion.  The 1006NT is ideal for seeding larger sites (acres) and averages 3 - 4 acres per hour of seeding depending on site conditions.

Types of Seeding Projects that have been completed with the 1006 No-Till Seed Drill but not limited to:

  • Filter Strips or Buffers
  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) seedings 
  • Pollinator Seed Mixtures
  • Wetland Restoration Projects
  • Pasture (New & Reseeding)
  • Cover Crop Mixtures
  • Corn / Soybean / Winter Wheat / Winter Cereal Rye


The Dew Drop Seed Drill

  • Rate: $10 per acre charge (Minimum $75.00 or 7.5 acres & minimum $125.00 outside Watonwan County).
  • Minimum 350 cc ATV or UTV or small Utility Tractor - requires a 1 7/8 " ball.
  • Seeding width = 3 feet (broadcast seeding with metal tines)
  • Reservation of the seed drill required.

The Dew Drop can be pulled with an ATV or UTV with a 1 7/8" ball and is ideal for those small seeding sites (acres) or hard to reach areas.  Necessary site preparation is important for the Dew Drop - worked up ground to allow proper seed to soil contact.  The Dew Drop cannot go through sod, corn stalks, bean stubble or existing grass and run the risk of damaging the coulters.  The seed drill can cover about 1 acre per hour at 3 mph. 

Types of Seeding Projects that could use the Dew Drop Seed Drill:

  • Converting turf grass into native prairie or pollinator site.
  • Seeding between shrub / tree rows.
  • Small areas of filter strips / buffers / CRP / Pasture

The TR-96 Trillion Broadcast seeder

  • Rate: $10 per acre charge (Minimum $75.00 or 7.5 acres & minimum $125.00 outside Watonwan County).
  • Minimum 150 HP Tractor HP w/ Pioneer Hydraulics and must provide the operator.
  • Seeding width = 8 feed broadcast seeding.
  • Reservation of the seed drill required.

The broadcast seeder can be transported with a truck or tractor.  A firm seed bed is preferred to ensure a proper seed to soil contact and protect from wind or water erosion.  Features a double cult-packer roller for deflecting mud on moist sites resulting in a seedbed planting with a no row effect.  The leading roller crushes clods, removes are pockets and presses down small stones forming a smooth firm seed bed in front of the seed drop.  The second roller splits the shallow ridges formed by the front roller, gently firming the soil around the seeds.  This ensures shallow seed placement and great seed to soil contact.  There are three seed boxes to use.  There is a small box for legumes or other small, smooth, slick seed types. The middle box is for fluffy seed, there is an auger/agitator and picker wheels for the stubborn fluffy seed, The third box is the cool season box for grass species and most cover covers.  Seed output from each seed box is calibrated independently.  

Types of Seeding Projects that TR-i6 Trillion Broadcast seeder can be used on but not limited to:

  • Filter Strips or Buffers
  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) seedings
  • Pollinator Seed Mixtures
  • Wetland Restoration Projects
  • Pasture (New & Reseeding)
  • Cover Crop Mixtures
  • Corn / Soybean / Winter Wheat / Winter Cereal Rye
  • Converting turf grass into native prairie or pollinator site

Tree Planter

  • Rate: $50.00 per day
  • Minimum
  • Seeding width = 8 feet broadcast seeding
  • Reservation of the tree planter is required.

Efficiently plants rows of bare root or small potted trees into untilled sod to complete windbreaks or wildlife plantings.  For ease of transport, it can be pulled behind a tractor or pickup.

Types of projects the tree planter can be used on but not limited to:

  • CRP tree related plants
  • Field windbreaks