Photo courtesy of Great Plains
SALINA, Kan. – The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) recently announced Great Plains Ag Division as the recipient of a 2026 AE50 award for its narrow-transport BD7410 and BD7510 drills. AE50 Awards recognize the year’s most innovative designs in engineering for the agriculture industry. The Great Plains BD7410 and BD7510 drills were recognized for their ability to quickly and simply transition from full working width to a narrow, transport-ready configuration.
Offered in 15′ and 20′ working widths, the mid-sized BD7410 min-till and BD7510 no-till drills are engineered to fold to under 10′ to easily navigate narrow roadways, bridges, gates, and more. Through a patent-pending design, multiple hydraulic functions occur simultaneously, in a single circuit, creating an easy, seamless change from transport to field position. This allows the entire folding and unfolding sequence to be completed without the operator leaving the tractor cab.
“The Great Plains Product Development Team has once again pushed technological boundaries to offer a product that brings narrow transport solutions and improves on best-in-class seeding performance,” stated Craig Reed, Senior Engineering Manager for Great Plains Manufacturing. “Customers will love the benefits operationally and admire the exceptional performance these new additions offer.”
Built on the legacy of the BD7600 drill, both the BD7410 and BD7510 models utilize the trusted Great Plains Metering System to consistently meter large seeds, small seeds, and fertilizer through the same seed cup. For greater versatility, the large-capacity main seed box is available with split-box capabilities to fill the box with two types of seed or a seed/fertilizer combination. All models can be outfitted with various box configurations enabling a concurrent seeding of a wide range of seed sizes and fertilizer to meet most market needs.
“Great Plains is the leader in box drills and continues to create innovative solutions to meet evolving market needs. The team has done a great job of listening to our customers and providing a solution that addresses many challenges in the market,” stated James Shurts, Executive Director of Product Development and Strategy.
The minimum-till BD7410 drill is offered with three row spacing options, including 5-inch spacing for seeding specialty crops. The BD7410 is simple to operate and maintains the performance and high-quality standards set by Great Plains.
For no-till producers, the BD7510 models provide a rugged option with a leading coulter for tough soil conditions. Twenty-foot models are offered in 7.5″ row spacing, and the 15′ has an option for 6″ row spacing. Both working widths are available with a native grass box option to meter even the fluffiest native grass seed mixes. Seed box options allow three separate products to be concurrently metered into the furrow.
The new narrow-transport BD7410 and BD7510 drills offer greater field-to-field, down-the-road, and through-the-gate convenience – all while maintaining consistent seeding and dependability. To learn more about the new narrow-transport BD7410 and BD7510 drills, visit GreatPlainsAg.com or asabe.org for more information about AE50 or ASABE.
About Great Plains
Great Plains Manufacturing, founded in 1976, employs over 2,300 people worldwide. It encompasses five divisions: Great Plains Ag, which manufactures soil management and seed placement equipment and other farm implements; Land Pride, which manufactures grounds maintenance tools such as mowers, rototillers, rotary cutters, dirt-working equipment, and construction equipment attachments; Great Plains International, which sells the company’s products worldwide; Great Plains Trucking, which operates a nationwide fleet of flatbed trucks; and Great Plains CE Division, which manufactures powered equipment for the construction industry. Great Plains Mfg., Inc., is headquartered in Salina, Kansas.
