Brillion Sure Stand vs. Till 'N Seed: Which Seeder Fits Your Ground?

We recommend a Brillion Sure Stand seeder for planting grasses and legumes in a firm, prepared seedbed. Consider the Till 'N Seed for pasture renovation and overseeding when the job calls for shallow tillage and seeding in one pass. The condition of the field and your plans for seedbed preparation will help determine which type of seeder is the better fit.

Sure Stand is the roller-seeding design used in Brillion's agricultural and landscape lines. Till 'N Seed uses a different design that works the soil with rotors. Both come in several configurations, so start with the planting method, then choose the width, seed boxes and hitch.

Sure Stand seeders for prepared ground

Sure Stand seeders place seed between two rollers. The front notched roller firms the ground and makes shallow indentations. Seed meters and deflectors spread seed across the working width, and the offset rear roller presses soil around it. The models share that general planting method, while their frames, seed boxes and mounting arrangements vary.

Brillion's agricultural Sure Stand range includes:

• Small Ag seeders in 4-, 5- and 6-foot widths with three-point hitches, plus a skid-steer mounting option on the 6-foot model.
• Standard, Mid-Size and High Capacity seeders in 8-, 10- and 12-foot widths, with three-point and pull-type configurations.
• The 4610-16 series in a 16-foot width, also offered in three-point and pull-type configurations.

For larger acreage, Brillion extends the Sure Stand approach to its 24-foot and 36-foot folding seeders. The SSBP-8 and SSB-12 are examples within this broader agricultural range.

The landscape line uses the same Sure Stand principle. It includes 5- and 6-foot landscape seeders, such as the LSP-6, and 8-, 10- and 12-foot Turfmaker models. Landscape seeders have transmissions suited to the higher rates used for turf establishment. Their meters and seed boxes differ by series, so the seed mixture helps determine whether an agricultural or landscape configuration is appropriate.

Till 'N Seed for shallow tillage and seeding

Brillion offers Till 'N Seed in 6- and 8-foot widths. The 6-foot version is a three-point machine; the 8-foot version comes in three-point and pull-type configurations.

Both sizes use a ground-driven front rotor and a faster-turning tillage rotor to disturb the soil surface. Seed is broadcast into the worked soil, and a trailing roller firms it. Adjustable gauge wheels control tillage depth, while an air shock maintains pressure on the tillage rotor. This shared design combines surface preparation and seeding for renovation work.

The seed-box arrangements differ within the family. The 6-foot BPSB-6 has a large Micro-Meter front box and a small Micro-Meter rear box. The 8-foot models have a small Micro-Meter front box and a large Micro-Meter middle box, with an optional rear agitator box. Choose those meters for the seed you plan to plant.

Choosing between the two designs

For a new hay field or another area you will till and level before seeding, we recommend Sure Stand. Its rollers firm the prepared surface and press soil around shallowly placed seed. Iowa State's forage-seeding guidance emphasizes a firm seedbed and shallow placement for small forage seeds. Break down large clods and level the field beforehand so the seeder can maintain consistent contact with the ground.

For a thin pasture or worn turf where you want shallow soil disturbance as you overseed, consider Till 'N Seed. Its rotors provide the soil-working action that the conventional Sure Stand arrangement relies on earlier field preparation to accomplish. Plan fertility and management of the existing stand with the seeding job, since the new seedlings will need room to establish.

If the crop and field call for placing seed in a slot through residue, consider a no-till drill. A drill's openers control placement in rows; Till 'N Seed broadcasts into the surface worked by its rotors. The intended planting depth and field condition should guide that choice.

Seed boxes and calibration

Within the Sure Stand agricultural range, the Standard Series combines a front Micro-Meter box with a rear agitator box. The Mid-Size and High Capacity series use a single Micro-Meter box without a rear agitator-box option. That difference matters when choosing a machine for chaffy grass seed or mixtures; a larger box alone does not make the meters suitable for every seed.

Bring the seed tag or mixture when comparing either family. Use the exact model's seed chart to select the box and starting setting, then calibrate with the seed you intend to plant. Coating, seed size and chaff can change how seed feeds through the meter. Separate boxes allow different delivery rates, but they do not provide separate planting depths.

Choosing the width and hitch

Once the planting method and seed meters are settled, choose a width that suits your acreage, gateways and headlands. For a three-point seeder, we check the tractor's hitch category and lift capacity against the loaded implement weight and required ballast. For a pull-type machine, we check the drawbar, transport hydraulics and transport width.

To narrow the Brillion seeder options, send us your seed mixture, acreage, tractor model and a description or photo of the field. Let us know whether you will prepare the ground first or seed into an existing stand. Call 712-566-1033 or email sales@keastenterprises.com, and we can help select the seeding method and configuration.