Native seed farming technology questions answered

Below are the top 10 questions people ask about the Seedster and its native seed harvest technology. If your question is not on this list please contact us and we can answer your question.

How does the Seedster capture difficult to harvest seed?

What is the “Seedster Advantage”?

What are the most important effects of the Seedster’s revolutionary brush comb technology?

Is the Seedster a stripper?

Does the Seedster require special equipment to run?

How is the Seedster powered?

What type of service does the Seedster require?

Is service and repair support available?

Is the Seedster easy to operate?

How do I set up the Seedster?

1. How does the Seedster capture difficult to harvest seed?
Seedster patented technology consists of a brush and a combing drum moving in rapid counter-rotation. Counter-rotating in near contact the brush and comb form a “pinch point”. The grooves of the combs hold the seed stems firmly as the brush “plucks” (dislodges) the seed. The plucking action removes little chaff or stems with the seed,, a minimal percentage of impurities.

The rapid rotation of brush and combs form a stream of air that propels plucked seed out of the “pinch point” in the air stream.

2. What is the “Seedster Advantage”?
Because few impurities are dislodged with the seed, the Seedster eliminates most of the time-consuming separation of seed and chaff of a combine. Separation of seed and chaff takes a combine harvester longer with grass seed than with grains because grass seed and chaff have similar densities. Often combines must limit ground speed to 1 mph or less to allow time for grass seed separation from chaff.

3. What are the most important effects of the Seedster’s revolutionary brush comb technology?
The Seedster will increase seed availability of difficult-to-harvest native grass species including species for bioenergy, land reclamation, and restoration of native grass stands.

The Seedster is uniquely effective in harvesting panicle inflorescence species. Over 80% of all perennial native grass species have a panicle inflorescence, and many of them are difficult-to-harvest with a combine, a Flail Vac or other strippers.

Seedster effectiveness with difficult to harvest species is expected to increase the number of native grasses available for reclamation or restoration reseeding. The Seedster will help correct the historical imbalance in favor of spike inflorescence species in reclamation efforts.

4. Is the Seedster a stripper?
The Seedster is not a stripper and it is not a combine. It is a new technology, a “plucker”.

5. Does the Seedster require special equipment to run?
All that is needed is a tractor with loader and an independent 1000 rpm PTO. Select the FH Seedster for your tractor size and your field size. For a Seedster SP all you need is a 45-55 hp tractor. For an FH-2 a 55-70 hp tractor will do. For an FH-2L an 80-110 hp tractor is recommended. We recommend a robust tractor of 120 hp or more with loader for the FH-4.

6. How is the Seedster powered?
The PTO runs the hydraulic pump of the PowerPack to power the brush motor, the combing drum motor, and the air assist brush motor.

7. What type of service does the Seedster require?
The Seedster was designed for maximum simplicity and easy maintenance. Routine maintenance is limited to visual inspection of hydraulics and grease for a few zerks. For details, see the Seedster's operating manual.

To control contamination of harvested seed, thoroughly clean the Seedster with an air hose to change from one species to another. Thorough cleaning with an air hose takes about 10 minutes.

8. Is service and repair support available?
The Seedster was designed to be as simple, durable, and maintenance-free as possible. It is expected repairs will be easily done on the farm. In the event of a serious problem, contact Native Seedsters at info@nativeseedsters.com or 406-294-2995.

9. Is the Seedster easy to operate?
Seedster R & D emphasized ease of set up and operation for the first time operator. Once the Seedster is mounted on the tractor, adjust the operating settings for the species to be harvested.

10. How do I set up the Seedster?
Connect a standard farm tractor with loader arms to the Seedster mounting brackets. Place the hydraulic pump on the PTO and mount the PowerPack on the three-point hitch. The Seedster's operating manual details the steps in setting up the Seedster for optimal operation and safety.














Frequently Asked Questions Below are the top 10 questions people ask about the Seedster and its native seed harvest technology. If your question is not on this list please contact us and we can answer your question. How does the Seedster capture difficult to harvest seed? What is the “Seedster Advantage”? What are the most important effects of the Seedster’s revolutionary brush comb technology? Is the Seedster a stripper? Does the Seedster require special equipment to run? How is the Seedster powered? What type of service does the Seedster require? Is service and repair support available? Is the Seedster easy to operate? How do I set up the Seedster? 1. How does the Seedster capture difficult to harvest seed? Seedster patented technology consists of a brush and a combing drum moving in rapid counter-rotation. Counter-rotating in near contact the brush and comb form a “pinch point”. The grooves of the combs hold the seed stems firmly as the brush “plucks” (dislodges) the seed. The plucking action removes little chaff or stems with the seed,, a minimal percentage of impurities. The rapid rotation of brush and combs form a stream of air that propels plucked seed out of the “pinch point” in the air stream. 2. What is the “Seedster Advantage”? Because few impurities are dislodged with the seed, the Seedster eliminates most of the time-consuming separation of seed and chaff of a combine. Separation of seed and chaff takes a combine harvester longer with grass seed than with grains because grass seed and chaff have similar densities. Often combines must limit ground speed to 1 mph or less to allow time for grass seed separation from chaff. 3. What are the most important effects of the Seedster’s revolutionary brush comb technology? The Seedster will increase seed availability of difficult-to-harvest native grass species including species for bioenergy, land reclamation, and restoration of native grass stands. The Seedster is uniquely effective in harvesting panicle inflorescence species. Over 80% of all perennial native grass species have a panicle inflorescence, and many of them are difficult-to-harvest with a combine, a Flail Vac or other strippers. Seedster effectiveness with difficult to harvest species is expected to increase the number of native grasses available for reclamation or restoration reseeding. The Seedster will help correct the historical imbalance in favor of spike inflorescence species in reclamation efforts. 4. Is the Seedster a stripper? The Seedster is not a stripper and it is not a combine. It is a new technology, a “plucker”. 5. Does the Seedster require special equipment to run? All that is needed is a tractor with loader and an independent 1000 rpm PTO. Select the FH Seedster for your tractor size and your field size. For a Seedster SP all you need is a 45-55 hp tractor. For an FH-2 a 55-70 hp tractor will do. For an FH-2L an 80-110 hp tractor is recommended. We recommend a robust tractor of 120 hp or more with loader for the FH-4. 6. How is the Seedster powered? The PTO runs the hydraulic pump of the PowerPack to power the brush motor, the combing drum motor, and the air assist brush motor. 7. What type of service does the Seedster require? The Seedster was designed for maximum simplicity and easy maintenance. Routine maintenance is limited to visual inspection of hydraulics and grease for a few zerks. For details, see the Seedster's operating manual. To control contamination of harvested seed, thoroughly clean the Seedster with an air hose to change from one species to another. Thorough cleaning with an air hose takes about 10 minutes. 8. Is service and repair support available? The Seedster was designed to be as simple, durable, and maintenance-free as possible. It is expected repairs will be easily done on the farm. In the event of a serious problem, contact Native Seedsters at info@nativeseedsters.com or 406-294-2995. 9. Is the Seedster easy to operate? Seedster R & D emphasized ease of set up and operation for the first time operator. Once the Seedster is mounted on the tractor, adjust the operating settings for the species to be harvested. 10. How do I set up the Seedster? Connect a standard farm tractor with loader arms to the Seedster mounting brackets. Place the hydraulic pump on the PTO and mount the PowerPack on the three-point hitch. The Seedster's operating manual details the steps in setting up the Seedster for optimal operation and safety. Related Topics Grass plants from A to D by common name Grass plants from E to L by common name Grass plants from M to R by common name Grass plants from S to Z by common name
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