Native seed farming technology questions answered

Below are the top 10 questions people ask about the seedster and its native seed farming 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 harvesting 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 very little chaff or stems with the seed so the seed has a minimal percentage of impurities.

The rapid rotation of brush and combs form a stream of air. Plucked seed is propelled 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 the time-consuming separation of seed and chaff in the field. 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.

3. What are the most important effects of the Seedster’s revolutionary brush comb technology?
The Seedster will expand the availability of difficult-to-harvest native grass species and also increase the number of species available for reseeding for land reclamation and restoration of native grass stands.

The Seedster is uniquely effective in harvesting panicle inflorescence species. Nearly 80% of all perennial native grass species have a panicle inflorescence, and many of them are difficult-to-harvest with a combine, 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 because spike inflorescence species are more effectively harvested by combine harvesters than panicle inflorescence species.

4. Is the Seedster a stripper?
The Seedster is not a stripper and it is not a combine. It is best thought of as a new innovation or technology and could be called a “plucker”.

5. Does the Seedster require special harvesting equipment to run?
All that is needed is a tractor with loader arms and an independent PTO. Select the FH Seedster for your tractor size and your field size. We recommend a robust tractor of 120 hp or more with loader for the FH-4 For the FH-3 an 80 hp tractor and loader is recommended. For an FH-2 a 45 hp tractor and loader is all you need.

6. How is the Seedster powered?
The PTO run hydraulic pumps on the PowerPack power the brush motor, the combing drum motor, and the air assist brush motor. Some tactors have sufficient internal hydraulic flow in gallons per minute to power the three hydraulic motors. Call and discuss what you have.

7. What type of service does the Seedster require?
The Seedster was designed for maximum simplicity and to be easily maintained. Routine maintenance of the hydraulic system consists of visual inspection for fluid leakage at all hydraulic connections. For details, see the Seedster's operating manual.

To control contamination of harvested seed thoroughly clean the Seedster with a pressure air hose when changing from one species to another. Thorough cleaning of all components is estimated to take 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 that 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 as directed in the Seedster's operating manual.

10. How do I set up the Seedster?
Connect a standard farm tractor with loader arms to the Seedster mounting brackets. Place the hydraulic pumps on the PTO. Connect the Seedster trailer to the tractor 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 farming 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 harvesting 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 very little chaff or stems with the seed so the seed has a minimal percentage of impurities. The rapid rotation of brush and combs form a stream of air. Plucked seed is propelled 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 the time-consuming separation of seed and chaff in the field. 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. 3. What are the most important effects of the Seedster’s revolutionary brush comb technology? The Seedster will expand the availability of difficult-to-harvest native grass species and also increase the number of species available for reseeding for land reclamation and restoration of native grass stands. The Seedster is uniquely effective in harvesting panicle inflorescence species. Nearly 80% of all perennial native grass species have a panicle inflorescence, and many of them are difficult-to-harvest with a combine, 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 because spike inflorescence species are more effectively harvested by combine harvesters than panicle inflorescence species. 4. Is the Seedster a stripper? The Seedster is not a stripper and it is not a combine. It is best thought of as a new innovation or technology and could be called a “plucker”. 5. Does the Seedster require special harvesting equipment to run? All that is needed is a tractor with loader arms and an independent PTO. Select the FH Seedster for your tractor size and your field size. We recommend a robust tractor of 120 hp or more with loader for the FH-4 For the FH-3 an 80 hp tractor and loader is recommended. For an FH-2 a 45 hp tractor and loader is all you need. 6. How is the Seedster powered? The PTO run hydraulic pumps on the PowerPack power the brush motor, the combing drum motor, and the air assist brush motor. Some tactors have sufficient internal hydraulic flow in gallons per minute to power the three hydraulic motors. Call and discuss what you have. 7. What type of service does the Seedster require? The Seedster was designed for maximum simplicity and to be easily maintained. Routine maintenance of the hydraulic system consists of visual inspection for fluid leakage at all hydraulic connections. For details, see the Seedster's operating manual. To control contamination of harvested seed thoroughly clean the Seedster with a pressure air hose when changing from one species to another. Thorough cleaning of all components is estimated to take 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 that 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 as directed in the Seedster's operating manual. 10. How do I set up the Seedster? Connect a standard farm tractor with loader arms to the Seedster mounting brackets. Place the hydraulic pumps on the PTO. Connect the Seedster trailer to the tractor 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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