With spring on the horizon OPICO are advising farmers and contractors on the best ways to get their grassland into good shape ready for a productive growing season, optimising their yields and working out in fields earlier. OPICO’s wide portfolio offers solutions to the key battles faced by UK farmers, whether that be drainage issues after a wet winter or the perennial question of whether to go for a full reseed or to opt for over-seeding.

So what machines are best to get the most from your grassland this spring?

Early field work

With the previous wet winter many fields have drainage issues resulting in flooding and surface pooling. This is often the result of compaction from heavy machinery or poaching from livestock, preventing water and air from penetrating deeper into the soil profile.

The ideal way to alleviate this compaction is to go in with the OPICO Sward Lifter. It’s loosening legs are designed to open up the ground to allow drainage and air interchange to deeper soil layers without damaging the productive sward.

Key advantages:

• Enables livestock turnout earlier in the spring
• Extends window for slurry spreading and utilisation of grass after winter
• Reduces poaching and water logging
• One pass to open and consolidate the slot, with the individual press rollers following each leg. No need to follow with additional rolling pass.

Direct drilling and overseeding

Year after year, natural grasses gradually creep back into fields and reduce overall yield. A full reseed isn’t always necessary; often, older leys simply need an injection of fresh seed to outcompete native species and restore productivity. There are two main ways to do this. The first is direct drilling, which places new grasses or clovers deeper into the soil profile for strong establishment. The second is overseeding, which uses tine harrows, seeders and rollers to lightly scratch the soil surface, release nutrients to stimulate growth, sow new seed and then consolidate the ground to ensure good soil-to-seed contact.

New to OPICO are the range of Simtech grassland drills. These easy-to-use, low maintenance machines are robustly built and manufactured in the UK. The standout feature of these drills is the unique T-slot boot, which creates a micro-climate with the ideal for conditions for new seedlings to thrive, out-competing existing weeds.

Key features:

• Precise application of grass mixes, cereals, clovers and more from 1kg/ha to 100kg/ha.
• Front disc cuts through the turf, ensuring the T-slot boot travels without damage to the existing sward.
• T-slot tines prune the root of the existing sward allowing the freshly sown seed to out-compete existing cover.

The HE-VA G-Drill is another direct drill capable of sowing a wide variety of seeds direct or into a cultivated seedbed. Newly released in November 2025, this drill is ideal for farmers and contractors looking for a cost-effective way of sewing a wide variety of seeds. The G-Drill’s first working demo will take place at Scottgrass on 13^th May 2026.

Key features:

• Shallow disc angle minimises soil disturbance, retaining moisture and reducing the emergence of volunteer weeds.
• Drilling is possible into tough conditions as well as softer cultivated seedbeds due to the G-Drill’s hydraulic weight transfer system.
• It can be fitted with a 400L or 1000L Stocks Ag hopper for precise metering.

With the ability to aid in improving existing grassland or establishing new leys as well as acting as a stubble harrow for establishing cover crops, the HE-VA Grass Combi is a truly versatile mixed farming tool.

Key features:

• A multi-purpose machine designed to tow a roller making for one-pass grassland rejuvenation or cover crop establishment.
• Addition of a Stocks Ag seeder for accurate application of seeds or granules.
• With a 6m working width and capable of fast forward speeds high daily work rates are possible.

Reseed, overseed or revitalise with the HE-VA rejuvenator. Built as a grassland improvement machine, an aggressive levelling board knocks off the high spots and carries soil to the low areas. It is followed by two rows of heavy-duty tines which create a tilth and help to allow oxygen into the rooting zone. Finally, a star ring roller breaks up any clods and consolidates the surface for optimal seed germination.

Key features:

• Save time and money with one-pass grassland seeding.
• Capable of working into existing leys or into cultivated soils.
• Fitted with the same Stocks Ag seeder as the Grass Combi for consistent, accurate application of seed or granular products.

A full reseed

Once the ratio of sown grass to native species reaches a 50:50 split OPICO recommends a full reseed. With an Alpego Inversa fitted with a Stocks Ag seeder it’s possible to do the job in one pass.

Looking from the outside, the Inversa looks much like any other rotovator. However, where is differs is that its rotor runs in reverse, lifting the soil and passing it through screening tines so that stones and residue fall to the bottom and fine soil is left on the surface providing a perfect seedbed.

Key features:

• Robust and reliable, sturdy design.
• One-pass grass establishment with the addition of Stocks Ag seeder.
• Creates the perfect free-draining seedbed.