A new kind of drill: Boon Ag brings Kiwi ingenuity to seed sowing

When Springfield engineer Andrew Gillies decided to step back into machinery design, he knew exactly what he wanted to build: a drill tough enough for New Zealand terrain and smart enough to meet the needs of modern farmers.

“I used to build drills for another company, and later I hired out agricultural equipment, including seed drills,” Gillies explains.

A dealer told Gillies they had lost their agent and asked if he had ever thought about building a drill – and for Gillies, who was well aware of the limitations of existing drills on the market, that sparked an idea.

“Over the years, I listened to farmers about their frustrations and started seeing the need for something new. I also missed working in a team, solving problems, and that motivated me to build our own drill.”

Six years and lots of trial and error later, the result is the Boon 3m Single and Double Hopper Seed Drill, a locally designed machine that blends durability with innovation and has the potential to change the way Kiwi farmers sow their crops.

“With machinery design, everything has a chain reaction – change one thing and it affects ten others. The drill constantly evolved from the first drawings to the final build.”

The breakthrough: Modular metering

The cornerstone of Boon’s design is its patented modular metering system.

This means farmers can slide in different units depending on the job – a concept Gillies says unlocks endless possibilities.

“At the moment, the drill does everything other drills do, but better. Farmers won’t need multiple machines or contractors – one drill can do it all.”

The modular design has created new options.

A broadcast cassette allows operators to switch from drilling to broadcasting with the press of a button on a wireless tablet, without leaving the cab.

“That’s never been done before either,” Gillies says.

Built for New Zealand conditions

Designed and tested in Canterbury, the Boon drill reflects Gillies’ decades of hands-on experience with Kiwi farms.

It’s a heavy-duty, robust build on a galvanised 100x100 box frame with stainless fittings, one-tonne hoppers, and symmetrical axles for even weight distribution.

The custom 60mm S-tynes are engineered for trash clearance, contour following, and reliable penetration on stony, steep, or wet ground.

“All those weak spots we saw over the years repairing other drills, we’ve designed out of this one,” Gillies says. “It’s built to last and built to make life easier.”

Farmers will also appreciate the practical features: ram spacers built into the machine so they can’t be lost, enclosed metering systems to keep out weather and rodents, and folding treadplates for easy servicing.

Smart technology at work

Equally impressive is the drill’s electronics.

At the heart is a waterproof, dustproof, and impact-resistant wireless rugged tablet that controls the machine.

Unlike traditional wired systems, there are no fragile looms running to the cab.

If the tablet fails, a backup touchscreen on the drill itself keeps farmers working.

Calibration is designed to be as simple as using a smartphone. The system walks operators through the process step by step and even offers a double-check function to test accuracy before drilling begins.

Wireless cameras can be added to monitor hopper levels or metering, all viewed directly on the tablet.

“We’ve used the technology of 2025, not 20 years ago,” Gillies explains. “The electronics even have machine learning built in, adjusting power as it senses changes in the rollers. It’s smart, reliable, and easy to use.”

Support close to home

For now, Boon Ag is managing sales and support directly from Darfield while building a dealer network.

Electronics partners are also New Zealand-based, ensuring after-sales help remains local.

“No one’s going home until things are solved,” Gillies says.

What’s next?

While Gillies is keeping some features under wraps, there are further game-changing ideas in the pipeline.

Export markets are a future goal, but for now the focus is on serving New Zealand farmers.

“This drill is just the start,” he says. “It’s designed to grow with farmers, to adapt to what they need. That’s what makes it exciting.”