Jerome Bechard - Farmer & Inventor
When Bourgault Industries began air seeder development in the late 1970's, we recognized that the metering system was to be the heart of the product distribution system. It would have to provide a high degree of accuracy, yet stand up to the rigors of the agricultural environment. Such a system was developed by Jerome Bechard, a successful Saskatchewan farmer and inventor. His precision metering auger system became the heart of the Bourgault product distribution system. Jerome Bechard was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1997.

PDM Plus ~ Positive Displacement Metering System
Through continuous study and improvements, the original metering system has developed into the PDM Plus. A precisely pitched polyethylene metering auger designed for long life and low maintenance is matched with steel orifice to ensure consistent rates. This highly versatile metering system is gentle on peas and lentils, yet accurately meters fine seeds like treated canola. The PDM Plus also features a large flow-through sump for easy and complete tank clean out and metering auger inspection. The polyethylene auger provides consistent seeding rates, even with problematic products such as treated seed and certain fertilizers. (Patent Pending)

The Bourgault metering system has been proven to be extremely safe for even the most delicate of seeds. Here is a quote from independent research group, PAMI Research Study Update #756 which studied the effect of several product distribution systems in chickpeas:

"Metering system damage with CDC Yuma at 4 mph (6.4 km/h) simulated ground speed, using the updated Bourgault meter was very low at 0.8%."

Refer to the complete report in the PDF format: Bourgault Air Seeder, Chickpea Seeding - PAMI Research Study Update #756 (PDF File)

Product Distribution System Classifications - Distribution systems used in the industry can be classified into three main types according to how the material being conveyed is divided.

• Class A systems use both primary and secondary manifolds for material division and distribution .
• Class B systems have the primary division occurring at the meters while manifolds are used for secondary division.
• Class C systems divide all the material right at the meter.

Straight-Thru Primary Line Design
Choosing the Class A distribution system allowed Bourgault to develop the Multi-Shoot feature for maximum use of multiple compartment air seeders. As featured in the 6000 Series Air Seeders, product from 2, 3, or 4 compartment tanks can be individually metered into 1, 2 or 3 product lines. Click here for more details on the Bourgault Multi-Shoot distribution system. Due to the constraints of the Class B and Class C distribution systems, competitors are incapable of offering the same versatility and convenience in product distribution as the Bourgault distribution system.

The Straight-Thru Primary Line Design makes it very easy to direct the contents of any tank into any air stream. This allows the operator to set up his seeding operation in the single, double, or multi-shoot mode. Farmers can switch from canola to peas with little effort, and no need to change metering components.

Tank cleaning is clean and simple, with an unobstructed drop into the load/unload auger hopper.

Straight-Thru Primary Line

Primary & Secondary Manifolds
The Bourgault Primary and Secondary Manifolds are designed for accurate distribution and low incidence of seed damage. Special access ports with convex internal surfaces direct the material to the next set of distribution lines. The seed ports have an extra degree of safety by using a polyurethane convex cap to absorb shock of any seeds that strike the manifold cap.

PAMI Research Study Update #702 found that at proper fan settings, the Bourgault air seeder caused no significant damage when seeding Laird lentils or Express peas. Measured damage never exceeded 3%, while overall average damage in all tests was 0%. PAMI test #702 (PDF File)

Dedicated Facility for Product Distribution Development
Bourgault Industries maintains a dedicated facility for the development and refinement of our product distribution systems. All air kits are put through rigorous testing at various simulated field conditions to determine uniformity of material application across the width of the seeding implement. Material samples are collected and weighed from each individual outlet at various application rates. For these tests, a coefficient of variation is determined and documented.

Coefficient of Variation
Coefficient of Variation is a technical term used to describe the variability in the metering and distribution of product from the seed tank through the system to the openers and into the soil. The variation is expressed as a percentage difference across the width of a seeder. The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute has accepted as its basis for rating uniformity of distribution for seeding implements the following rating scale: a CV greater than 15% is unacceptable, a CV between 10% and 15% is acceptable, and a CV less than 10% is good.

Air Seeder Distribution Testing
Bourgault Industriesruns a battery of tests to determine the coefficient of variation for each product distribution kit released. These tests ensure that all new and updated air seeder kits released to production maintain a CV of less than 10%.

Below are links to PDF files of PAMI studies which document the performance of the Bourgault distribution system.
- Bourgault Air Seeder, Chickpea Seeding - PAMI Research Study Update #756 (PDF File)
- Air Seeding Forage Crops - PAMI Research Study Update # 733 (PDF File)

Proven with Delicate Seeds
Besides 25 years of proven field results, independent research verifies that the metering and Class A distribution system found on the Bourgault seeding system is very gentle with all types of crops.

• PAMI test #702 (PDF File) found zero pulse damage with peas and lentils;
• PAMI test #756 (PDF File) documents low damage with chick peas;
• PAMI test #5404G (PDF File) verified low damage in canola.

Start with the Right Fan Speed
Every air seeding system requires the right fan speed to efficiently move product without causing product damage. Bourgault provides minimum fan speed charts that assist the operator in finding an initial fan speed based upon implement width, application rate and ground speed. From this initial fan speed the operator may need to increase/decrease the fan speed to achieve the correct fan speed for the specific operating conditions. A good rule of thumb is to have the air kit clean out in 3 to 4 seconds from the time the main clutch is shut-off. Clean out times greater than this indicate that the air kit is close to plugging and clean out times less than this indicate excessive fan speeds may be set.