12 Oct 2026

Horsch Pronto DC Range: Machine Guide

The Horsch Pronto DC is a disc-based seed drill designed to prepare the seedbed, consolidate it, and place seed in a single pass. It is available in six working widths, from the 3 DC at 3m to the 9 DC at 9m, so the same design principle scales from smaller mixed farms to large arable operations and contractors.

Working widths from 3m to 9m across six models (3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 DC)
TurboDisc seed coulters running coulter pressure up to 125kg (150kg with the optional ParaDisc coulter on the 7 DC)
Seed hopper capacity from 2,800 to 4,000 litres, or up to 5,000 litres as a double hopper

What is the Horsch Pronto DC range?

The Pronto DC is built around what Horsch calls the Pronto Principle: seedbed preparation, consolidation and sowing carried out in three steps as the machine moves across the field.

Seedbed preparation: 46cm discs run at high rotational speed to mix the soil, produce fine tilth and level the seedbed ahead of the packer.
Consolidation: a single-line tyre packer consolidates and levels the soil in front of every seed coulter, so each one starts from the same conditions
Sowing: the TurboDisc seed coulter places the seed at a set depth, with the Uniformer holding it in the bottom of the furrow and the press wheel finishing seed-to-soil contact.

Because all three steps happen in one pass, the Pronto DC covers ground quickly without a separate cultivation pass beforehand, which is the main reason it suits both min-till and more conventional establishment systems.

What Horsch Pronto working widths are available?

The range runs in three pairings, matched to tractor size and output required:

3 DC and 4 DC: working widths of 3m and 4m, needing 80-150hp depending on model, suited to smaller and mixed farms.
6 DC and 7 DC: working widths of 6m and 7.2m, needing 160-280hp, the step up for larger arable acreages.
8 DC and 9 DC: working widths of 8m and 9m, needing 210-330hp, aimed at high-output arable farms and contracting operations.

Horsch Pronto DC Range at a Glance

Model	Working width	Axle load	Seed hopper	Coulter pressure*	Horsepower requirement	Speed
3 DC	3.00m	2,700 - 4,500kg	2,800 litres	15 - 125kg	80 - 110kW (110 - 150hp)	10 - 20km/h
4 DC	4.00m	4,100 - 6,000kg	2,800 litres	15 - 125kg	95 - 130kW (130 - 180hp)	10 - 20km/h
6 DC	6.00m	5,700 - 8,900kg	4,000 litres	15 - 125kg	120 - 185kW (160 - 250hp)	10 - 20km/h
7 DC	7.20m	7,800 - 10,000kg	4,000 litres	15 - 125kg*	145 - 205kW (200 - 280hp)	10 - 20km/h
8 DC	8.00m	7,800 - 10,150kg	4,000 litres	15 - 125kg	155 - 215kW (210 - 290hp)	10 - 20km/h
9 DC	9.00m	9,200 - 11,200kg	4,000 litres	15 - 125kg	175 - 240kW (240 - 330hp)	10 - 20km/h

*The 7 DC is available with the optional ParaDisc coulter, running up to 150kg of pressure. All other models use the standard TurboDisc coulter, up to 125kg.
Row spacing sits at 14.3cm on the 4 DC, 15.0cm on the 3 DC and 9 DC, and 15.4cm on the 8 DC. Horsch does not publish a row spacing figure for the 6 DC and 7 DC in the current specification sheet.

How does the DiscSystem prepare the seedbed?

The front DiscSystem uses 46cm discs with a serrated profile, arranged in pairs for clearance. This lets the discs mix soil aggressively, produce fine earth and level the seedbed even at higher forward speeds, with hydraulic depth adjustment that can be altered infinitely while driving.

Behind the discs, the tyre packer (10-ply special Horsch tyres, AS profile, arranged in one line) levels and consolidates ahead of each seed coulter, and its straight tyre profile increases consolidation specifically in that zone. Because the tyre diameter is large and no scrapers are needed, horsepower requirement stays low for the working width on offer, and the packer's middle section doubles as a chassis for transport.

How does the TurboDisc seed coulter place the seed?

The TurboDisc is a double disc coulter, now in its third generation, designed to keep a set placement depth for every grain even at speeds up to 20km/h. The double disc pre-shapes the seed furrow, the integrated Uniformer stops the seed bouncing and holds it at the bottom of the furrow, and a 5cm or 7.5cm press wheel (depending on soil type) finishes seed-to-soil contact.

Coulter pressure runs from 15kg up to 125kg via a maintenance-free rubber torsion bearing, which also acts as overload protection and a shock absorber against stones. Adjusting coulter pressure and seed depth do not affect each other, which keeps calibration straightforward. On the 7 DC, Horsch also offers the parallelogram-controlled ParaDisc coulter as an option, running pressure up to 150kg for safe seed placement in drier, harder seedbeds.

What options are available for seed and fertiliser placement?

Beyond the standard single hopper, the Pronto DC can be specified with a double hopper (4,000 or 5,000 litres depending on model, split 40:60) for placing two components, such as seed and fertiliser, in one pass. A double hopper with the PPF system allows two components to be metered and placed on two separate horizons, while the Grain & Fertiliser (G&F) version meters both separately but places them together through the TurboDisc coulter.

Horsch also offers the MiniDrill as an additional 400 litre hopper for fine seeds or microgranular compounds, useful for taking a catch crop or companion seed along in the same pass as the main crop, or for filling the main hoppers with mineral fertiliser instead. MiniDrill Solo versions run their own fan and pneumatic system, giving a third placement horizon independent of the main coulters.

How is seed application monitored and controlled?

The RowControl distribution tower monitors pneumatic flow to each row and gives an audible and visual warning in the terminal if a hose blocks, so sowing errors are caught immediately rather than found later in the field. It also enables SectionControl, switching off individual rows right down to the last one to avoid overlaps on headlands, in wedges or around obstacles, which cuts seed and fertiliser use and reduces disease pressure from over-thick establishment in those areas.

Control runs through the Horsch eosT10 (Pro) terminal, a 10 inch ISOBUS terminal, with the MobileControl app allowing calibration and some machine functions to be handled from a smartphone. AutoLine gives automatic, GPS-based tramline control, removing the need for track-to-track driving, and HorschConnect Telematics gives remote insight into machine performance and error messages for the dealer's service team.

Which Horsch Pronto DC is right for my farm?

The smaller 3 DC and 4 DC suit farms running a mid-range tractor (from around 110hp) who want a genuine one-pass drill without stepping up to a high-horsepower outfit. The 6 DC and 7 DC fit larger arable farms already running tractors in the 160-280hp bracket and looking to cover more ground per pass without a disproportionate jump in power requirement. At the top of the range, the 8 DC and 9 DC are aimed at high-output arable businesses and contractors, where working width and output per hour matter as much as per-hectare establishment cost.

Because the DiscSystem and TurboDisc coulter are common across every model, the choice between sizes comes down to available tractor power and acreage to cover, not a trade-off in seed placement quality.

Looking to find out more about the Horsch Pronto DC range?

Want to see the Horsch Pronto DC range in action? Get in touch with your local Scot Agri depot for more details or to arrange a demonstration.

Scot Agri supplies and supports the Horsch range from 11 depots across Scotland and the North of England, part of the wider 14-depot Scot JCB Group network. Wherever you farm, our team can talk you through the right Pronto DC model for your acreage and arrange a demonstration at your local depot.

FAQ

Is the Pronto DC a min-till drill?

It can be. The DiscSystem prepares the seedbed as the machine moves, so the Pronto DC can drill directly into stubbles and reduced-tillage ground as well as into a conventionally prepared seedbed, depending on soil type and residue levels.

What is the difference between the TurboDisc and ParaDisc coulters?

The TurboDisc is the standard coulter across the range, running up to 125kg of pressure. The ParaDisc, available as an option on the 7 DC, is a parallelogram-controlled coulter that runs up to 150kg of pressure, for more difficult, drier or harder seedbeds.

Can the Pronto DC place fertiliser as well as seed?

Yes. With a double hopper (PPF or G&F) it can place seed and fertiliser as two separate components, and the MiniDrill option adds a third hopper for fine seeds, microgranular compounds or a catch crop.

How much horsepower does the Pronto DC need?

It ranges from 80-110kW (110-150hp) for the 3 DC up to 175-240kW (240-330hp) for the 9 DC, so the required tractor power scales with working width.

Can the working rows be switched off individually?

Yes, with the RowControl distribution tower and SectionControl, individual rows can be switched off right down to the last row, to avoid overlaps on headlands and around obstacles.

What is the transport width of the Horsch Pronto DC?

Transport width is 3.00m on the 3 DC, 4 DC and 6 DC, and 2.98m to 2.99m on the 7 DC, 8 DC and 9 DC, so every model in the range sits at or under 3m for the road. In Great Britain, road rules for wide agricultural implements generally require police notification once a load is over 3m wide, with an escort vehicle needed above 3.5m and Secretary of State authorisation above 4.3m. Because the whole Pronto DC range stays at or under that first 3m mark, it avoids the need for routine road-move notification for most journeys, though operators should always confirm current requirements with their local police force before a move, as rules can vary by force and by route. EU member states set their own national road rules for towed agricultural implements, so check the requirements for the relevant country if you are moving a machine across borders.

What is the ideal forward speed for operating the Pronto DC?

Horsch specifies an operating speed range of 10-20km/h across the whole range. Unlike some drills, working faster within that range is not a straightforward accuracy trade-off: the DiscSystem's seedbed preparation actually improves in quality as operating speed increases, and the TurboDisc coulter is engineered to hold its set placement depth for every grain right up to 20km/h. In practice, the best speed on the day comes down to ground conditions and available tractor power, with most operators working towards the top of the range on even, well-prepared ground and easing off in heavier or more variable conditions.

Can the Pronto DC handle variable rate seeding (VRA)?

Yes. Variable rate seeding (VRA) means the seed rate adjusts automatically as the drill crosses the field, following a pre-built application map instead of sowing at one fixed rate throughout. The Pronto DC runs through the Horsch eosT10 (Pro) ISOBUS terminal, which supports wireless Task Data Exchange, so application maps can be loaded onto the terminal and metering adjusted automatically zone by zone. This sits alongside the terminal's expert rotor-selection mode, which also allows variable operating speeds and application rates to be configured.

How much routine maintenance does the Pronto DC require?

The Pronto DC is built to keep day-to-day maintenance light. The TurboDisc coulter bearings are maintenance-free by design, the DiscSystem needs no scrapers, and a movable, carbide-coated scraper keeps the coulters self-cleaning even in wet, sticky conditions. Day to day, the main jobs are the usual checks any seed drill needs through the season: tyre pressure and condition on the packer, pneumatic hoses and fittings (RowControl flags a blockage in the terminal as it happens), and coulter wear parts as hours build up. Scot Agri's parts and service team can support the Pronto DC alongside the rest of your Horsch fleet, so routine checks are not left to a single visit a year.