A seeding machine (10) is described. The seeding machine (10) is adapted to be moved over soil in a planting operation to plant seed, the machine (10) comprising: a row unit (24) having a trench opener (42), seed meter (36, 136), and a motor (66, 140) to drive the seed meter (36, 136) and a control system (80) including a seed sensor (100, 102) associated with the seed meter (36, 136). In order to minimize waste of seed during planting operation it is proposed to provide the machine (10) with a control system (80) which is adapted to operate the motor (66, 140) prior to operation of the seeding machine (10) to plant seed, to drive the seed meter (36, 136) in a priming operation to fill the seed meter (36, 136) with seed and to stop the motor (66, 140) in response to seed being detected by the associated seed sensor (100, 102) whereby when beginning a planting operation moving the seeding machine (10) over a field, seed is immediately discharged from the seed meter (36, 136).
