Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 349 i Farms and Farm Machinery

The newly unveiled next-gen Claas Axion 900 tractor, boasting a 445hp 6-cylinder engine, will be available for order in Australia next year. Four new Axion 900 models will be released in Australia, with new features including an optimised CMATIC continuously variable transmission (CVT) control, the choice of two operating systems and a maximum output of 325hp to 445hp headlining the upgrades. Claas Harvest Centre group product manager Dave Knowles says the new series has undergone refinement to further improve performance and convenience. “All models are capable of transferring their full power from a standing start and at all forward speeds without a boost,” Knowles says. The Axion 900’s 6-cylinder FPT Cursor 9 engine introduces a new geometry turbo which Claas says delivers optimum charge-air pressure according to the current load…

Farmscan Ag has launched its latest spray controller, the 74V1, saying its user-friendly design improves on the previous 24V1 model. The 74V1 features a brand new display which includes a unique onscreen ‘Tile’ and ‘Tab’ layout that allows users to tailor their preferred view on its 4.3-inch colour touchscreen. Farmscan has also introduced the new ‘Smart Switch’, which provides complete control over any spraying implement. The 74V1 can compensate for changes in speed, regardless of the terrain conditions, and is also able to simultaneously manage multiple tanks with individual rates, which Farmscan believes is perfect for dual rate systems. The 74V1 will also have the ability to load application shape files for Variable Rate Control (VRC) spraying. Brad Petschel, of Brad Petschel’s Auto Elec at Hopetoun, says these new features…

The NT Department of Primary Industry and Resources’ Coastal Plains Research Farm has recently bought a new Silvan Nobili BNU195 mulcher. Situated roughly 60km south east of Darwin, the Coastal Plains Research farm is essential to the Top End’s environment, and its new Nobili mulcher is set to get stuck into the farm’s 130ha property. The Nobili BNU195 is designed to be a multi-purpose machine, fitted with hinged tailboards and a mulching bar for fine mulch with the height controlled by adjustable skids. Other key features of the BNU195 include its standard universal 01 ‘Y’ blades, a heavy-duty oil bath gearbox with overrun clutch, taper locked pulleys and electronically balanced rotor. Silvan recommends the machine be used with a tractor of 70-90hp. Weighing just over half a tonne and with…

The agricultural industry has once again topped the list of Australia’s most dangerous jobs, according to new data. Data analysis company Finder.com.au has compiled data from Safe Work Australia’s (SFA) report ‘Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities, Australia 2015’ and meshed it with employment data from SFA’s ‘Australian Workers Compensation Statistics’ report to create a risk score for each industry. The data shows the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry was once again Australia’s most dangerous, with 52 fatalities and 3410 serious injuries recorded in 2015. As this sector contains a relatively low number of workers (318,000), the resulting risk score was 42.10 – more than double the risk factor of the second-placed industry, transport and warehousing. The construction industry recorded 33 deaths and more than 12,000 serious injuries in 2015. As the…

Machinery giant Liebherr is to deliver more than 70 armoured mobile and rescue cranes to the German Army in a deal worth around $200 million. The order from the German Army comprises of 33 armoured G-BFK recovery cranes and 38 G-LTM 1090-4.2 mobile cranes, with deliveries expected to commence in the second half of 2018 and to be completed by 2021. To meet the high requirements of the German military, Liebherr worked with Rheinmetall, the leading European supplier of military equipment to create the cranes’ armoured cabins. Protecting passengers is the primary focus of the order, says Liebherr, with the G-LTM and G-BKF’s identical superstructure cabins capable of protecting crew members from ballistic, mine and IED threats. They also feature an NBC ventilation system. The G-BKF (pictured) is an armoured…

Is the Fendt really the Rolls Royce of tractors? If I told you now, you wouldn’t have to keep reading this review, but I will say this – the new forest-green colour scheme chosen by the designers is a nice touch. To begin our review of the 160hp Fendt 716 S4 tractor let’s start up front, where all the noise and commotion comes from. Although Fendt updated its 700 series last year to meet Stage 4 (Tier 4F) emissions, visibly from the outside, square lights and a slightly higher bonnet are all that tell the S4 apart from the previous SCR. The 6-cylinder Deutz TCD 6.1-litre engine is the same. The SCR system has been tweaked to combine a passive particulate filter, and to deal with the additional heat is…

HORWOOD BAGSHAW SCARIBAR 50ft, 36cm spacings, double shoot air kit, double springs, blockage monitors on grain, coulters, knife points, press wheels. $$$ Price is value, try setting this up now! Vic 03 8547 8399 $528,000 2004 JOHN DEERE 1820 52’ wide, 7.5’ row spacings, 8 run double shoot, 3’ Flexicoil paired row openers, John Deere 1910 tow between aircart, 270 bushel capacity. SA 08 7099 1791 $121,000 2000 FLEXICOIL 820 Flexicoil 820 Bar with 1992 John Deere 787 Air Cart. 50ft 5 section bar on 12” spacing. (Conf as 40ft on 24” spacing.) Includes equip to set for double shoot. Straight tidy bar with no cracking or welding. Meter drives, rollers & tyres in good cond. NSW 02 9199 7756 $60,000 2008 SEED HAWK SH1220 50’ wide, 12’ row spacings,…

Situated just 21km south of the sugarcane heartland of Bundaberg, this impressive 108ha Elliott property showcases the beauty of coastal Queensland. According to Remax estate agents, currently 86ha of the Mahogany Downs property are under cultivation, producing zucchini and hybrid pineapples on its sloping red and grey landscapes. The large residence is the standout feature of the property – an impressive 349-square-metre, four-bedroom home. The main dwelling features an ensuite and walk-in-robe connected to the master bedroom, a spacious formal lounge and dining area with an additional oversized laundry, kitchen, and a 55-square-metre patio with views of the property. Did we mention the master bedroom has a private patio? The workers’ cottage does the job, boasting three cosy bedrooms, a kitchen, dual bathrooms and separate lounge and dining areas, which…

In general, the styling of Japanese vehicles tends to fall into four loose categories: bland; practical and inoffensive; Hello Kitty; and something that someone came up with after a blurry night featuring sake, pachinko and seafood. I can only imagine that the acidic, fishy burps would’ve been quite unpleasant as the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport took shape on a designer’s computer that head-thumping morning ... let’s just say its exterior styling is polarising. But looking past that, it’s quite a capable country car that can hold its own in the rough stuff, haul a decent trailer, hammer along a country highway, and brave the urban grind. Given the way it’s priced, it’s also quite good value as well. Ute-based SUVs have become a ‘thing’, with most of current ute models having…

Tucked away from Australia’s mainland is this stunning 416ha grazing property on secluded King Island. Just a 45-minute flight from Melbourne, Fraser Bluff is the ultimate seaside property, boasting gentle rolling landscapes and 2.5km of beach frontage to Bass Straight. The 416ha property consists mostly of undulated land, of which 300ha is pastured, with the remainder filled with native flora. Approximately 30 titles make up Fraser Bluff – 10 larger titles and a further 20 smaller titles along the northern end beach. Currently advertised on our sister site Farmbuy.com, the property is said to be frost free with reliable annual rainfall of 1000mm and a mild Mediterranean climate. A spacious five-bedroom home is situated at the Fraser Bluff property and features two living areas, a study, a walk-in pantry connected…

Volvo Trucks has developed a new self-steering truck prototype that could boost sugarcane harvests by up to 10 tonnes per hectare as it steers precisely through the fields, avoiding the young plants which make up the following year’s crop. Harvesting trucks damage roughly four per cent of young sugarcane crops each year, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue per truck per year. Volvo has been testing the self-steering truck on huge fields owned by Brazilian sugarcane and ethanol producer Usina Santa Terezinha Group. “With the help of Volvo Trucks’ solution we can increase productivity, not just for one single crop but for the entire lifecycle of the sugarcane plant, which lasts five to six years,” Santa Terezinha finance and procurement director Paulo Meneguetti says. The majority…

The revolutionary Integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD), which uses ‘mechanical impact trauma’ to pulverise weed seeds, is being upgraded in preparation for this year’s grain harvest. Unveiled to the world last year by inventor and farmer Ray Harrington, the iHSD consists of two hydraulically driven cage mills and is integrated directly into the chaff stream of a combine harvester, pulverising weed seeds and halting the spread of weed growth in crops at a time when herbicide-resistant weeds are decimating farms around the world. Research from the University of Western Australia-based Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) has determined that 93-99 per cent of weed seeds are destroyed by the iHSD, and it is effective against 25 species of weed. AHRI director Professor Steve Powles says this new method of weed control…

A fleet of Case IH tractors has been instrumental in helping the Dieckmann family’s Kalbar Lucerne farm produce 80,000 bales of hay each year – equating to 400 bales per acre. The Dieckmann family first ran cattle on the south-east Queensland property, then transitioned to vegetables before settling on lucerne hay. “It’s always been hay since I was a kid in the early ’60s,” current owner Trevor Dieckmann says. “I remember driving the big red tractor and baling hay at night.” The Dieckmann farm turned to Lucerne due to the thriving equine industry in the region, the soil which is perfect for lucerne, and the ability for the scenic rim region to be farmed all year round. The Dieckmann-Case IH relationship dates back to the start of the 20th century,…

More LandCruisers have been sold in Australia than any in any other nation on the planet, according to figures released by Toyota. The LandCruiser was introduced by Toyota in 1954 and is still going strong 63 years later, making it Toyota’s longest-serving vehicle brand. Since its launch, almost 7 million LandCruisers have been sold worldwide but nowhere has the beast been more popular than here in Australia, where just over 700,000 ’Cruisers have been sold. The figure represents a staggering 10 per cent of total historical LandCruiser sales. Toyota Australia attributes the LandCruiser’s success in this country to its ability to appeal to both rural and urban customers simultaneously. “Even the most rugged LandCruiser 70 Series variant is now equipped with extensive safety features in addition to the traditional quality,…

Australian new machinery sales grew by a whopping 16.5 per cent in 2016 after totalling an impressive $2.18 billion, making it the ninth consecutive year of $1 billion-plus sales. These impressive figures come after a fruitful 2015 which saw $1.871 billion in sales. In a passionate address to the TMA conference last week, Agriview managing director Alan Kirsten announced individual records and growth for tractors, combine harvesters, sprayers, balers, hay tools and windrowers. New tractors have posted the largest number of sales since 1985, according to Kirsten. A total of 11,729 tractors were sold in 2016, marking a 2.1 per cent increase on 2015 and the sixth consecutive year in which the market has exceeded 10,000-plus sales. Tractor sales have averaged 11,119 per year since 2012. Kirsten says the demand…

The first systems to use anaerobic digestion technology to turn waste plastics into energy and fertiliser are being developed in South Australia. POET Systems expects to have its first two machines – each capable of processing 20 tonnes of plastic a week – operating commercially in about 12 months. More than one million tonnes of contaminated plastic deemed unfit for recycling is sent to landfill in Australia each year. In the United States the figure is almost 10 million tonnes. Inventor David Thompson says his plastic-to-energy technology has so far successfully been applied to polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and expanded polystyrene. He says the anaerobic digestion process varied on disposal feedstock and also depended on temperature and system setup. “The POET system – an acronym for Polymer-Organic-Energy-Treatment – prepares waste plastic…

2006 JOHN DEERE 7720 MFWD, LH reverser, IVT, 3PL, 3-SCVs, 540/1000 PTO, Green Star ready, diff lock, foot throttle, 168hp, 6,626 hours of use. Qld 07 3171 1832 $71,500 1996 CASE IH 7210 Very tidy 7210 Magnum, linkage, MFWD. A credit to previous owner and well worth inspection. 160hp, 7,090 hours of usage. NSW 02 91969 7760 $49,830 2013 VALTRA T163 T163V Preloved Valtra T163 Tractor complete with FEL. 4WD, 160hp, 1,000 hours of usage. Vic 03 8373 7045 $126,500 2004 McCORMICK MTX165 FWA, 7,850hrs, cab and front axle susp, Cummins common rail 5.9L engine, powershift trans, auto change, LED lights, 650/65 42 rear tyres 80%, 600/65 28 front tyres and guards, front weights, linkage, 4 rear remotes, 540/1000 PTO, training seat. NSW 02 8279 7084 $51,700 2013 NEW HOLLAND…

Before getting behind the wheel of the Claas Axion 930 tractor – a complex machine equipped with the latest technology and plenty of bells and whistles – I was fortunate to receive a thorough run-through of features by Claas Tractors group product manager Dave Knowles and Claas Poland product specialist Dr Barbara Raba. Initial standout features were the tractor’s power and stability. Hooked up to a 21-tonne Herron trailer and 3.5m Sumo Trio, this machine was equally at home working with heavy-tillage equipment as hauling heavy silage loads and transport work. To make the most of its capabilities, it probably needs to be put on silage stack duty with plenty of bins on a short draw or send it to an Outback property with some extra-large broadacre tillage equipment. SERVICEABILITY…

2015 MITSUBISHI PAJERO Only 29,911km, 3.2L turbo diesel with dual range Super Select 4x4 5 speed Sport automatic transmission, 174kW of power and 441nm of torque. Car is one-owner with no damage history. NSW 02 8279 7047 $44,900 2011 MITSUBISHI PAJERO GL LWB 4X4 3.2L turbo diesel, auto 5spd Sports, dual airbag package, ABS, AC, remote anti theft alarm system, bullbar, cruise control, remote central locking, elect brake force distribution, head airbags, too much to mention. NSW 02 8315 0747 $21,999 2013 MITSUBISHI PAJERO GLX-R 3.2ltr turbo diesel with 5 speed automatic and all factory log books with a full service history to date. Both its keys, tinted windows, tow bar, October NSW reg, great set of Pirelli tyres, 7 seater. NSW 02 8315 0180 $34,990 2004 MITSUBISHI CHALLENGER 4X4…

Deutz-Fahr has announced the Australian availability of the compact, manoeuvrable and versatile 4E Series tractors, saying the new 4065E and 4080E models are ideal for a wide range of applications, such as livestock, vineyard, dairy and lifestyle farming. The latest Deutz-Fahr machines are powered by liquid-cooled, three- or four-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled engines, and feature hydraulic roller tappets (HRT) exhaust gas recirculation technology. PFG Australia Deutz product manager Anthony Darveniza says the 4065E is now available, with the 4080E scheduled for a September release. The 4065E features a 62hp SDF 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, while the 4080E has the larger 75hp 4-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled Tier 3 compliant engine. The automated system monitors a set of engine parameters, and optimises engine function by adjusting injection accordingly. It’s designed for simplicity, and…

JCB has introduced a skid-steer loader with a telescopic boom, the Teleskid, and says the new machine can reach 60 per cent further forward than other skid steers on the market. The Teleskid is available in both wheeled and tracked configurations. On top of the improved forward reach, the Teleskid is also able to dig below its chassis to a depth of around one metre. The Teleskid also has a reach height 8 per cent higher than other skid steers. JCB says the Teleskid’s value is in the versatility of functions it can perform. “The JCB Teleskid can do the work of four machines – a telescopic handler, masted forklift, compact loader and a skid steer, all in one easily serviced machine,” JCB chief innovation and growth officer Tim Burnhope…

Australia’s agricultural production value has continued its rise to a record-breaking $56 billion, according to Agricultural Census data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. ABS director of environment and agricultural statistics Lauren Binns attributes the rise by $3.1 billion in 2015-16 to the increased value of livestock products. “The value of Australia’s livestock disposals continues to increase, up 10 per cent to $20.6 billion compared to 2014-15,” Binns says. “Beef was again the largest contributor to this rise, despite fewer animals heading to the saleyards, with strong price rises both domestically and internationally.” Much of this growth was driven by Queensland, which saw an increase of 12 per cent also on the back of livestock. The Agricultural Census also showed the most valuable crops were wheat at $6.2 billion,…

Honda’s EM10000 industrial generator is a 9kVA model that delivers 9000W/240V AC for use on worksites and on farms. Honda Australia says the EM10000 has a 31-litre fuel tank and has the best fuel consumption in its class, being able to run for a solid 6.5 hours at 8000W. “The EM10000 generator features Honda’s i-Monitor display, a liquid crystal screen that allows the user to quickly access and view crucial engine readings and information such as an hour meter, output voltmeter, battery voltmeter and error coding,” Honda says. “There is also a prominent red oil warning light on the same panel,” it adds. A Digital Auto Voltage Regulator (D-AVR) digitally calculates the effective voltage in the EM10000 from the output voltage waveform by area calculating with a microcomputer. The effective…

The Tropics are defined as the area of Earth where the Sun is directly overhead at least once a year – the zone between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. However, tropical climates occur within a larger area about 30 degrees either side of the Equator. Earth’s dry subtropical zones lie adjacent to this broad region. It is here that we find the great warm deserts of the world. BULGING WAISTLINE Earth’s tropical atmosphere is growing in all directions, leading one commentator to cleverly call this Earth’s “bulging waistline”. Since 1979, the planet’s waistline been expanding poleward by 56km to 111km per decade in both hemispheres. Future climate projections suggest this expansion is likely to continue, driven largely by human activities – most notably emissions of greenhouse gases and black…

Disc seeder vs tine seeder … which is the better machine and which will give you the best results? Well, that’s a discussion that could go on forever because each has its pros and cons depending on soil type, location and preferred farm practices. If you’re adopting minimum till, stubble and moisture retention cropping practices then a no-till air seeder is quite possibly the best option. However, if your soils require constant cultivation to maximise germination than a tine seeder may be the way to go. Then, of course, you need to factor in which style of drill would be better suited to raised bed and broadacre cropping. Australian farmers are, through necessity, developing more sustainable farming practices which are opening the door for disc seeders being a better option…

VIDEO: Insane header demolition derby We reckon a header demolition derby is the ultimate country sport, so Matt Wood catches up with Diesel and Dirt Derby winner Simon Nuske to see what you need to be a champ – besides an old header and balls of steel, that is! A farmer and diesel mechanic from Dimboola in Victoria, Nuske ran a John Deere 8820 named ‘Meat’ to take out the title. To watch the video, browse TradeFarmMachinery.com.au  or type http://bit.ly/TradeFarmheader into your browser. VIDEO: Pizza farm At one stage or another while watching this video of comedian Nick Offerman pretending to own a pizza farm, you WILL wish it was real. The crew at Funny or Die teamed up with the American Heart Association to produce this satirical gem,…

2015 VERSATILE 320 8.3ltr Cummins QSC Common Rail, 16x9 full powershift, 540/1000 PTO, front weights, digital dash, deluxe cab package, instructor seat, 208LPM hydraulics, GPS ready with Raven steering valve, 480/70R34 front tyre, 408/80R50 rear duals. Qld 07 3171 1788 $187,000 2004 CASE STEIGER STX375 4EWD, 6,000hrs approx, dual 620/70R42 tyres 60%, 15L Cummins eng, 4 remotes, air returns, rear weight pack, reconditioned 2x 12 speed synchro transmission, HID, LED lights, air seat, CD radio, UHF, ag work only, tidy. NSW 02 8279 7084 $115,500 NEW HOLLAND T8.390 Approximately 4,700hrs, Trimble Intelli steer guidance unlocked to RTX centre point, front suspension, duals, linkage and PTO, 336hp 4WD. Qld 07 3073 8038 $159,500 CHALLENGER 85D 370hp, tracked tractor, 7,118hrs, 10 speed powershift transmission, 24 inch tracks 85% rubber, 4 remotes, airseeder…

It’s fair to say that farmers in New Zealand’s North Canterbury region have copped a bad run in recent times – between drought and earthquakes, they’ve had more than their fair share of challenges. But they’re resilient. When faced with some massive issues they have stuck in and tackled them head on, working together to find solutions for their problems. Recently, I got to see an example of this first-hand when I travelled to Omihi to catch up with Neil and Andrew Evans, a father-and-son team who farm sheep and beef on 1200ha on the Canterbury coastline. While their property escaped any major earthquake damage, they do have ongoing problems in the form of large limestone sinkholes, which stock inevitably falls into on occasion. After looking into fencing the multiple…