Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 378 i Farms and Farm Machinery

Designed to be more comfortable and cheaper to operate, Deutz-Fahr’s new specialist vineyard tractor attracted many interested viewers at demonstration days held in October. The new 5115 DF TTV vineyard tractor is based on the Same Frutteto Cvt 115 S, which was named Best Specialised Tractor at the 2019 Tractor of the Year Awards, held last year on the sidelines of the EIMA International Exhibition in Bologna, Italy. Judges at the time praised the tractor’s stepless transmission and high powered hydraulic system – and interested buyers at the event Farms & Farm Machinery attended in Healesville, Victoria were no different. The model features the TTV transmission system, allowing the operator to select whatever speed is needed without needing to change gears, while its engine speed cruise control allows the operator…

After being launched in the US last year, Kubota’s RTV XG850 Sidekick has made its way to Australian shores, and the company says the new model is perfect for Australia’s landscape. Kubota product manager Mark Basile says the XG850 will offer something new to the Australian market. “The XG850 has performed brilliantly overseas and we’re sure it’s going to deliver in spades,” he says. “It’s been built for speed and versatility with a highly responsive liquid-cooled, twin cylinder petrol engine providing plenty of torque for fast acceleration and take-off to allow farmers to get things done more efficiently.” With a 48 horsepower (36kW) petrol engine, and able to hit a top speed of 64km/h, the XG850 also comes with a speed-sensitive Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system, helping improve handling control…

Australian beef has a well-earned reputation for being a high quality product that is both safe and nutritious to eat – a trait that has made us one of the world’s top three beef exporters for the past seven decades. But selling to developed markets comes with its own challenges – with buyers increasingly seeking out meat with specific traits – be they grassfed or grainfed, or raised with a particular eye to sustainability or animal welfare. Faced with a more discerning market, cattle producers are turning to technology to get that extra edge over the competition, and Valton Feeding Solutions sales and service manager Leigh Byron says the technology has well and truly caught up. “Some of the bigger feedlot companies are winning contracts because they have got that…

Afgri Equipment had the grand opening of its new South Guildford, WA premises in September. After moving into the premises on May 1, the 11,000 square metre facility has been transformed into a platform to showcase the full range of John Deere products for agriculture, turf, golf, construction, forestry and CCE. Afgri Holdings Group chief executive officer Chris Venter says he is excited to further invest in Australia and the latest venture was a great opportunity. “If you stand still, you are going backwards,” Venter says. “We can see the team has done really well and can see things grow.” Afgri Equipment Australia chairman Patrick Roux says the new facility is “just the tips of the ears of the hippo” in terms of the company’s continued investment plans. “We believe…

Good weather and over 700 exhibitors brought more than 20,000 visitors through the gates of the biannual Yorke Peninsula Field Days. Visitors to the 30 hectare site saw some of the latest agricultural innovations in machinery, equipment and technology, as well as an early look at some new releases. Here are some of the event highlights: KIOTI PX1153 CABIN FARM TRACTOR Newly arrived in Australia, the 115 horsepower (86kW) four-cylinder diesel tractor is among the most powerful produced by Kioti, and is able to reach almost 40km/h per hour. The tractor comes equipped with an independent power take-off and a wet disc multi clutch, as well as 32 forward and reverse gears. The cabin is also comfortable, with air conditioning, heating and a radio, as well as a fully adjustable…

The Expo has also become Australia’s largest platform for earthmoving equipment manufacturers, distributors and service providers to introduce, show and demonstrate their innovations in one exciting and convenient location. Manufacturers from all over the world, including event gold sponsor Komatsu, have chosen the 2020 National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo to release some of their latest equipment. If you want to be at the forefront of all the industry action, there’s no better place to be. For exhibitors, there’s no better way to meet thousands of potential new customers by introducing your products, sales team and support personnel. Events like the National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo are often a starting point for great supplier-customer relationships and give sellers a unique opportunity to explore and better understand customers’ needs. For…

The introduction of a new Consumer Goods standard on quad bikes, or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), sold in Australia has been long-sought by Australian safety advocates. It comes after a series of inquiries and public hearings held by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) since March 2018 and calls for change from organisations including the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Cattle Council and the Country Women’s Association. Government data shows an average of 16 people have died in a quad bike accident in Australia every year since 2011, while an estimated six people present to an emergency hospital department every day with some form of injury. Around 15 per cent of all deaths in quad bike accidents involve children. According to assistant treasurer Michael Sukkar, who launched the new standard in…

John Deere has won the only gold medal for innovation awarded ahead of the Agritechnica expo, to be held in Hannover, Germany on November 10–16. Developed in Germany for use on its 8R large tractor range, the eAutoPower transmission uses two electric motors as a continuously variable actuator – designed to not only supply the drive of the tractor, but also providing up to 100kW of electric power for external consumption. The system is the first continuously variable transmission with a split between electrical and mechanical operations, as well as allowing for the hydro unit, for the pump and motor, to be completely dispensed with. While stepless transmissions with a hydrostatic-mechanical power split have been used in agricultural tractors for over 20 years, up until now an additional generator has…

New Holland is one of two companies to win a gold medal in the SITEVI Innovation Awards, presented ahead of the exhibition of the same name, to be held in France in late November. The prize was given for the Plug-and-Play and Multipurpose-on-Demand software packages installed on New Holland’s straddle tractors and Tier IV grape harvesters. Organisers say the multipurpose on demand service makes all brand attachments interoperable with the tool carriers of another brand. “Thanks to a simplified programming interface, and with the help of the dealer, the machine may be programmed to apply its user interfaces [joystick and digital terminal in particular] to the attachments of other brands,” they say. Once set up, New Holland says the machine will recognise when the customer connects an implement, automatically adjusting…

It is the perfect time of year to satisfy curiosity. With the welcome onset of spring and daylight savings, the extra grass growth many regions have experienced means it’s now time to focus on the management of surplus for use at a later date. This means long hours, often around the clock, for contractors as they turn this grass into high-quality supplement feed for farmers. Commonly spotted behind contractor tractors are the McHale Fusion balers, so it was no great difficulty to take a closer look at one in action. PICKUP The split drive gearbox divides power evenly between the rollers in the chamber, the pickup and the chopper unit. Like many, McHale has opted for camless pickup as a standard feature, decreasing the number of moving/wearing parts in this…

Like it is for so many farmers, seeding time was a challenging one for brothers Kaidan and Dallas Boyd, when they were farming in Central West New South Wales. “When we were filling air seeders originally we had a triple bin set up – we had the seed, the fertiliser and the urea – and you either had two trucks and a chaser bin or three trucks,” Kaidan says. “So you would have to start each truck, get enough air, release the brakes, reverse up to the auger, fill one compartment, move the auger, move the truck, and do that three times every time you fill up… We were always doing it the hard way.” So when the brothers leased out their farms to set up Clear Ridge Fabrications in…

A control system to be introduced on Claas’s Cargos forage loader wagon range for the 2020–2021 season will help regulate tractor speed to increase productivity, the company says. Claas Harvest Centre product manager for Claas Greenline, Blair McAlwee, says the new TIM speed control system will control the forward speed of any ISOBUS-compatible tractor according to the real-time throughput of the wagon’s pick-up. “Put simply, forward speed is reduced during periods of high intake and increased during periods of low intake,” he says. “This system ensures the wagon’s loading capacity is optimised whilst significantly reducing the operator’s workload.” To be deployed in the Cargos 9000 and 8000 forage loader wagon ranges, the system uses torque measurements on the rotor and pickup for its speed calculations. There are six models in…

A decade-long global search for legume plants capable of surviving Western Australia’s harsh, dry summers and sandy soils has culminated in a new cultivar set to hit the market next year. Known as the Lebeckia Isanti – taken from the Chosa word for sand – the cultivar will be made available for Australian and South African farmers after a commercialisation agreement was signed between Murdoch University and the South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC). Researchers from Murdoch University’s Centre for Rhizobium Studies have been carrying out trials of the Lebeckia, a perennial legume native to the Western Cape of South Africa, in trials on the poorest sandplains of the WA wheatbelt. Lead researcher Professor John Howieson says the Lebeckia is designed to be used by farmers on soils that may…

The hugely popular Tranzmile Truck of the Year award is back for 2019, in its second year and bigger than ever, featuring some of the hottest trucks to come out of Australia. The team at Farms & Farm Machinery sister magazine Owner// Driver has painstakingly sifted through dozens of its hottest truck features to narrow it down to 12 top-shelf finalists, but it’s up to you to come up with a winner. You may have a tough time deciding. From a record-breaking V8 Mack, to a schmick Inter Eagle 9900i, right through to an iconic Kenworth Legend 900 – this year’s seen more variety than any truck publication in history! So for your efforts, we’ve put together a ripper prize pack for one lucky voter, valued at $5,883.61 with items…

Dungog Show WHAT: NSW’s Dungog Agricultural and Horticultural Show began in 1887 to promote and protect the agricultural and horticultural resources of the local area. With cattle displays, camel racing, a fence post splitting competition, art show, trade exhibitors and competitions, it’s going to be a packed couple of days! WHEN: November 8-9 MORE INFO: www.dungogshow.com.au Ballarat Spring Show WHAT: The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society has been promoting agriculture in Victoria since its first event back in 1856, which saw 20 ploughmen competing in a ploughing match. From those humble beginnings has grown a sizeable three-day event with shows of dairy and beef cattle, goats, sheep, horses and poultry, as well as the Rural Ambassador Awards, arts and crafts, and a dog jump competition. WHEN: November 8-10 MORE INFO:…

If you follow the Indian Ocean Drive north of Perth, you’ll be treated to some of the most stunning landscapes in the country. Red soils roll into farmland that eventually meets that golden Western Australian sand and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. It’s landscapes like this that make this stretch of coast a hotspot for tourists and grey nomads. But this wasn’t our adventure. Drive along this road from Perth for roughly four hours and you’ll hit the small fishing town of Dongara, which was the starting point for a truly remarkable 4x4 journey. WHAT ADVENTURE? It’s here in Dongara where we met with Hugh ‘Cumber’ Campbell, the President of the Chamberlain 9G tractor club. If you’re unfamiliar with the Chamberlain 9G tractor club, they’re a group of…

The road network surrounding Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is rapidly expanding, and to match the increase in tourism and general traffic, those roads are constantly being upgraded. To help meet this demand, licences have been issued for new quarries to provide the necessary sands and aggregates – including to Sunshine Coast company Cordwell’s Resources. Family-owned since 1965, Cordwell’s provides a variety of services ranging from production and haulage through to testing – and now, what is known as a start-up quarry. Cordwell’s Quarry has a licence to extract a whopping one million tonnes per year – but having just kicked off, it’s aiming for about 200,000–300,000 tonnes this year. Those numbers are certainly nothing to sneer at, and not something it would be able to achieve with subpar equipment. So, Cordwell’s…

Mahindra will showcase two advances in precision agriculture at this year’s Agritechnica, to be held in Hannover, Germany, from November 10 to 16. The company says it has placed “significant emphasis” on making precision agriculture products both accessible and affordable for small farmers. Mahindra says it will be showcasing digital platforms and smart machines used for soil mapping and variable rate fertiliser application – capturing soil data using implement mounted sensors and then dispensing fertilisers as and where required. It will also be exhibiting cameras and other devices used for crop disease detection – and subsequent targeted spraying. “Mahindra aims to be a partner of the small landholding farmers, across their full crop cycle, bringing them technologies that are otherwise deployed on larger farms to make a difference to the…

There is no doubt about it; the new Case IH Maxxum – the brand’s latest Aussie arrival – is stunning! This new ‘European’ look that Case IH is going for is working wonders for us. That old squarish bonnet is gone, replaced with an elegant sloped hood; hornet eye lights and a flared roofline are also aesthetically pleasing additions. It’s a facelift adopted from its big brother, the Optum, and you could safely assume such changes will eventually make its way to the Steiger and Quadtrac models as well. But is the beauty only skin-deep? ENGINE While this style update is welcomed, Case IH certainly hasn’t been complacent. This isn’t any old Maxxum dressed up in a fresh new suit. Our test Maxxum was the 135hp (101kW) CVT variant with…

I was recently tasked with getting a little Komatsu mini digger out to X-Games gold medallist Jackson Strong’s training facility a few months back, and the D-MAX was my tow rig of choice. The aim here – get that little digger to Strong’s place, and give Mighty Machines viewers a rundown on how to tow safely. I wanted to clear up some of the do’s and don’ts, as well as put some common myths to bed. The D-MAX can tow 3.5 tonnes legally, but what a lot of people that own vehicles like this don’t understand are things like GCM, GVM, towball weight and how the maximum towing capacity really ties in. So I can hook up 3.5 tonnes to this, and off I go, right? Well, kind of.If I…

The introduction of an undercut double disc opener has made achieving accurate seed depth much easier for the seeders developed by Albany-based Direct Seeding and Harvesting Equipment. General manager Stewart MacTaggart says the K-Hart 8612 Gent double disc opener is “head and shoulders above our previous product” – and the company order book backs him up. The opener gets its name from Lincolnshire arable farmer Tony Gent, who has helped develop a number of different products for the UK market. MacTaggart says the UK disc openers are not sturdy enough for Australian soils – meaning the K-Hart products used here are manufactured under licence in Canada and pre-ordered twice every year. Direct Seeding went from selling 30 of the double disc openers in 2018 to selling 550 for the 2019…

Australian AgTech startup Growave has secured a $900,000 seed investment to commercialise technology that, it says, could revolutionise the agriculture industry and remove the need to use harmful chemicals to control weeds. The Growave technology, invented by researchers at the University of Melbourne, uses microwaves to kill weeds from the inside and rids soil of emergent weeds and dormant seeds as well as reducing pathogens and their impact. The technology should be commercially available in 18 months. “With the economics of the solution so compelling, the technology has the potential to have an impact on a broad range of agricultural markets including horticulture, broadacre and viticulture,” says Paul Barrett, Growave director and head of physical sciences at IP Group. The seed investment came from IP Group, Grain Innovate and Artesian…

Known for its flower and fruit growers, Victoria’s Warburton Valley has been served by the Wandin Silvan Field Days for the past 50 years, and this year’s event was no disappointment. With gate proceeds going towards the local Country Fire Authority, attendees enjoyed the opportunity to view a diverse range of equipment, including tractors, irrigation supplies, spray equipment and water tanks. There was plenty for them to consider – here were some of the standout products on offer. JOHN BERENDS TOW BEHIND RAKE This 1.2m rake is designed to fit on most all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), most utility task vehicles (UTVs), ride-on lawnmowers or anything with a 2 inch (5cm) tow ball. Weighing 88kg, the rake is heavy enough to clean up sticks, branches and general rubbish while still being easy…

An automated straw chopping system, an improved threshing unit and a hydraulically-adjustable seed row spacing system are among the innovations recognised with silver medals in the prestigious Agritechnica Innovation Awards. Claas was recognised for three innovations, all of which will be available in Australia on machines delivered in late 2020. The winners include the Cemos Auto Chopping System, which uses sensors to measure the moisture level of straw to adjust knife position on its Jaguar 900 and 800 series forage harvesters. The sensors also measure straw throughput before making adjustments, in order to best suit the conditions on the day. Also on the Jaguar, the Cemos Auto Performance combined engine output/forward speed control was awarded a silver medal for the system, which regulates engine power and driving speed according to…

With tighter emissions limits being introduced to European tractors over 56kW (75 horsepower) from January 2020, companies are finding new ways to meet the guidelines. A trend towards reduced gas recirculation rates, or even their complete omission, is emerging – with Fendt now doing away with exhaust gas recirculation in its new Vario 900 large tractor model series. The diesel oxidation catalytic converter (DOC), diesel particulate filter (DPF) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust gas aftertreatment systems are increasingly being contained in compact single modules and positioned outside of the engine area. Improvements are being made to powershift gearboxes, with Case IH to now offer a 21/5 full powershift gearbox on its Magnum 400 tractor with which the vehicle can be driven at both 40 and 50 km/hr at a…

The 2019 Isuzu D-MAX is a true go anywhere vehicle, and while it may not be the best at any one thing, it’s the best at doing a lot of different things – the dark horse. I’d better clarify what I mean, so as to not offend D-MAX owners or the manufacturer itself – I mean it when I say that this is arguably the best out-of-the-box workhorse: no frills and no bull. Now, under the surface, the 2019 D-MAX LS-T Crew Cab is much the same ute as the 2018 D-MAX LS-U Space Cab I‘ve spent the better part of six months in. Of course, this one’s not a Space Cab. It had swanky leather and it was also optioned up with parking sensors – all available options for…

Over the past six months I’ve spent some serious time in the driver’s seat of the Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Space Cab. It was the official noble steed of our TV show Mighty Machines and we took it everywhere when filming. But as my days with this trusty ute come to a close, I’m beginning to dread the moment when I hand the keys back – let me tell you why. Now I’ll be honest, I went in a little sceptical of the D-MAX – I thought it’d be a long six months in a car that I pigeonholed as a basic tradie ute. What’s the issue you may ask? Well, for “scientific” reasons, the 2019 D-MAX served predominately as my daily city-mobile. That’s five days a week, in and out…

Ssangyong may sound familiar to you, and you may have even have heard of a Ssangyong Musso, but perhaps remember it as a 4WD wagon and not a 4WD ute? That’s because the first Ssangyong to appear in Australia (in 1996) was a Musso and it was indeed a wagon, and at the time sold via Mercedes-Benz dealers. Some owners even took off the Ssangyong badges and replaced them with a Mercedes three-pointed star, perhaps to indicate the excellent Mercedes-Benz straight six under the bonnet. If all that sounds confusing, it is, and a reflection of Ssangyong’s history here in Australia and more broadly. Ssangyong has roots back to the mid 1950s when South Korea was emerging from the chaos of the still-not-fully-resolved Korean War. At one time it was…