Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 389 i Farms and Farm Machinery

Following feedback from Australian buyers, Great Plains has revised the hydraulic circuit design and installed a new blockage monitor system on its Spartan II air drill range. Available in six-metre and nine-metre versions, the Spartan II has been distributed locally by Great Plains’ parent company Kubota since 2018, with Great Plains product manager John Moloney saying the company had learned from its experience in Australia when redesigning the product. “A very unique thing to the Australian market is the amount of ryegrass that gets drilled… it was certainly something Great Plains had to take some time to learn about, because they don’t do that amount of pasture seed in the US or any of their other markets,” says Moloney. While the Spartan II’s hardware was able to plant ryegrass –…

Case IH is rolling out its AFS Connect Magnum tractor series across Australia and New Zealand, after a sneak peek at last year’s AgQuip Field Days. Equipped with updated features such as an automotive-style cabin as well as a refined armrest, the tractors are said to offer new levels of connectivity and remote monitoring. Case IH high horsepower product manager for Australia and New Zealand Alyx Selsmeyer says the new AFS Magnum allows farmers to precisely manage the farm, fleet and data anywhere, anytime from a desktop or tablet. “The AFS Connect portal is the key to this series of tractor, giving the customer a view of the field operations, fleet information and agronomic data from their preferred device, wherever they are, and also allowing for the sharing of this…

CFMoto has released two new all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the CForce 625 EPS and 625 EPS Touring edition, which its local distributor says will be ideal for Australian farmers. In line with commitments announced earlier this year, the company says both models will be sold in compliance with forthcoming Australian safety standards – including the necessary decals, hang tags and rollover protection device, manufactured by Quadbar. With new styling, new LED lights and a stronger chassis, the new models showcase CFMoto’s ability to build world-class ATVs, Australian distributor Michael Poynton says. “The new CForce 625 EPS and 625 EPS Touring models are sure to be well received amongst Aussie farmers,” he says. “Both are incredibly well constructed and ready to tackle our harsh working conditions.” The CForce 625 EPS is a…

Higher demand for machinery and equipment has boosted Australian manufacturing in July, according to new information released by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group). Following a rise in June, the Group’s Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) rose again by 2.0 points to 53.5 in July – the first two-month rise since October last year. PMI readings above 50 points indicate an expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion. The data showed the rise was led by the machinery and equipment sector – which covers everything from transport goods and professional and scientific equipment to pumps, compressors and domestic appliances – which was up 3.2 points to 54.3 points. However, this was not enough to push the sector’s long-run average (calculated over 13 months)…

One would think that with Australia’s farm economics, we would have been at the forefront of the digital agricultural revolution. History tells us that crises drive revolutions. Just ask the Russians – they have experienced two major revolutions in the last 100 years: the emergence of communism and the collapse of communism. One led to the collectivisation of Russian agriculture into massive unproductive farms and the other to the establishment of some of the biggest privately owned and lowest cost farming operations in the world. In Australia we have our own crisis happening that should be driving a revolution in agriculture. We operate with the most expensive labour in the world, with our minimum hourly wage of A$19.84 set at nearly double that of the United States at US$7.25 (A$10.12)…

The decision by Expo management to set a new date for the event was taken after a detailed review of potential COVID-19 public health risks. “These risks were assessed in conjunction with continual monitoring of the advice provided by the New South Wales government and New South Wales Health that would enable us to fully comply with public health orders, and to protect the health and well-being of our exhibitors and visitors,” Expo manager Marti Zivkovich says. Another key factor in the decision to defer was the complexities faced by sponsors and exhibitors for effective planning of marketing campaigns, logistics, and personnel resources. Also considered was the recent activity with border closures and strengthening of travel restrictions that have the potential to severely disrupt the number of interstate exhibitors and…

Wheat export volumes from European Union member nations are expected to fall by at least 10 million metric tonnes this year, with Australian crops likely to make up the shortfall. Rabobank’s London-based global grains and oilseeds strategist Stefan Vogel says grain traders are banking on Australian production to enter European export markets, even despite an expected boost in Russian wheat production. “No one else has a whole lot of buffer to make that up,” he says. “So if we want to keep stable or even growing global export volumes, Australia is actually required to give us a decent amount of wheat on to the world export market.” Similarly, this year is expected to be the poorest European canola harvest since 2006, which Vogel says could see Europe double its volume…

Easy to use, these drapers pick up and sweep the down or lodged crop across the cutterbar to recover more crop. John Deere is now taking orders for an entirely updated header lineup, ready for harvest 2021, after launching its new range recently. Comprising the new HDR rigid cutterbar drapers, RDF HydraFlex drapers, a BP15 belt pickup, and CR and CF corn heads, each is compatible with most of Deere’s S series and T series combine harvesters, as well as the larger models in its X series. John Deere tactical segment manager Marko Koelln says the new headers will be available alongside the company’s 700D draper series, which he says has long been “a mainstay of the Australian farming industry’s harvest equipment lineup”. HDR RIGID CUTTERBAR DRAPERS Koelln says the…

It offers the best of both worlds – New Holland’s best twin rotor and conventional technologies – to deliver segment-leading throughput. New Holland says the new separation technology in its CH7.70 combine harvester will help it deliver 25 per cent more throughput than a conventional combine in the same segment. Lionel Gleyroux, New Holland’s combines and headers marketing manager for Europe, says the new combine sits between the company’s mid-range conventional and flagship rotary models. “The new Crossover Harvesting concept takes the best of our harvesting expertise to create the opportunity for every farmer and contractor to be more productive, versatile and effective,” he says. “It offers the best of both worlds – New Holland’s best twin rotor and conventional technologies – to deliver segment-leading throughput.” The harvester’s conventional two-drum…

New features on Pöttinger’s redesigned Jumbo loader wagon range, now available Australia-wide, will help cater to shrinking harvest windows, the company says. The four models in the Jumbo Combiline loader wagon range boast a new loading system, with controlled pickups and cam control tracks at either end. Designed with capacities of between 33–48 cubic metres, and suitable for tractors of between 160 and 450 horsepower (119 to 336kW), the loaders are designed to suit almost any property. The number of tine rows has decreased, from eight to seven, but the thickness of the tines has increased, from 5.5mm to 6mm, Pöttinger Australian territory manager Benjamin Mitchell says. “That has increased the lifespan of the tine by up to 20 per cent,” he says. “The seven row pick-up is controlled from…

Henk de Graaf, the managing director of Western Australia-based Industrial Automation Group, says the silo aeration system he and his team has developed can save grain-growers anything from $20–$40 per tonne. Built off the back of a grain aeration technology developed for WA’s Co-operative Bulk Handling, and further developed in collaboration with the CSIRO, today’s system uses a predictive algorithm to show what is happening inside the grain bulk within a silo. “One of the main things that sets our controller aside from any other controller on the market is that we actually insist that the farmer tells us what he puts into his silo in the first place,” de Graaf says. “If you don’t know what the grain has been doing inside the silo, how do you know the…

Tyre manufacturer Trelleborg has released its TM1000 Progressive Traction farm tyre in a new size, matching the newly-released Massey Ferguson 8S tractor. The MF 8S can fit rear tyres up to 2.05m in diameter, including the brand-new option of VF650/75 R42 Trelleborg TM1000 PT, Massey Ferguson says, with VF 600/70 R30 tyres suited to the front. Speaking at the product launch, Agco’s director of marketing for Europe and the Middle East, Asia and Africa Francesco Munro lauded the arrival of the new product. “Our new 2.05m tyre offering from our Trelleborg partners, the TM 1000 Progressive Traction, (offers) more comfort, more traction, less soil compaction,” he says. The company had also supplied tyres to the MF Next Concept tractor, a precursor to the MF 8S, displayed at agricultural trade fair…

No tariffs or volume limits will apply to Australian exports of seed and processing potatoes to Thailand under a recent change to the Free Trade Agreement. The changes to the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement remove both tariffs and the tariff rate quotas that limited the amount of potatoes able to be sold at a lower tariff rate – 115 tonnes in 2019. Processing potatoes, used in the production of chips and other products, can be sold to Thailand from all Australian states under the current agreement, subject to phytosanitary requirements, while only seed potatoes from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia are currently approved for import. The rate of tariffs has decreased on an annual basis since 2005, when they were 27 per cent, and come amid a major expansion…

Saputo Dairy Expo – Korumburra The Saputo Dairy Expo provides an opportunity for members of the dairying fraternity to be able to showcase the latest in dairy innovation and technology to local farmers. This year’s event will be held online so visit the website and experience it from the comfort of your own home! WHEN: September 7-21, 2020 MORE INFO: www.dairyexpo.org.au/home World of Drones Congress – Brisbane The largest drone congress in the Asia Pacific region, the World of Drones Congress (WoDC) connects drone leaders, businesses and academia with the latest industry developments, applications and policies. The congress’ program boosts comprehensive sessions with keynote and plenary speeches from domestic and international experts who will share the latest developments and applications in the UAV industry. WHEN: November 12-13, 2020 MORE INFO:…

The new 6 DT series from Deutz-Fahr is aimed at large-scale farmers and contractors. I was fortunate enough to grow up on a dairy farm in Taranaki on New Zealand’s North Island. Our small slice of ‘Taradise’ has been in the family for more than 140 years, so it’s fair to say that it’s a family affair. When I was three years old, my Dad bought his first Deutz, an Agrotron 100, and growing up, it’s what I learnt to drive. I’ve many fond memories of that tractor and was sad to see it go. I’ve since spent time driving John Deere, Claas, Case IH and Fendt tractors, but there has always been something about Deutz-Fahr that gives me a sense of nostalgia; pretty uncommon at just 19 years of…

2020 has been a defining year so far – and there’s no exception in the world of wheat growing, with New Zealand farmer Eric Watson breaking his own Guinness World Record in February. Based in Wakanui, in Canterbury in New Zealand’s South Island, Watson achieved the world’s highest average wheat yield, of 17.398 tonnes per hectare, harvested from 8.6353 ha at Paddock 15a on his farm. Working with his wife Maxine, he set the previous record of 16.791 tonnes with feed wheat in 2017 on the same paddock. Irrigated wheat yields in New Zealand average about 12 tonnes per hectare. Watson says part of the reason for his success was a series of productivity gains across multiple facets of his business, particularly through using tractor and combine harvest technology. He…

A new hydrostatic transmission, featuring a field and a road mode and on-the-move two-speed range control, provides increased traction. Case IH’s Axial-Flow 250 combine harvester series, the 7250, 8250 and 9250, boasts automated features designed to help improve the performance of even an experienced operator, the company says. The AFS Harvest Command automation technology uses 16 sensor inputs to continuously monitor the machine, with seven adjustable settings to maximise combine performance in harvesting wheat, canola, maize and soybeans. There are a number of options on the in-cab AFS Pro700 terminal to suit the level of experience of the operator, the crop condition and type, as well as the harvesting conditions. The basic version of AFS Harvest Command features the proven Automatic Crop Settings (ACS) system. This adjusts operating items such…

Australian manufacturer Goldacres has started production on a new version of its successful G6 Crop Cruiser, which it says is faster, smarter and stronger than its predecessor. The G6 Crop Cruiser Series 2 comes with Goldacres’ new Tritech RivX boom, with a new design of the boom’s steel inner wings and aluminium/steel composite outer wings. Using high strength rivets instead of welding means the RivX outer wings can withstand 300 per cent more flexes than the equivalent welded boom, the company says. Available in widths of 36–42m and now the option of up to 48 metres, the booms have a hydraulic outer-boom wing folding mechanism that includes a hydraulics breakaway feature to protect the boom in the event of a collision with an object. On top of this, Goldacres is…

[Customers] told us they need a tractor that is comfortable, with unrivalled visibility, efficient, easy to use and smart. Following seven years of testing around the globe, Massey Ferguson has formally launched its MF 8S series of tractors, after allowing a sneak peek at Agritechnical 2019. The MF 8S series comprises four new models, all with a new interpretation of the iconic MF grey sabre stripe on the side and horse head collar motif on the bonnet, which dates back to the MF 100 series. Built on a 3.05m wheelbase, they offer maximum power from 205hp to 265hp (153kW to 198kW), all with an extra 20hp (15kW) from Engine Power Management (EPM). At the same time, Massey Ferguson introduces a new numbering system. For example, in naming the MF 8S.265…

Slurry equipment manufacturer SlurryKat has launched a new series of front reeler models which the company says have been redesigned following customer feedback. SlurryKat chief executive Garth Cairns says the reels have a completely new design, with high grade steel for lighter weight and increased strength. “We have manufactured the reels 30 per cent lighter than the very successful previous generation of SK front reelers, which we designed and introduced in 2008,” he says. Three models are available in the new range, with hose capacities of 600m, 800m and 1,000m; all with spools galvanised as standard and with two-pack paint on the chassis. Each model is equipped with new coupling sockets that clamp the hose for the start of the rolling up process without the coupling being displaced. The reelers…

The ongoing impact of the government’s Instant Asset Write-Off scheme saw July sales rise 24 per cent above July last year and brings year to date 21 per cent over 2019. Activity across the states was quite varied with the continued recovery in NSW the standout – up a whopping 60 per cent on the same time last year and now sitting 26 per cent ahead for the year. Victoria reported another strong month, up 34 per cent and now 30 per cent ahead year to date. Meanwhile, Queensland experienced its first dip in some months, down 7 per cent but still 14 per cent up for the year. Western Australia picked up another 5 per cent and now remains 3 per cent behind last year. Sales in South Australia…

It’s not just a truck show – it’s a festival! Did you get down to South Bank when you were in town for last year’s Brisbane Truck Show? The music and BBQ at the Plough Inn were amazing. Up and down Little Stanley Street and throughout the precinct, there were great deals in every restaurant and bar, especially for Truck Show attendees. Or did you see the amazing display from Volvo Group Australia in front of the casino in Redacliff Place? ‘Mack the Transporter’, the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls’ pink trucks (looking Mickey Mouse even after stretching their legs across the Nullarbor), the Jimmy Barnes-inspired ‘Working Class Mack’ and a whole bunch of other new releases and favourites were all on show. What about the Daimler display in Queen Street…

Creating a drilling machine with minimal soil disturbance is no easy task. Just ask New Zealand farmer Dave Mitchell, whose quest for the perfect machine has seen him spend years researching the possibilities. Having worked and extensively researched throughout the UK, success came when Mitchell met farmer and entrepreneur Tony Gent, who was involved in the disc design of the Weaving drill from UK family-owned business Weaving Machinery. Today, New Zealand is home to the only Weaving Machinery products distributed outside Europe, though Farms & Farm Machinery has confirmed the company is in talks to appoint an Australian distributor. With a decades-long focus on the min till revolution, Weaving Machinery has been slowly tweaking the original double disc design, resulting in its new patented GD coulter. It says that the…

AFS Harvest Command is designed to improve grain quality and grain savings through sensing and optimising machine settings. Broadacre growers looking to maximise their yields now have access to the latest in combine harvesting technology and productivity in Case IH’s AFS Harvest Command, a flagship product of the brand’s Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) suite. Case IH dealer O’Connors’ group sales development manager Tom Sheridan says combine automation is one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving sectors of precision farming technology, with broad-reaching benefits for individual operations. The new AFS product, introduced to Australia as part of the Axial-Flow 250 Series combine launch at the 2019 Wimmera Machinery Field Days, has earnt the praise of local growers and set new benchmarks for efficiency and performance across corn, wheat, barley and…

Australia’s Next Instruments will be able to supply its CropScan 3300H on-combine grain analyser direct to Case IH and New Holland customers after signing a supply deal with CNH Industrial. Under the new arrangement, dealers can arrange for Next to supply its CropScan 3300H to customers directly from its Sydney Factory. Case and New Holland dealers will also be able to access Next Instruments’ sales, technical and service support team directly, which Next says will ensure faster and better support for dealers and their customers. The deal follows an initial supply arrangement signed in 2016 for the previous model, the 3000H, where Next supplied the analyser directly to CNHi for the company to install. Awarded Ag Innovation of the Year at the 2015 Wimmera Field Days, the system measures protein…

“You send a technician to fix the other brands but you send a blacksmith to fix the John Deere,” a contractor, who has run every other brand of forager on the market and come back to a John Deere, said to me recently. Having test driven the John Deere 7550i self-propelled forage harvester, I can see what he means. It has all the technology you need, offering some of the most high-tech crop assessment technology on the market, yet it feels like a hurricane of power is behind you. John Deere has been building choppers for 40 years, the past 20 years at its dedicated plant in Zweibrucken, Germany. In total, it has produced well over 10,000 self-propelled harvesters and, judging by this machine, it must be doing something right.…

This drive set-up means the speed of the feed rollers and length of chop is infinitely variable from the cab. Farms & Farm Machinery took some time during the maize season in Waikato in New Zealand to see the New Holland FR780 Forage Cruiser in action. With a maximum output of 775 horsepower (578kW) achieved between 1,700 and 1,900rpm, the unit is designed to maximise efficiency – particularly fuel efficiency. FEEDING New Holland boasts the widest feed rollers on the market, using a hydraulic-powered gearbox to help drive a wide, thin feed of material into the cutting cylinder. Double feeder drive – a standard feature on the FR Forage Cruiser range – uses an additional hydraulic drive motor to give the header more power and allow the speed of the…