Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 396 i Farms and Farm Machinery

Five new John Deere sprayers, equipped with the company’s See & Spray Select advanced spraying technology, will be joining the company’s lineup this year. The three new 400 (408R, 410R and 412R) and two new 600 (612R and 616R) Series sprayers, as well as three new Hagie selfpropelled sprayers (STS12, STS16 and STS20), will be available for order by mid-2021. In an announcement, John Deere Australia managing director Luke Chandler says the new models will help Australian farmers do more with less. “We partner with industry to meet the unique needs of our customers and are delighted to come to market with this suite of new products we know will make a real difference for Australian farmers,” he says. In its announcement, Deere says the 400 and 600 Series sprayers…

Seed weighing and calibration will be a thing of the past for users of Väderstad automatic seeding control system, Australian distributor Claas Harvest Centre says. The technology, dubbed SeedEye, uses sensors mounted on each seeding tube as well as a non-retro-fittable ground radar mounted on the seeder, to deliver exact numbers of seeds per square metre, regardless of the speed of the vehicle. Designed to fit Väderstad’s Rapid seed drill range, the new technology differs to traditional sowing systems that rely on manual calculations of grain weights to determine a suitable sowing rate. Claas Harvest Centre product manager – Väderstad, Murray Tuck, says slight deviations in manual calculations or variations in seed types can lead to “vastly significant differences in sowing rates” when relying on weight measurement. Instead, the operator…

The Australian quad bike market has a new player, after Segway Powersports announced its creation of a new range and new local distributor. Segway – best known for its two-wheel personal transportation devices – has announced a hybrid device known as the Snarler 600, which is set to go on sale later this year. Crucially, Segway’s all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) will meet the new Australian safety standards for these type of vehicles, which were introduced by the federal government in 2019 and come into effect this October. The new laws require all quad bikes sold in Australia to be fitted with rollover protection and has already led to uncertainty about which manufacturers are willing to make the required changes, or instead exit the Australian market. Segway has already revealed some information…

The drastic upturn for winter harvest figures came following increases in production across all major winter crops. Production is higher among all winter crops, while resurgent summer crops will likely be below average, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). The 2020–21 winter harvest has the potential to be the second largest on record, it says. The bureau’s Australian Crop Report – February 2021 indicates an 89 per cent increase in crop production in the 2020–21 winter harvest from the previous year, with over 55.2 million tonnes of crops recorded. These figures have already exceeded prior industry estimates from ABARES, which forecasted a 76 per cent increase in its December quarter 2020 Commodities Report and now looms as the largest harvest…

Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo – Sydney Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo is a family-friendly event designed to boost the Western Sydney construction boom – showcasing the biggest range of earthmoving machinery dealers, earthmoving attachments, trucks, bikes, utilities, mowing equipment and much, much more. WHEN: April 9-11, 2021 MORE INFO: www.dieseldirtandturf.com.au Toowoomba Royal Show – Toowoomba The Toowoomba Royal Show is an unrivalled production of the very best in entertainment and agriculture displays on the Darling Downs since 1860. Every year has new entertainment so bring the whole family and enjoy world class acts, competitions and exhilarating rides in sideshow alley. WHEN: April 16-18, 2021 MORE INFO: www.toowoombashow.com.au/royal-show Seymour Alternative Farming Expo – Seymour Held in the heart of Victoria at Kings Park, Seymour, the Expo features approximately 500 exhibitors…

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) says Australia “must not squander” a unique opportunity to push for better long-term regionalisation of the nation. In a recent report, NFF says that a “one in 100-year” opportunity for regional Australia to create new opportunities and a better lifestyle is “too precious to waste”. NFF’s Regionalisation Agenda report was released in February and described the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s working habits, plus a time of political bipartisanship towards prioritising the regions, as a unique opportunity to redefine Australia’s future. The Federation calls for investment in regional infrastructure, a prioritised list of ‘shovel ready’ regional development projects, an independent assessment framework for these projects and a reduction of discount rates in government cost-benefit analyses. The NFF has also reiterated its previously-made call…

Going virtual is a new experience for many agricultural exhibitions and for EuroTier it was the only solution in order to stage an event this year. Previously scheduled for November 2020 in Hanover, Germany, EuroTier was postponed until February 2021 and then subsequently held as a virtual event due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. During early February, visitors were able to attend EuroTier virtually via its online platform to see some of the latest innovations and technology for the animal husbandry sector. Exhibitors lined up their products and were live on the website to explain each one in detail. The next EuroTier is scheduled to be a physical event in Hanover from November 15 to 18, 2022. Barny the hen persuader Robots are always popular at EuroTier and Barny the…

Cosmo Bully’s SGM finishing mower has been described as a high-end model without the high-end price tag. Able to be attached to the back of a 25hp to 60hp (19kW to 45kW) tractor, the SGM finishing mower has been a popular product since arriving at Melbourne-based Farm Implements. “It handles a wide variety of mowing tasks where people want a fine finished lawn that looks the part but don’t want to spend too much time mowing,” says Farm Implements’ general manager Tim Alcott. “It has been popular with schools and even regional golf courses where they can’t necessarily afford an expensive mower.” The three suction-type blades turn at a high tip speed to give a sharp cut to tender grass, while the four solid swivel wheels allow the mower to…

Dieci telehandlers are made to be tough and reliable as well as comfortable. Used to transport, lift and position light to heavy loads thanks to the presence of a hydraulically operated telescopic boom, Dieci telehandlers can perform various jobs using the same vehicle. Unlike normal tractors with front lifting, these machines have greater visibility and can handle loads even in small areas. Designed and created in the same Italian region as Ferrari, Dieci’s Mini Agri is equally synonymous with quality as its onroad counterparts, says the company. These ‘mini telehandlers’ are characterised by excellent handling and fluidity of movement, but do not be fooled by their size. The Mini Agri is built tough to excel in meeting the needs of small jobs such as greenhouses, nurseries, horticulture and poultry farming,…

The new John Deere 9 Series and 8 Series tractors will receive a boost in power and technology as the company announces what it says is its biggest release of products in a decade. John Deere’s ‘future-focused’ announcement will see the 9 Series and 8 Series range benefit from a plethora of new and upgraded systems, as well as added horsepower and updated air seeding tools. The announcement follows the unveiling of its spraying range and will be available in its 2022 tractor range, but can be preordered throughout 2021. The 2022 9 Series of tractors, which includes the wheeled 9R model, two-track 9T and four-track 9RX tractors, will see a larger, more comfortable cab added, and will be powered by the new PowerTech 13.6L diesel, which offers between 390…

Valtra’s first G Series tractor has made its Australian debut, marking one of the first new models to hit our shores in about a year. The G125 EcoActive was showcased at a demonstration day in Colac and the tractor, the first of Valtra’s new G Series’ to arrive in Australia, will travel the country in the coming months to give prospective buyers a test run. Valtra product manager Paul Morris says the new model was “everything we hoped for” and early feedback had been positive. “For those who are more familiar with Valtra, it has those familiar stylings but with a more modern take on it,” he says. “I think it is that combination of a lighter chassis, which we have been missing from the lineup – a lighter chassis…

New Holland Agriculture is set to embark on its new sustainable era with the release of its methane-powered T6 tractor. The T6, first presented at German show Agritechnica in 2019, has reached its final stages of field testing and will become commercially available in Europe later this year. The new model will become the world’s first 100 per cent methane-powered production tractor and provides farmers with the opportunity to make use of agricultural and animal waste to generate the bio-methane required to run the tractor. However, the benefits of using New Holland’s T6 methane tractor aren’t restricted to farm wastage. New Holland claims the T6 produces 99 per cent less particulate matter in the air; in turn, reducing CO2 emissions by 10 per cent and overall emissions by 80 per…

Agco Corporation has taken out one of US agriculture manufacturing’s most prestigious awards for the first time, after being recognised for its 9350 DynaFlex draper header. The company was joined by Purdue University and Harber Technologies as winners of the 2021 Davidson prize, awarded by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), recognising engineering excellence within the agricultural industry. The DynaFlex with AutoDock is a 50-foot (15.24m) flexible header and is the industry’s first automatic system for efficiently attaching all connections – whether that is mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic – in the header to the Ideal Harvester, sold in Australia under the Massey Ferguson and Fendt marques. Agco says the system cuts connection time to five seconds, recognising the header’s specifications…

Australia did not have the necessary infrastructure to import grain on short notice during the most recent drought, a senior public servant has told a recent conference. Speaking at the ABARES Outlook 2021 conference, held as a virtual event in early March, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s Craig Scheibel said Australia’s biosecurity, storage and transport requirements had put pressure on potential grain importers. Scheibel, an assistant director of plant import operations with the Department, added that the challenges around this needed to be prepared for with future droughts. “The majority of our grain handling sites and ports are geared towards export, which is understandable because in normal years we export a lot of grain,” he said at the conference. “Imported grain may have requirements regarding place of…

2021 has certainly started on a more positive note. The National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo has become the premier event for the earthmoving, construction and public space management industry to debut its new releases. This year, the upgraded Sydney Dragway is the venue from Friday, April 9 through to Sunday, April 11. All the latest products and technology will be on show, including landscape materials and equipment, site preparation, earthmoving equipment and attachments, GPS tracking and environmental solutions to public space management, plus much more. Komatsu will be showing its model WB97R-8, the latest in its range of backhoe loaders. This new release offers twowheel steering and a powershift transmission, a high level of standard specifications and unrivalled operator visibility thanks to Komatsu’s unique combination of a lateral exhaust…

A report has claimed capital investment in Australia’s agriculture sector needs to increase from $1.2 billion to $8.7 billion annually, or a 2030 farm gate output target will not be met until 2054. Australian agriculture’s 2030 farm gate output target will not be met until almost 25 years later unless a seven-fold increase in capital investment occurs, a report has warned. AgriFutures Australia commissioned the report, which said the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF’s) farm gate output target of $100 billion per year by 2030 for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries would fall well short without additional capital investment. Currently, there is $1.2 billion invested by the private sector and government annually, which would need to increase to $8.7 billion each year until 2030 – otherwise the farm gate output…

It has been almost six years since we last did a machinery test review on what was then Tow and Fert’s newest release – the Tow and Fert Multi 1200, a tractor-mounted liquid fertiliser and mineral applicator, which I saw in action on a central North Island dairy farm. In the years since, the range has been added to with a number of impressive additions, including two new trailed spreaders: the Multi 2800 and 4000, capable of mixing 1,000kg urea or 1,500kg of urea to be spread over 20 to 40 hectares, depending on spread rate. These machines are both targeted at the larger scale farmer or contractor. As a New Zealand-owned and operated company renowned for designing and making machinery specifically for the Antipodes, I was genuinely keen to…

You get 20–30 per cent more dry matter tonnage off the same land area A new approach to cattle feeding is helping dairy farmers and cattle growers get more out of their fodder crops – a vital move for an industry that is under increasing pressure. Across Australia, the land used for dairy farming is becoming increasingly expensive, meaning the old methods of expansion – running more cattle and buying the neighbour’s farm to stock them – is slowly becoming a less viable option. Colac Ag product and sales manager Jon Allan says many dairy farmers are looking to a new approach to leverage more milk from the same number of cows on the same amount of land. “The key is growing more feed for the cow to produce more…

Claas is set to start production of a revamped Claas Arion 400 range of tractors in June, with the models expected to arrive Down Under early next year. The series now includes seven models, ranging from the 90 horsepower (67kW) Arion 410 to the 155hp (116kW) Arion 470, each with a four-cylinder 4.5 litre Fiat Powertrain engine, complete with turbochargers with intercooling. The gross vehicle weight has now been increased to nine tonnes, permitting payloads of up to 3.8 tonnes and a rear lift capacity of 6.35 tonnes, while all models bar the 410 and 420 have a longer wheelbase at 2.53m. Buyers can choose between two powershift transmissions: the Quadrishift, which offers 16 forward and 16 reverse gears, split into four ranges with four powershift speeds each; and the…

The remote control mixing is a popular feature for grain farmers with different fertiliser requirements. The award winning CRF Supa Bin is becoming a ‘must have’ item for many Australian farmers. It is well known as a multi-purpose, totally self-contained grain and fertiliser handling bin with fully remote controlled operation and is rapidly gaining popularity Australia-wide. Efficient, safe and contamination-free handling of multiple products makes it the ideal choice for filling air-seeders at seeding time, but the Supa Bin has multiple other uses. Units fitted with the optional SupaTube tubulator can be used to fill silo bags, fertiliser spreaders and feeders as well as transferring grain and fertiliser into field bins and other trucks. Blending different products is as simple as pressing a button on the remote control unit to…

An Irish AgTech company, which won an International Innovations Award last year for its waste-reducing pesticide spray technology, has announced its first expansion into Australia. MagGrow, which earned its award at the 2020 Fieldays Innovations in New Zealand and has already raised 18 million (A$27.9 million) towards commercialisation and international expansion, has secured Mt Gambier-based Kennedy Spraying Services as its first Australian client. MagGrow’s patented technology claims to deliver superior spray drift control and crop coverage, with increased spray coverage performance between 20 and over 100 per cent compared to conventional spraying. “The patented, proprietary technology passes pesticides through magnetic fields under appropriate flow conditions and changes the physical properties of the fluid,” says the company. “The MagGrow system consists of two main components with no moving parts, no electrical…

Touted by distributor Inlon as the world’s first all-electric powered commercial mower, the Raymo Torpedo delivers an ‘environmentally friendly’ alternative to the traditional fuel-based industry. The Raymo Torpedo mower is controlled remotely and delivers no noise and no emissions as well as a safer and more efficient experience for the user, costing just seven cents per hour to operate, Inlon explains. Engine-wise, the mower is powered by a 50.4-volt lithium-ion battery system capable of operating for about five hours and is also controlled via an electric four-wheel-drive system with zeroturn capabilities and an electric deck drive without belts. A unique feature of the Raymo Torpedo is its powerswap system. Powerswap allows users the choice to power the mower with its all-electric power or through a plug-in hybrid option within minutes.…

Tractor sales passed the 13,000 unit mark for the first time in around 40 years in 2020, and we are currently tracking above that level at around 14,000 units per year. February sales were up 74 per cent on the same month last year and this reinforces the extent of the challenges felt by the industry 12 months ago. The current level of activity is even more remarkable given the strains with supply being experienced right across the supply chain, although there are early signs that this may be improving. Since mid-2020, supply of product from manufacturing facilities in Europe, the US and Asia has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing requirements. An indicator of this is the amount of shipping activity being seen through Australian…

This year everything is ramping up further with more live, free entertainment and more vehicles. No stone is being left unturned to ensure that visitors to this year’s Brisbane Truck Show have a healthy and safe experience. If there’s anywhere you would want to be when events kick back into life, it is in Brisbane. Even if you have never been before, no doubt your mates have simply said: “Everyone’s going to be there and it’s the only way to see all the latest gear in one place.” You might have joined us for the last show as we spread our wings across into the parklands for what is now known as the South Bank Truck Festival. The truck and trailer display, in amongst all the restaurant and bars, made…

I’d like to see a slightly longer elevator or a deflect chute added, just to give a bit more reach. The investment in a new mixer wagon was well thought out, with Smolders undertaking plenty of research around the ideal wagon for his specific requirements that, due to autumn calving, requires the use of a dependable mixer wagon pretty much all-year round. Because his calves arrive at what’s often the wettest time of year, it’s essential to the successful operation of his business that he can adjust his feeding routine reliably and accurately to maintain milk production and days in milk. Feeding out is done on the covered feed pad as opposed to in-paddock because of the terrain and soil conditions. It also reduces waste and is better for animal…

A nickname like the ‘Mad Max tractor’ will always make a model stand out. In this instance, the moniker applies to the Case IH Farmall C 115hp (86kW) orchard cab tractor, which is now available to customers in Australia and New Zealand following a series of demonstration and field days last year. Designed for orchards and nut plantations, the tractor aims to make tasks such as mowing, harvesting, spraying and fertilising easy and efficient. Its comparison to vehicles from the iconic 1979 Australian film comes from its durability, but the orchard cab also has a number of features designed for comfort, safety and smoothness. The tractor’s overall height is just 7ft (2.1m), which was designed specifically for almonds, but its low profile allows it to work in most orchards without…

It is a pleasure to be able to offer something unique and that fits a specific need. Recent studies show that investment in agricultural equipment and machinery is the driving force behind the growth and development of agricultural companies, thus increasing productivity and the quality of the resulting products. Sensors, digital platforms and intelligent warehouses are the most established technologies, but in agriculture the basic equipment needed is a tractor fitted with the right implements. Antonio Carraro is the well-known Italian manufacturer of the red compact reversible and low-to-the-ground tractor used in orchards and very steep country. In particular, at large-scale farms like Pacific Farms in Lismore (one of the oldest macadamia farms in Australia) the little red tractor helps support the bigger harvesters called Squirrels to cover those patches…