Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 399 i Farms and Farm Machinery

Case IH’s new LB436 HD baler makes hay bales up to 15 percent more dense than the current LB434 XL model, while still producing bales at the same 120cm x 90cm size. This is, in part, due to the baler’s plunger stroke, which is longer than the prior model’s and is capable of performing 48 strokes per minute. This allows the crop to be moved further into the bale chamber and prevents interference with the previous slice when feeding. The LB436 HD baler is now available in Australia and New Zealand, having recently completed a series of local trials. However, it has been available in the European market for just over a year, being named Agritechnica’s Machine of the Year 2020 in the hay and forage category and as one…

AgBot will be available with optional, soil-friendly crawler tracks with belt widths varying from 300mm to 910mm. Claas has acquired a minority stake in Dutch agtech startup AgXeed with a cooperative venture agreed between the two to further develop and commericalise autonomous agricultural machines. The manufacturer bought a minority stake in AgXeed during the latter’s international funding round as part of a commitment to future-proof precision agriculture technologies – something Claas says is a logical step to meet the shifting landscape of the farming industry. AgXeed, it says, offers a smart, sustainable and fully autonomous system for farmers, including scalable hardware, virtual planning tools and extensive data models. The deal comes ahead of the release of AgXeed’s autonomous AgBot – an autonomous, 156 horsepower (116kW) diesel-electric machine set to help…

Mark Thomas Withers was sentenced to two years and two months of imprisonment at the Esperance Magistrates Court, recently; the first person to be sentenced to jail under Western Australia’s new workplace safety laws. Withers pleaded guilty to seven charges, individually and on behalf of his company MT Sheds (WA) Pty Ltd, that were brought following an incident in March 2020 that caused the deaths of Jake Williams and serious injuries to Fraser Pinchin. On the day of the incident, William and Pinchin were installing roof sheets on a large machinery shed they were constructing on a farm for agricultural purposes, without safety control measures in place. A strong wind lifted a sheet from the pack of roof sheets the two men were working near, causing them both to fall…

NSW Farmers has condemned an offer of free baits for farmers facing a large and ongoing mouse plague, saying the benefits of the assistance package will come too late to help prevent damage worth billions of dollars. The plague has wreaked havoc across vast areas of New South Wales and southern Queensland for the last six months, with some farmers having to forfeit hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of crops as a result. In response, the NSW government released a $50 million relief package in May, which included rebates of up to $1,000 for the cost of buying baits and expanded workshops to educate farmers on the best eradication strategies. Households and small businesses in certain regions of the state can now claim the rebates for bait purchases made…

You don’t realise just how versatile they are until you have one on-site. The Faresin 9.30C AgriGLS telehandler is one of the newest machines to be added to the fleet at New Zealand distributor Jacks Machinery. Brucie Donald from Jacks Machinery has sold more than his fair share of telehandlers over decades in the machinery business and is quite the fan of the Italian-made Faresin range. “It presents at a good price point, which allows farmers and contractors the flexibility of adding a telehandler to their line-up of machinery,” he says. “The telehandler is one of those machines that you don’t realise just how versatile they are until you have one on-site and realise just how useful it proves.” TEST TIME Our test machine for the day was the Faresin…

Tasmanian equipment manufacturer and distributor Delmade released its extended range of heavy-duty tip trailers at agricultural event Agfest, while also showcasing products from Maschio Gaspardo for the first time at an Agfest. Agfest, which is Tasmania’s biggest agricultural field day event, returned to Carrick, outside Launceston, after an absence last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Held over four days in early May, ticket sales were capped at 10,000 per day and sold out in the weeks leading up to event, leaving many regular and would-be attendees unable to go. A virtual ‘Agfest in the Cloud’ event was held the following week, which attracted more than 110,000 page views. Event chairman Ethan Williams acknowledged the “hard yards” put in by the Rural Youth Tasmania team in organising the event. “We’re…

Having in-house manufacturing capability means that we are not like any other front end loader importer. Stoll has been at the cutting edge of front-end loader design technology since it started manufacturing 60 years ago. This heritage in innovative design and quality products has made Stoll synonymous with German excellence. Stoll was the first company to produce the now-industry standard drive-in loader attachment system. The latest model includes internal self-levelling mechanisms as well as hidden but easily accessible hydraulic lines for much greater vision out of the tractor. As the market leader for front end loaders in Germany and number two in the world, Stoll stands for a high level of German engineering. The top quality of the Stoll products ensures a reliability and persistence in daily work either with…

It took dual-cab ute manufacturers a while to catch on that lot of buyers seem to immediately modify their utes, but they have certainly done so now. The end result is the four utes you see here: the Ford Ranger Raptor, Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, Mazda BT-50 Thunder and Toyota HiLux Rugged X. We have dubbed these the ‘lifestyle’ quartet, primarily because they are aimed at buyers who want to play just as much as they want to work. Arguably more. How they look is as important as what they can do and it is the butch, beefed-up Ford Ranger Raptor that has clearly been hitting the gym hardest. It is a whopping 161mm wider than a Ranger XLT and wears chonky 285/70 BF Goodrich All-Terrains. Don’t think it is all…

Machinery manufacturer Horsch has partnered with global ag-tech firm Trimble with the aim of increasing automation on farms. While the companies have previously collaborated on implementing control technologies, the new approach aims to create “full machine control solutions”. Describing automation in agriculture as “one of our next key technologies”, Horsch managing director, Theo Leeb, says the move is a practical one. “The unique opportunity with this collaboration is not that we are presenting a future utopia but that we are moving step-by-step towards autonomy in a pragmatic, consistent manner,” he says. Trimble says the partnership “will surpass autonomously controlling machines and extend to full workflow automation from the office to the field”. Specifically, the companies hope to develop autosteering and guidance systems, path planning and in-field process automation using Trimble’s…

CNH Industrial, parent company of Case IH and New Holland, has acquired the Mannum factory of South Australia-based seeding and tillage brand Horwood Bagshaw, after buying the company two years ago. CNH Industrial managing director for agriculture for Australia and New Zealand, Brandon Stannett, says the decision to buy following a leaseback period will help further investment in the Australian market. “By purchasing the manufacturing site in Mannum, we are not only signalling our commitment to this brand, but securing our future so we can confidently invest in our Australian operations,” he says. “We’re proud to be able to say that we are the only major manufacturer with on-shore manufacturing capabilities and we’re excited to be part of a revival in Australian manufacturing.” Already, Stannett is looking ahead for potential…

See & Spray Select will allow farmers to genuinely do more with less. Improved spraying has emerged as one of the most powerful paths to transforming the profitability and sustainability of Australia’s farm sector, with recent advances in technology giving farmers the ability to break treatment application down to a plant-by-plant basis. John Deere says its See & Spray Select system is at the forefront of this new era, providing an effective targeted spray and highly productive broadcast machine built on the foundation of its ExactApply technology, driving efficiency by delivering two dedicated sprayers in one. Deere says the See & Spray Select system can help reduce herbicide use by an average of 77 per cent by targeting and spraying only weeds on fallow ground. The company came to that…

Farmers who purchase water from Queensland’s state-owned irrigation schemes – Seqwater and Sunwater – will receive an automatic 15 per cent saving on their water bill from July 1, the Queensland government has announced. Horticulture farmers, however, will be eligible for a 50 per cent discount on horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and turf operations following the economic growth created within the sector. The 50 per cent discount for horticulture growers will be delivered in the form of a 35 per cent rebate, for which farmers will need to apply through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA). Broadacre crops such as grains, cotton and sugar cane will not be eligible for the rebate. The Queensland government is still working on how to best estimate water usage…

Seven rural women will vie for a $10,000 prize and the title of national winner at the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards, to be announced at a gala dinner at Parliament House in Canberra this August. AgriFutures Australia is the trading name of the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, a federal government body, and these awards are to name the 2020 winner. The winner will receive a $10,000 bursary, while a $5,000 bursary will go to the national runner-up. Among the seven finalists is Amy Kirke, of the Northern Territory, a trained marine biologist and PhD candidate whose Totally Territory Science Roadshow program brings sustainable fisheries and science education to schools in remote communities. Western Australian Cara Peek chairs Saltwater Country, which works to empower Indigenous people and build on…

Bredal continues to evolve and look to improve spreading systems in order to maximise in field capabilities for the customer. The latest example of this is the XE machine, which allows for unprecedented spread widths of both processed and unprocessed products. Replacing the traditional spinner system are fold-down wings, allowing the placement of the spinner discs six metres apart. The spinners are fed via an endless belt system, allowing simple, reliable product supply with minimal maintenance. With a unique application system design, XE machines allow customers to have one machine capable of spreading fertiliser one day and lime or compost the next. Further enhancing the XE model and spreading capability is the addition of section control, where the user can automatically divide the spread pattern into 12 sections. Controlled via…

Dual-cab utes are a bit expensive these days, aren’t they? But they do not need to be. While, no doubt, we would all love to have $70,000 or more to splash on a jacked-up trayback, those who have a more limited budget need no longer miss out thanks to these two – the GWM Ute Cannon-L and Ssangyong Musso XLV Ultimate. You can drive away in either of these for around $40,000, including on-roads. The GWM, which stands for Great Wall Motors, costs $37,990 driveaway for the mid-spec Cannon-L variant we have here, while the Ssangyong, even in long-wheelbase XLV guise, lists at $41,790 driveaway, which currently includes three years of free servicing. Do not think these bargain basement prices mean you miss out on kit, though. Both are fully…

A new twin conveyor fan system helps drive spray higher than before on Silvan’s Tall Tree Sprayer (TTS), now available Australia-wide. Unveiled at the Primex Field Days in Casino, the latest addition to Silvan’s growing orchard sprayer range offers operators increased efficiency and effectiveness in spraying taller trees, such as macadamias. Instead, the TTS sprays chemicals where they are needed – up high – both to ensure the chemicals are reaching the relevant parts of the trees and to minimise potential damage to any buildings or infrastructure that may surround the paddock. To do this, Silvan developed the TTS with a twin conveyor fan system that has been designed to deliver large droplets to the top of the tree. Flexibility in the fan allows for smaller trees to also be…

A new branch opened by Western Australia’s largest John Deere dealer has been hailed as a success by the company since it started operations in April. Afgri Equipment’s new branch is in the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin and merged two existing branches in Pingelly and Wagin, both about 50km north and south from Narrogin, respectively. Afgri’s Narrogin branch, located in a newly-constructed building on Graham Road, has a workshop, showroom and parts store. Territory sales manager Campbell Aiken says the move was about economies of scale and allowed for “more efficient use of people” since the late-April opening. “It’s a lot easier to manage the same number of people out of one branch than half of them out of two,” he says. “Overall, I think people are more positive –…

Agriculture’s growth is constrained by a skilled and low-skilled workforce deficit. The ongoing labour crisis within the sector has been a constant limitation over the past year, in large part due to travel implications from the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this, the Commonwealth 2021–22 Budget will focus on building a sustainable workforce through attracting, retaining and upskilling workers. The government has allocated $29.8 million to further modernise the agriculture sector’s employment practices and image to “reflect the dynamic, innovative and resilient industry it is today”. This package will be rolled out through two key programs – AgAttract and AgFair. The allocation includes $10.1 million to improve employment opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector, with a minimum of $2 million allocated in each of the next five years. However,…

Sales of agricultural tractors continued their strong run in April, with a 19 per cent rise on the same month last year. The last 12 months have now seen in excess of 15,500 tractors sold in this country, which is 38 per cent ahead of the previous 12-month period. The last time sales were anywhere near these levels was back in 1984. Some states showed signs of a ‘flattening of the curve’, with Victoria recording a steady April in line with last year’s result, now sitting 32 per cent ahead for the year to date. Meanwhile, Queensland was down 5 per cent to be 40 per cent up YTD. NSW was again the standout in April – up 73 per cent on the same time last year and now 95…

Ag-Grow Field Days – Emerald Ag-Grow dates back to 1989, servicing central Queensland with some of the best in the agriculture and mining sectors. Attracting over 1,500 companies and crowds in excess of 28,000 visitors Ag-Grow is more than a field day – it is a complete marketing package. WHEN: June 24-26, 2021 MORE INFO: www.aggrow.com.au Mudgee Small Farm Field Days – Mudgee The Mudgee Small Farm Field Days has been running for over 40 years and attracts approximately 20,000 people per year. With the mission to inform, educate and connect rural people with information and solution providers there are free demonstrations and talks along with commercial stalls, live music and activities to suit the whole family. WHEN: July 9-10, 2021 MORE INFO: mudgeefielddays.com.au Katherine Show and Rodeo – Katherine…

Each country will increase its overall wealth by exporting the good for which it has a comparative advantage. In its final death throes the car industry shamelessly put its hands out for $3 billion dollars to save 50,000 skilled and semi-skilled jobs across Holden, Ford and Toyota but the PM at the time, Tony Abbott, had heard it all before. Abbotts’s emphatic ‘no’ marked an end to billions of dollars in taxpayer handouts and billions more in high tariffs to keep better made and better designed imported vehicles out of the reach of Australian farmers and ordinary consumers. In response, the unions howled that the government was throwing these workers onto the scrapheap and they would struggle to find jobs to feed their families. But for too long the manufacturing…

Welcome to a clash of the titans – the five most popular utes on the market today! In 2020, five models of ute – the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Toyota HiLux – accounted for 13 per cent of the overall new car market. And that’s just the 4x4 versions. Add the less popular 4x2 variants and they account for 15.8 per cent of the market; this means that one in six new cars sold in Australia is one of these five models. So, we have put each one to the test, including straight-line performance, load-carrying and towing capability, on- and off-road dynamics, infotainment and comfort and convenience, all at the ex-GM Lang Lang proving ground outside of Melbourne. We have lined up our quintet as…

Four-wheel drives are meant to be used off-road, so we devised a comprehensive off-road test loop to see which dual-cab ute was the most capable in low-range 4x4. Our test course was made up of mud, steep hill climbs and descents, rutted-out wombat holes and a water crossing, as well as some faster corrugations, to gain an understanding of how each ute held together over traditional Australian off-road terrain. This was an accurate representation of what we feel most dual-cab owners will be putting their own vehicles through. It is also a back-to-back comparison designed to highlight any shortcomings or highlights of each 4x4. Ssangyong Musso Unlimited XLV 5/10 The Musso struggled in the off-road test, due mainly to a lack of ground clearance. It bottomed out more than any other…