Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 402 i Farms and Farm Machinery

For Andrew Peace Wines, located in Victoria’s Mallee region, the need to regularly replace the necessary pine posts in its vineyard, plus the difficulty associated with physically removing them, led to it looking for an alternative solution. The answer was in steel – and a pioneering project that involved Trimble GPS technology and a Vermeer PD10 solar pile driver taking on an Australian-first use. Using the Trimble GPS technology, the vineyard was mapped out without the need for a surveyor and, crucially, the Vermeer pile driver has been customised to work with the GPS system. The winery’s viticulture grower liaison Rod Duffy says the new combination of equipment and technology will reduce the total installation time for all the posts from 100 days to 70. “Previously, we’d work with a…

Canadian equipment supplier Cervus Equipment, which has seven dealerships across Victoria, is the subject of a takeover offer by fellow Canadian company Brandt. Cervus has seven dealerships across Victoria: in Hamilton, Colac, Sunshine, Ballarat, Leongatha, Terang and Maffra. Aside from John Deere, they also distribute Kuhn, Hustler, Bogballe, Goldacres and Wacker Neuson-branded products. Offering US$19.50 (A$26.80) per share in cash, it is estimated the total sum of the acquisition will be US$302 million (A$415 million) – excluding the Cervus shares Brandt already owns. This represents a 37 per cent premium to the 20-day volume-weighted average share price. The arrangement agreement between the two suppliers is set to create one of the largest privately-held dealership groups in the world while also enhancing Cervus’ ability to execute on its strategy of delivering…

Deere’s Australia and New Zealand production system manager Ben Kelly says that John Deere’s new cotton harvesters were built with the Australian producer in mind. “The CP770 cotton picker and CS770 stripper machines will increase productivity during harvest, while, at the same time, giving farmers and contractors simple, easy-to-use and impactful access to their farm and equipment data,” he says. “The size of the new round module builders on the picker and stripper make it possible to harvest more hectares per hour, as the module size has grown by more than five centimetres in diameter, to equate to a two per cent productivity gain per bale.” In addition to these changes, the new models both use John Deere’s bolstered 13.6-litre PowerTech engine, which it says increases fuel efficiency by 20…

Pöttinger says that all of the core components of its new Jumbo 7000 loader wagon have been redesigned and engineered for tractors outputting up to 500 horsepower (373kW). To keep forage clean, the seven-row controlled floating pick-up with a working width of 2,300mm ensures maximum performance for tidy and loss-free collection in a single pass, says Pöttinger. The pick-up’s new hydraulically adjustable drive system adapts the speed automatically to the driving speed, to create less of a dragging effect, which improves the chopping quality. The jockey wheel steering system can be engaged to enable even better ground tracking. The pick-up position control, which is supplied as standard, keeps the cross-section of the opening between pick-up and drawbar constant to ensure maximum throughput during the entire loading process. The tines, which…

Two new high horsepower tractor models have joined Fendt’s product lineup in Australia and New Zealand, with the Fendt 900 Vario MT and 1100 Vario MT track tractors now available nation-wide. With a host of new features designed to enhance both comfort and performance, the tractors are built to handle big crop production jobs, including medium-to-heavy high-speed tillage, as well as the largest planters and seeding implements. “There’s nothing we haven’t thought of in creating the new Fendt Vario MT track tractors,” says Fendt product manager Tyron Midgley. “For flotation, ride comfort, fuel efficiency, implement operation, power and reliability, these new track tractors will definitely stand out as a great choice for the heaviest jobs. “We’ve added some totally new, Fendt-exclusive innovations, such as a steerable three-point hitch system and…

The new financial year has seen a continuation of the outstanding growth in tractor sales across the country, with July recording a 19 per cent increase on the same month last year. Activity is showing no signs of abating as the federal government’s temporary Full Expensing program replaces the Instant Asset Write-Off program – giving buyers the ability to write the entire value of their purchase off against this year’s profit, compared to the $150,000 limit in place to this point. This has clearly appealed to buyers with renowned interest in the larger categories of machine now becoming apparent. Against this backdrop, reports from across the country are indicating an outstanding season ahead with abundant rain falling in most regions. A more detailed look at the numbers reveals that all…

Eyes are turning to countries like Sudan and Brazil as the fodder baskets of the future In 1972, the Ord River Dam was completed in the far north of Western Australia, capturing 2,500 gigalitres of water. This was 11 times the size of Sydney Harbour and, with it, came 15,000 hectares of land for agricultural development. In the same year, Sudan opened up the first of the upper reaches of the Nile River for foreign investment, while Brazil opened up the vast central Cerrado region, along the southern tributaries of the Amazon. In all three jurisdictions not much happened between 1970 and 2000 due to government ineptitude, a lack of infrastructure, crop failures and supply chain issues but, after 2000, the race was on to expand and utilise their respective…

Adding the Dieci Agri Plus 42.7 to its fleet of telehandlers has helped to change the game for Hay Australia, a large-scale exporter of high-quality fodder. While operations manager Geoff Walker says the business has been using Dieci telehandlers for about four years, a recent decision to buy two of the new models is already paying off in terms of productivity and reliability. “We sell about 140,000 tonnes of fodder, mostly oaten hay, each year through sites in WA and Victoria,” he says. “We are constantly moving hay around the sites, from delivery to dispatch to the plant, and it’s all done by telehandlers. These machines run 24 hours a day, seven days a week and they clock up 2,500 hours per year. “Dieci is the best brand of a…

Claas has revealed comprehensive technical upgrades to its Quadrant big square baler range in a bid to boost its durability and output in the field. The company turned to its Jaguar Forage Harvester for inspiration, replacing parts on the baler’s pick-up with highly resilient components from the harvester; while bearings, intake panels and other mechanics of the balers have also been strengthened and re-engineered to reduce wear costs. The new components alone are responsible for a sizeable durability increase for the balers, even when performing in extreme conditions, according to Class Harvest Centre product manager – Greenline, Blair McAlwee. “In an internal test involving 40,000 bales per machine, under extreme conditions in some cases, the new design was found to reduce wear of key components by up to 40 per…

Built in Poland and imported to Australia by Colac Ag, the Samasz disc mower range is designed to help farmers get the most out of their fodder crops. Samasz says its disc mower range is engineered to cause no turf damage, helping ensure animals get the maximal amount of value from the harvested fodder. For everyday farmers in Australia, the most popular models are in the KDT series, with more than 10,000 working on paddocks across the world. With eight discs across a working width of 2.6–3.4m, the KDT 340 and KDT 341 have a swath width of 1.4–2m and 2.3–2.8m respectively, and both with a working capacity of 3–4 hectares per hour. The mowers offer stapless regulation of cutting height – from 4.5cm to 7cm – while optional topping…

John Deere has bought US-based Bear Flag Robotics for US$250 million (A$350.1 million) in a move it says will accelerate its development of autonomous farm technology. Deere says the acquisition will let it further develop its autonomous agriculture technologies while also supporting the prosperity of the global farming sector. Bear Flag Robotics, a Silicon Valley start-up founded in 2017, has developed autonomous driving technology that is compatible with existing machines, something which John Deere chief technology officer Jahmy Hindman says will be beneficial for Deere’s strategy. “Deere views autonomy as an important step forward in enabling farmers to leverage their resources strategically to feed the world and create more sustainable and profitable operations,” says Hindman. “Bear Flag’s team of talented agriculture professionals, engineers and technologists have a proven ability to…

Arable farming specialist Lemken has released its latest precision speed drill – the Azurit 10 – which comes with new row variants and additional sowing capability. The new Azurit 10 will be able to drill soybeans and sunflower seeds, in addition to the range of crops prior models were able to sow. New rows are also a feature of the Azurit 10, which is now available with six- or 12-row spacings of 50cm as well as the proven four-, six- and eight-row variants with spacings of 70–80cm. Among the many new upgrades made by Lemken on the Azurit 10 is the addition of the MicroHub 5; a spreader unit that allows microgranules to be applied in the direct vicinity of seeds. Microgranules contain water-soluble nutrients that are rapidly available to…

John Deere has confirmed that three demonstration models of its X Series combine harvesters have arrived Down Under, dubbing them the most powerful harvesting solution on the market. John Deere Australia and New Zealand production systems manager Ben Kelly says the models will help customers understand what the X Series – the successor to Deere’s popular S Series – will mean for their businesses. “Growers are expecting the X Series to be the next iteration of our proven S Series in terms of performance, but this machine will deliver a significant step-up in harvest capacity,” he says. Among the features of the X Series is a new dual separator with a wide feeder house that provides growers with the largest threshing and separation capacity John Deere has ever offered. A…

Manitou Group’s latest telehandler can handle loads of up to six tonnes, with a lifting height of 9m. Intended for large farms, cooperatives, agro-industry and waste disposal sites, the MLT 961-160 V+L will be available in Australia with a Stage IIIA engine. This produces 156 horsepower (418kW), delivering 805Nm of torque at 1,350 rpm and a hydraulic flow of 200 litres per minute. A new 4,500 litre bucket, which has been specifically designed and approved for the new MLT 961-160 V+ L, has a width of 2.7m, which is wider than the machine. This allows users to avoid driving over the material while increasing work output, says Manitou Group. The CVT M-Vario Plus transmission offers the user the choice of two modes with a maximum speed of 40km/h. Comfort mode…

Italian manufacturer Faresin is well known in Australia for its range of agricultural and construction equipment, particularly for its mixer wagons and agricultural telehandlers. The telehandlers combine a compact design with high manoeuvrability, allowing them to work well in small spaces with extreme ease. The range of mixer wagons is used for feeding livestock by helping to properly prepare uniform and nutritious mixtures. Each mixer wagon offers a large loading capacity that saves time in mixing and distributing feed blends. Faresin offers self-propelled, vertical trailed, horizontal trailed and stationary wagon mixers for various applications. The Faresin mixer wagons use the IFG feed management system with specific positioning of the weighing sensors, between the mixing tub and the frame, allowing a precise and effective loading of the food. The operator can…

A determination to take control of the production elements he can, including machinery, is empowering mixed-enterprise producer Andrew Thomas to minimise the impact of varied seasonal conditions across his Murraylands farming operation. “Timing is everything when it comes to farming,” says Thomas. “There are small windows in farming where there are opportunities to implement practices to maximise production and, for us, we feel ensuring equipment is up and running is a strategy within our control we can use to help counter uncontrollable risks, like the weather.” John Deere’s Connected Support has been the key tool used to make this prioritisation of machinery possible across Andrew’s equipment fleet, which is used to farm 4,000 hectares spanning two properties — one at Moorlands and the other at Wynarka, about 120km southeast of…

With many attachments in its product line-up, French manufacturer Kuhn says it is dedicated to helping farmers optimise their output and performance. In all of these, Kuhn says it strives to deliver the best quality agricultural machinery and prides itself on being a world leader in agricultural equipment innovation and design. Three of Kuhn’s core hay and forage tools are the Merge Maxx, the VB 7100 series round baler and the SB 1290 large square baler. Merge Maxx Kuhn’s Merge Maxx 760, 950 and 1090 belt mergers are highly versatile machines that the company says optimise the raking process for contractors and independent users alike. Whether it is light or heavy forage, dense or sparse, long or short, the Merge Maxx can gather any type of forage to form windrows,…

Early-bird discounts on Inlon’s range of wheeled hay rakes are on the table for lucerne growers and contractors ahead of the fast-approaching hay season. Inlon has promised 20 per cent off the recommended retail price of its Sitrex Pro 17 and 19 V-wheeled hay rakes, with the limited stock expected to sell out quickly. Both models have large raking wheels that angle back at around 70 degrees, providing more lift to windrow crops in the field. The Sitrex Pro series hay rakes are quiet machines, with Inlon saying they can deliver clean pick-up with minimal dust and can operate smoothly across seed-drilled plant lines for improved raking and machine lift. The unique, uneven number of wheels on each side of the hay rakes is designed to prevent clumping and thus…

Finnish manufacturer Elho’s Sideliner 1790 Pro bale wrapper and V-Twin 950 Super swather, representing some of the larger products in its range, are now available Down Under. Now available in Australia through Colac Ag, the Elho Sideliner 1790 Pro was built by Elho for large diameter round bales. Able to wrap bales from 1.2–1.8m in diameter and up to 1.2m wide, the machine can handle bales weighing up to 1,600kg – above the unit’s own weight of 1,480kg. The Sideliner 1790 fully automates the wrapping process, from loading to offloading, using its intelligent control system to automatically align the bale to the centre of the wrap table. Dual 750mm satellite wrap arms with film guards come as standard, along with a hydraulically controlled tow bar to ensure smooth and convenient…

Case IH has made improvements to its round baler series as the 2020–21 hay season approaches and demand for balers remains high. The series, comprising the RB455 and RB465 variable chamber balers, will now have the option of a fully-integrated moisture sensor included in the range – a first for Case IH round balers. The integrated moisture sensors enable operators to use moisture information during operation in order to make more informed decisions on the quality of the crop as well as storage options. “This new feature provides real-time information on the moisture of the crop being baled,” says Case IH product manager – hay and harvest Australia & New Zealand, Tim Slater. “There’s no need to stop baling to probe the bales, as would previously have been the case…

Nearly two years of behind-the-scenes work has paid off for Victorian sprayer manufacturer Goldacres, with its weed detection system Weedetect evolving to a point where it can be rolled out successfully. Designed for targeted weed spraying, the time-consuming work has been in building a database of weeds for the system to recognise and ultimately eliminate. Goldacres’ sales and marketing operations manager Stephen Richards says Weedetect has the potential to allow ‘green on green’ spraying rather than just the traditional ‘green on brown’, which will allow the system to be used year-round. “Traditional weed detecting cameras pick up chlorophyll, the green colour in plants, whereas you can’t run that system in crops because it would just pick up and spray everything that is green,” he says. “This system is different –…

Set to be released Down Under in 2022, New Holland says its new flagship T7 Heavy Duty (HD) tractor is ideal for multi-purpose use – in the paddock and for other transport applications. Part of the 14-strong T7 range, the new HD model features New Holland’s next-gen Precision Land Management (PLM) intelligence system and a redesigned cabin that spokesperson Sean Lennon says helps deliver everything customers demanded. “We designed the brand-new Horizon Ultra cab to give them the best working experience with all the space, comfort, quality finish they asked for and the quietest cab on the market,” he says. “On top of this, the next-generation PLM Intelligence will make it easier for them to access our intelligent farming solutions which deliver substantial added value in terms of better decision…

Claas has launched what it describes as “the world’s first fully suspended half-track tractor” to the Australian market. The Axion 900 series has two models with Claas’ Terra Trac concept – the 930 and 960 – which combines the benefits of wheeled and track tractors by offering front wheels and rear tracks. The 960 Terra Trac is the star attraction in Claas’ new range, boasting 445hp (327kW), 1,860Nm of torque at only 1,400rpm and an 860-litre fuel tank to ensure it can comfortably run for a 12-hour shift in the paddock. Claas’ 930 Terra Trac also offers the 860-litre fuel tank – and both have the same overall size of 6.25m length, 2.23m height and a 2.95m wheelbase – however the 930 is a 350hp (237kW) model with 1,695Nm of…

Market surveillance conducted by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has revealed 84 per cent of the quad bikes sold in Australia complied with recently introduced safety standards when sold. The ACCC joined state-based consumer law regulators to detemine whether both manufacturers and dealers of ATVs met the Stage 1 Safety Standards that came into effect in October last year. Those standards stipulate that all new and imported second hand quad bikes in Australia must carry rollover warning labels, as well as being tested for lateral static stability and be sold with a hang tag attached that shows the angle at which the quad bike will tip onto two wheels. Rollover safety information must also be included in the owner’s manual. These measures were introduced to improve the safety…

Primary producers affected by the ongoing mouse plague in New South Wales are eligible for rebates on zinc phosphide baits. Under the scheme, the government will provide a 50 per cent rebate for the purchase costs of zinc phosphide up to a value of $10,000. To be eligible, primary producers must have purchased the baits between January 1 and December 17 this year to aid in the efforts to control the plague. Recipients must also have demonstrated financial hardship as a result of compounding financial strains, including the plague, bushfires, floods and the pandemic. Applicants must live in one of the eligible local government areas, have a total business income from primary production of at least $20,000 and must not have gross off-farm assets exceeding $5 million. Applications for the…

Grower group Grain Producers Australia (GPA) has started formal talks with the Western Australian government on the adoption of its code of practice (COP) for autonomous farm vehicles and machinery in Australia. Through the talks, GPA hopes to earn formal endorsement and adoption of the code, which it says will help improve access to autonomous vehicles and machinery as well as standardising automation for manufacturers, importers and distributors. Specifically, discussions will include improved safety standards, hazard controls and risk management procedures for autonomous machinery as well as corroborating the practicality of using the technology on-farm. GPA chair Andrew Weidemann says the ‘Code of Practice for Agricultural Mobile Field Machinery with Autonomous Function in Australia’, was a joint project with the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) and Society of…

Yorke Peninsula Field Days – Paskeville The three-day biennial event has a major focus on agriculture and the future with extensive displays of the latest agriculture machinery and equipment, technology, information and services on a 30 hectare static display site area. With 700 exhibitors, guest speakers and family entertainment, the event provides a wide variety of quality displays and demonstrations designed to be of interest and appeal to both rural and urban families. When: September 28-30, 2021 More info: www.ypfielddays.com.au Shepparton Agricultural Show – Shepparton Running since 1899, the Shepparton Agricultural Show is a family-focused event with animal shows, arts and crafts, horticulture, competitions and more. When: October 9-10, 2021 More info: www.sheppshow.com.au Royal Geelong Show – Geelong The Royal Geelong Show is the region’s largest four-day show and boasts…

McHale’s range of innovative and durable balers, wrappers and integrated balers is designed to give farmers and contractors everything they need for what is likely to be a bumper season ahead. The Irish manufacturer is renowned for providing clever, pragmatic solutions to customers’ requirements, and introducing upgrades and new models only after extensive testing in the field. The Fusion Vario integrated baler wrapper is a great example of this, thanks to notable advancements in technology and design. “You can’t equal McHale for longevity and robustness,” says one Victorian-based contractor. “The Fusion is bulletproof and the fuel savings alone are huge. It’s the most satisfying machine I’ve ever used.” The Fusion Vario’s reputation stems from its reliability, its patented high speed transfer system and its high output. Fully automated, it can…

It should be authentic but also fun to play It’s a beautiful sunny day and a field of wheat, gently waving in the breeze, stretches out ready for you to cruise up and down behind the wheel of a brand new Claas Trion 750 Terra Trac compact combine harvester. Listening to the thunk of gear changes as you head uphill, you consider what to plant next and whether your budget will stretch to buying the Case IH AFS Connect Magnum tractor you’ve had your eye on. Maybe in bright blue. A wonderful daydream perhaps for those with less forgiving bank accounts, but with the newest edition of Farming Simulator, this could be your reality. Though, you’ll still have to deal with those pesky weeds. Farming Simulator is a Giants Software…

New Holland continues to make inroads in hay and foraging with a full range of equipment including balers, mowers, tedders and rakes designed to deliver productive operation. Its innovative BigBaler High Density range is capable of producing bales up to 22 per cent denser across different crop types when compared to conventional balers, the company says. The range of balers also features a longer chamber, heavier chassis and density ring, as well as the Loop Master knotting system – a technology that employs a new type of double knot to produce stronger and more robust bales. South Australian farmer Simon May says he boosted his baling output by “at least two to three times” using the BigBaler 1290 High Density baler. “We went from a large ‘four by four by…

Ag-tech specialist Pöttinger has upgraded its Top 842 C centre-swath rake with an innovative feature it says will improve ground tracking in the field. Now available as an option, the new Flowtast glide bar offers a replacement to jockey wheels, tracking the ground close to the tines across the ground’s entire surface. Making its debut in Germany at Agritechnica 2019, the bar is designed to glide over wet and peaty soils, even those with deep marks and holes in the ground. During development, Pöttinger says it paid close attention to situations in the field where a wheeled chassis reaches its limit, such as on wet, peaty soils and when working with whole crop forage where the sward does not provide full surface cover. “If the wheels sink in, the tines…

For our Lemken test experience with EuroAgri, the six-metre Lemken Rubin 10 was set up just out of Ashburton on New Zealand’s South Island, ready to work on an ex-kale dryland paddock, which had a consistency similar to concrete. The Lemken Rubin 10 is different to most other speed discs in that its large, scalloped discs are mounted individually on cranked, forged steel legs with individual coil springs. This allows it to work down to 14cm and individually ‘jump’ over obstacles – resulting in outstanding trash flow. Disc arrangement Another distinguishing feature is that the two gangs of discs are arranged differently on each side of the machine. With 48 discs in total (25cm apart), on the front gang, 11 are placed on one side and 12 on the other…