Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 405 i Farms and Farm Machinery

Cervus Equipment has expanded its dealer footprint in southern Victoria with the acquisition of three John Deere dealerships from Glenmac Sales & Service. An initial agreement was signed between Cervus and Glenmac for the dealerships, which has now been approved following a settlement in late October. The deal will see Cervus take control of the dealerships in Lilydale, Knoxfield and Pakenham with the company planning to retain the current footprint. “Cervus Equipment currently has locations to the east and west of Glenmac and this acquisition ties together our dealership network across Southern Victoria,” says Cervus managing director Tim Ormrod. “We are successful when our customers and team are successful, and we look forward to partnering with these key stakeholders of Glenmac in the future. “Through the expanded footprint of Cervus…

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has called on tyre exporters to apply for a licence to continue after a national ban came into effect. From December 1, a ban on the export of whole baled waste tyres was implemented Australia-wide as part of a wider waste export ban. In order to export whole waste tyres after December 1, exporters will need to adhere to the government’s strict requirements and will require a licence to continue. There are some exceptions to the rule, with exports permitted for tyres which have been processed into crumbs, buffings, granules or shreds and tyres which have been processed into fuel. Tyres that are exported for re-treading or for re-use on vehicles overseas are also exempt. Acting Deputy Secretary, Environment Reforms, James Tregurtha,…

A European organic food producer has developed what it claims to be the world’s first hybrid biomethane and electric tractor. Based in Lithuania, the Auga group is Europe’s largest vertically integrated organic food producer, running 39,000ha of organic cereals, root crops and vegetables, plus a large dairy farm with 3,400 cows. It has developed its own Auga M1 tractor, which can do the work of a diesel-powered 400 horsepower (298kW) tractor, only with zero emissions, in a bid to reduce climate pollution. The tractor is 6m long, 4m high and runs on 900/60R 42 tyres. The Auga group says its tractor can work for 12 hours on one fuel cartridge. Fossil fuel emissions Research claims that agricultural activity is responsible for almost a quarter of all greenhouse gas pollution in…

Dutch sprayer manufacturer Agrifac will install Weed-It Quadro spot spraying technology, developed by fellow Dutch manufacturer Rometron, on its Condor and Condor Endurance self-propelled sprayers. The first sprayers with the new Weed-It units incorporated have already been delivered to their new owners in Australia and Europe, which Rometron says will lead to weed management that is more efficient and more sustainable. Agrifac’s Condor Range product manager Rens Albers says the Weed-It technology is being used by many farmers across the world to control their weeds. “By combining Weed-It with our Agrifac sprayers, crop protection is lifted to another level,” he says. The Weed-It technology can be built onto any type of sprayer with working widths of up to 36m, and can calibrate and correct automatically for different soils and background…

German tyre and automotive parts manufacturer Continental has developed an autonomous mobile robot which it says can sow, plant and fertilise seeds autonomously. Dubbed the Contadino, the robot was displayed at the ITS World Congress, held in Hamburg in October, as one of three autonomous mobile robots developed by the manufacturer. The Contadino robot has been designed to provide a low weight and compact autonomous solution for agriculture, with the unit weighing just 250kg when combined with a seeding, planting or fertiliser module. Soil compaction caused by heavy equipment is a problem in agriculture that can lead to declining soil quality and thus lower yields, says Continental – thus the need for a light weight. The Contadino works autonomously and, through using a satellite communication system (Real Time Kinematics Global…

A unanimous ruling by the Australian High Court has decided the ‘backpacker tax’, first introduced in 2017, cannot be levied on citizens from eight countries. The High Court says the backpacker tax broke non-discrimination clauses built into existing tax treaties Australia had signed with several countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Finland, Chile, Japan, Norway, and Turkey. Theseinternationaltaxtreatiesoverride domestic tax laws. The ruling follows a legal battle by British citizen Catherine Addy, who worked as a waitress while on a working holiday in Australia in 2017. Addy argued that she was discriminated against by having to pay the backpacker tax while on her working holiday Down Under. In its ruling, the High Court stated the following: ‘’The method of assessment in relation to the taxable income of Australian…

One of the largest exhibitors at the world’s biggest machinery show, Agritechnica, is not attending the rescheduled event in February 2022. John Deere has confirmed it will not be present at the show, citing bad timing as the main reason for its pending absence. Agritechnica, organised by the DLG in Germany, was originally cancelled from its traditional November slot in 2021 and has been postponed to February 27 to March 5, 2022 in Hanover. John Deere had previously announced it had pulled out of the November event but has now joined UK manufacturer JCB in confirming it will not attend in February 2022 either. Ralf Lenge, John Deere’s public relations manager at the company’s German headquarters, says that, by February, farmers would be working in the fields and attendance at…

The world population today is around 7.75 billion. By 2050, it is expected to be roughly nine billion. That number could be less if the world’s political leaders actually manage to turn off the fossil fuel tap as they keep promising to do at the various global gab fests, as the resulting economic collapse would be matched by a collapse in the birth rate. But, equally, it could be closer to 10 billion if all the political promises are ignored, as is inevitable when politicians run into the reality of unhappy voters facing the prospect of life without cheap power or fuel. But, no matter if it’s 8, 9 or 10 billion people by 2050, they will be eating like 12 billion as when developing countries develop they lift their…

Abbey Machinery is moving into 2022 with a series of new innovations added to its single- chroand twin-auger vertical mixer range. Established in 1947, Abbey is Ireland’s oldest agricultural machinery manufacturer, producing an extensive range of feed mixers, from single-auger units with a seven cubic metre capacity, to the 33 cubic metre capacity three-auger Tri-Auger VF3350. For Australia, Abbey’s local distributor Farmgard focuses on the single auger VF 1250 – with a capacity of 12 cubic metres, and the VF2000 twin auger unit with a 20 cubic metre capacity, although a rubber extension takes it to 24 cubic metres. Farmgard’s general manager – sales and marketing Luke Rowney says a new unit, the 15 cubic metre VF1500, will join Farmgard’s standard range in the first quarter of 2022. The VF1500…

WMI Feeders has chalked up an Elite milestone, completing 700 sales of its Australian-made round bale feeder, and kicking off its first international sales. Based in Warnambool in western Victoria, the company previously known as Willies Manufacturing Industries has been building its Elite bale feeders since 2011, Company owner Jason Willie says he and the team had found they needed a two-bale feeder, and set about building one, complete with new characteristics that would set them apart from other players in the field. One of the major changes, he explains, was moving the ripper bars that break the bales apart to sit above the chassis, rather than below – as many others do. “Basically, that increases your ground clearance – on some farms you are not driving around on nice…

Demand for qualified tradespeople and apprentices is exceeding supply across the country, a survey by agricultural giant CNH Industrial has found. The survey of dealer locations found that about half of the 800 jobs advertised in the 2020–21 financial year had not been filled by July 1 this year. CNH Industrial owns major brands such as Case IH and New Holland and surveyed about 90 per cent of its Australian dealer network about skills availability. “The results haven’t come as a surprise to us – we are well aware of the difficulties our dealerships have, particularly in smaller and more remote locations, in recruiting and retaining skilled staff,” says CNH Industrial managing director – agriculture Brandon Stannett. “But the survey has confirmed where the greatest need is within our dealerships,…

John Deere customers will have access to more indepth data after the company announced updates to its Operations Center. The updates went live on November 11 and will allow users to gain a clearer picture of their equipment’s productivity. “As part of the update, farmers can now access highlevel productivity metrics on a map, including layers that illustrate equipment productivity, tonnes per hour of your combine, fuel usage and historical machine activity in the field,” Deere’s Australian precision agriculture manager Benji Blevin says. “The ability to view these metrics clearly on a map allows farmers and contractors to pick up trends and identify inefficiencies within their operation. “For example, during harvest, users will be able to visualise the performance of multiple machines, highlighting potential opportunities for improvements to a particular…

Kubota has signalled its intentions to add further technology to its machines by signing a research agreement with American agtech company Topcon. It is one of several corporate moves made by the Japanese manufacturer, which has also bought out Spanish smart spraying company Pulverizadores Fede. Kubota has also purchased a majority stake in Italian tractor implements manufacturer ROC, invested further in an American startup, Advanced Farm Technologies, which develops robots to automate strawberry harvesting, and spent nearly A$80 million on a new distribution centre in California. These follow Kubota’s recent purchase of automatic steering products manufacturer AgJunction for about A$100 million, as previously reported by Farms & Farm Machinery. The agreement with Topcon is likely to have longterm impacts on Kubota’s machinery and comes at a time when many major…

Farmers using Next Instruments’ CropScan 3300H on-combine grain analyser will now be able to track various grain qualities remotely thanks to a new mobile app developed by the company. Developed in collaboration with distribution partner CropScanAg, the N-Gauge App’s Grain Logistics Module displays a Virtual Grain Storage System setup for the farm. The module shows the running average for protein, moisture and oil plus weight for the grain stored in each storage unit, including grain carts, mother bins, field bins, silos, bags and others. Every load of grain that is offloaded from the combine is tracked from the field to the farmer’s site storage locations or shipped off to the grain buyers or elevators. The N-Gauge Grain Logistics App also allows the farmer, field manager and workers to direct the…

Väderstad has released two new seeding drills to the European market, ahead of Agritechnica, set to take place in February next year. Australian and New Zealand distributor Landpower has no plans to release the products to the local market at this stage, saying they are better suited to European buyers. First up, the company has launched its new Tempo L 16-24 Central Fill with a higher capacity for handling both seed and fertiliser in a bulk system. The new Tempo L Central Fill will be available with either 16 or 24 rows, which allows for row spacing alternatives from 450 to 762mm, depending on the model. To match the high-capacity output, the machine is equipped with a new hopper that holds 2,200 litres of seeds and 5,000 litres of fertiliser,…

A joint paper has outlined ways in which the agriculture industry can better capitalise on digital connectivity and how farmers can better maximise digital technologies in their operations. The research, a joint initiative between the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), the National Broadband Network (nbn) and Charles Sturt University (CSU), suggests further digitisation will be imperative to achieving the sector’s $100 billion aim by 2030, with agriculture in Australia finding itself ‘on the brink of a digital transformation’. “The National Farmers Federation’s target for Australian agriculture to tally $100 billion by 2030, relies on farmers successfully capturing the transformative opportunities of digital agriculture,” NFF president Fiona Simson says. “It’s now time to focus on increasing the digital literacy of our regional communities and to increase the awareness of the exciting future…

Steady demand for Australian beef is expected to grow in the key markets of Japan and South Korea, despite neither yielding record growth or market-setting prices this year. As outlined in a report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank, Japan and South Korea represent two pivotal markets for Australian beef with demand anticipated to grow steadily. Over the next five years, total import volumes to Japan are expected to increase by just over two per cent per year, while South Korean total beef imports are expected to rise at just under four per cent yearly. Rabobank spokesperson Angus Gidley-Baird says the consistent demand for beef in Japan and South Korea will help stabilise the industry in Australia. “Given that Australia’s current beef production is down and is many years off recovering…

Geelong Classic Truck & Machinery Show – Breakwater Geelong plays host to one of the biggest and best displays of classic trucks, tractors, cars, machinery plus much more. As well as having a range of visiting clubs and displays, the event also showcases the Vintage Machinery Section’s own pavilion with a wide range of steam-powered machinery. WHEN: January 15–16, 2022 MORE INFO: www.classictruckandmachinery.com.au IDW Australia – Tatura Park Australia’s International Dairy Week is a forum to showcase the latest developments in Australian dairy cattle, farming practices, dairy knowledge, breeding and genetics, machinery, equipment and technology, environmental management and services. IDW is the place to be for all dairy farmers, breeders, producers, companies, organisations and others operating within the dairy industry. WHEN: January 16–20, 2022 MORE INFO: http://internationaldairyweek.com.au Eurobodalla Agricultural Show…

The summer months are always among the busiest times of year for the growers of Australia’s winter crops – with harvest season, thirsty livestock and the threat of bushfires just around the corner. At the same time, farm infrastructure is being more widely used and being more closely monitored, with reliance high on silos, water tanks and pumps, particularly as January and February roll around. With that in mind, most farmers will go out of their way to prepare thoroughly beforehand, ensuring little problems are dealt with before they become larger issues. But making sure that these pieces of farm infrastructure remain in a good state of repair, so that livestock can be watered and irrigation continue unabated, requires regular monitoring, in a manner that is as straightforward as possible.…

Kuhn Agricultural Machinery is renowned for offering new and innovative technology that will optimise production. While Kuhn boasts a wide variety of machinery, the SB 1290 iD large square baler, the Merge Maxx belt merger and the VB 7100 series round baler are at the core of its hay and forage machine range. Kuhn’s SB 1290 iD large square baler will optimise performance by producing heavier bales and is suitable for all crop conditions including silage, hay and sugar cane. It also has an intake width of 230cm. To produce heavier bales, Kuhn’s SB 1290 iD increases the compaction by 60-plus tonnes and, as a result, provides the highest density bale by a margin of 25 per cent over conventional balers. The SB 1290 iD has been designed with simple,…

Pöttinger has released a 6m folding version of its Aerosem FDD pneumatic seed drill, which it says will offer the highest flexibility with maximum output. The Aerosem 6002 FDD will sport a redesigned front hopper that Pöttinger says gives it the power to convey an even higher flow rate of seed to the coulter rail. The front hopper is now available with capacities of either 1,700L or the 2,400L large tank version, both fitted with fulllength, airtight covers. The 6m folding version joins the 4m and 5m seed drills that were already in Pöttinger’s arsenal. Pöttinger highlights the “short and compact design” of the power harrow and coulter rail on the new model, which it says has put the machine’s centre of gravity very close to the tractor’s rear axle.…

More Amazone products have been confirmed as heading Down Under as part of the German manufacturer’s suite of new releases. Amazone announced a range of new machinery and technology to the world ahead of Agritechnica, including its SmartSprayer technology, previously reported by Farms & Farm Machinery. It has now been confirmed that Amazone’s Super L3 boom and DirectInject feed system will also be headed to Australia, along with the two new sprayers. The Super-L3 boom range has been expanded, adding wider 39m, 40m and 42m working widths in addition to the previously released 36m model. The boom can also work with a reduced width and pivot points at 12m, 24m and 33m. Further versatility is offered by way of an optional reduction joint on the boom end sections, which enables…

In simple terms, Penta’s story is of a family-owned business adapting over time to meet customer needs and therefore thrive. The Canadian manufacturer originally worked in milking equipment before the founder’s son, current and sole owner Glenn Buurma, made the move nearly 25 years ago into feed mixers and the products Penta is best known for today. With these family values deeply rooted in Penta’s origin story, it makes sense the manufacturer would want to work with an Australian importer that shared this mindset. Enter Valton Feeding Solutions. Based in Mortlake in south-western Victoria, but operating nationwide, Valton is owned by Tony Byron, who has two sons – Steve and Leigh – heavily involved in the business. Penta’s director of sales Trevor Newman describes Valton, which is the manufacturer’s importer…

A Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruling in November that could see casual fruit pickers paid $25.41 per hour as a minimum has generated plenty of controversy in the past month. In a Full Bench decision, the FWC ruled in favour of a bid by the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) to amend the Horticulture Award, and particularly the clause that dealt with pieceworker rates. A piece rate is when pickers are paid in accordance with the quantity of fruit picked, or vegetables harvested. However, multiple reports have emerged suggesting employers are paying staff, often backpackers or seasonal overseas workers, inadequate sums for their labour and in some instances, as little as $3 per hour, the AWU says. In changing this, the AWU sought to ensure that any employee working under a…

A dairy processing company in the UK is trying to develop long-term use of ‘poo power’ instead of diesel to run some of its milk tankers in a bid to cut its carbon footprint. Farmer-owned Arla says it also wants to further use this renewable energy source more in homes and ‘patteries’ following a successful trial last year. That trial saw the company convert the manure from 500 cows into 27,000kg of biofuel to power its delivery trucks; as well as developing a fuel station on one of the farms that supply Arla with milk. Arla said the three-month trial reduced its carbon impact by 80 tonnes during that time period, helping boost the company’s sustainability efforts. This trial marked the first time farmers were able to send their cow…

The month of October was another outstanding one for agricultural equipment sales, with combine harvesters the clear standout. Half the year’s combine supplies were delivered in October – a mammoth effort despite the challenges associated with the well-documented slowdowns at various Australian Ports. This now puts the full year position at around 1,000 units – a figure not seen for some years. Tractor sales across the nation were also again strong, with a rise of 16 per cent on the same month last year. This now sees the year-to-date (YTD) figure 30 per cent above last year, with a running rate now approaching 17,000 tractors per annum. Whilst there remain considerable supply challenges and long lead times, current demand is being satisfied by aggressive ordering by dealers back in 2020…

I have been lucky to make some great connections within the civil and mining plant hire industries over the past few years. In that time, it has been fascinating to see one business in particular develop its very own niche in the market. Located in Woongoolba, south of Brisbane, Dixie Holdings is a family-owned and -operated company that supplies used earthmoving equipment and attachments. Specialising in scrapers, dozers, graders, wheel loaders and dump trucks for the agricultural, mining and construction industries, Dixie Holdings has separate divisions covering everything from equipment sales and rental, to equipment refurbishment, fabrication of new attachments, boiler making, powertrain overhauling, logistics and heavy haulage. Set up in the mid 1970s as IJ McDonald and Sons before a name switch to McDonald Group and, eventually, Dixie Holdings…

With a plethora of gearbox and PTO shaft options in stock, agricultural equipment distributors BYPY Transmissions is well stocked and capable of servicing from Kununurra to Hobart and everywhere in between this harvest season. BYPY specialises in power take-off (PTO) drive shafts and gearboxes, where it is the sole licensed importer and distributor of Italian power transmission manufacturer Bondioli & Pavesi. Imported straight from the Mediterranean all year round, Bondioli & Pavesi systems are found on the implements of most major agricultural manufacturers including Case IH, New Holland and Kuhn, meaning BYPY can service an array of customers. While most of BYPY’s sales are performed out of its base in Dandenong, Victoria, the company also has many stockists located around the country as well as hundreds of agricultural dealers who…

Strautmann’s newly-launched feed mixer will be a boon to stud breeders and farmers with sheep or small herds of cattle. The German-designed and built Strautmann Verti-Mix has performed strongly in Australia for over 30 years and the new seven cubic metre capacity Verti-Mix 70 is an exciting addition to the range. The Verti-Mix 70 has a low power take-off requirement of 45 horsepower (34kW) so smaller herd managers can now enjoy all these benefits, even if they have a low-horsepower tractor. The Verti-Mix 70 Vario2 stepped auger delivers fast mixing with optimal feed structure, which saves both time and money while improving nutrition, weight gain and fertility. With the new model, Strautmann feed mixers now range from 7–45 cubic metre capacities in single, twin and triple auger configurations. Strautmann product…