Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 409 i Farms and Farm Machinery

Precision agriculture specialist Ag Leader has added to its growing range of integrated application solutions with the release of the RightSpot spraying system Down Under. RightSpot enables the user to control up to 144 nozzles individually for more consistent and accurate coverage over a range of operating speeds. The system can be retrofitted to a wide range of self-propelled and trailed sprayers. “Spraying is extremely time-sensitive and time-intensive,” Ag Leader Asia Pacific sales manager Doug Amos says. “Producers often spend more time spraying than any other job associated with broadacre or row cropping. “With increasing input costs and tightening environmental regulations, producers need to be looking at ways of increasing the efficacy, accuracy and productivity of their spraying operations. “Adding nozzle-by-nozzle control to their existing sprayer can deliver immediate agronomic…

The Aqua-Traxx Azul drip tape is more effective in resisting clogging due to its innovative flow path design in the emitter, the company says. Toro says the key to reducing drip tape clogging is to protect the flow path labyrinth from debris. With that in mind, the Azul drip tape has a greater filtration area, with patent-pending multi-stage filters that protect the emitter from different sizes of debris, meaning the tape only has a 120 mesh filtration requirement. Optimised large flow passages in the emitters create more turbulence within the system, ensuring a consistent and uniform distribution of water and nutrients to maximise clog resistance and performance. Bruno Capogreco, from Capogreco Farms in WA, is one of the first people in Australia to use Toro’s new Aqua-Traxx Azul drip tape…

A non-chemical weeding device that uses electricity to kill plants will be put through its paces in Western Australia to determine whether it is the future of sustainable weed control for grain growers. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA (DPIRD) will join with CNH Industrial to test the technology’s suitability to control weeds in Australian dryland and irrigated agriculture. It will also examine which weeds are easiest to control with electricity and the technology’s potential uses in Australian agriculture to generate cost savings and influence crop yields. The project also has support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Wine Australia, WA consultants AHA Viticulture and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. The Swiss-made Zasso Electroherb machine, based on Brazilian technology, uses mechanical power to produce a…

Ford has unveiled its next generation Ranger Raptor dual-cab ute, offering a permanent four-wheel drive system and seven selectable drive modes. Equipped with a high performance three-litre V6 twin turbo EcoBoost petrol engine, the ute delivers up to 292kW (392 horsepower) and 583Nm of torque. “It’s significantly faster, looks incredible, is packed with new features, and is the strongest Built Ford Tough Ranger we’ve ever made,” Ford Performance chief program engineer Dave Burn says. Along with its improved engine, the vehicle comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with each gear programmed to its own boost profile. Ford says this helps the engine deliver “effortless acceleration” on gravel, dirt, mud or sand, while an electronically controlled active valve exhaust system lets the driver choose whether to prioritise low volume over performance…

ISOBUS-compatible tractors and implements can now be linked without costly and time-consuming manufacturer development, thanks to ifm efector’s latest product. The German technology company has just launched the Agri-Mate, which is now available for the Australian market and promises to make implement automation easier, particularly for small to medium-sized original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). “Traditionally, you have a tractor and an implement such as a sprayer, and if you want to add any automation on an implement that goes on the back of a tractor – you usually have to communicate all the information from that implement to the display in the tractor, which is usually called universal terminal,” ifm product sales manager for mobile control systems Adi Kunder says. “That universal terminal follows an ISOBUS standard and traditionally it takes…

Gobsmacked! That’s how Gavin Sutton reacted when informed his 1989 Mack Super-Liner had been announced as the 2021 OwnerDriver Truck of the Year. Sutton, who runs Gavin Sutton Transport out of Tamworth in New South Wales, knew his truck was lined up against 11 other hot contenders, including five Kenworths and a couple of Peterbilts. But majority rules and the old Mack came up trumps to take out the coveted trophy. I was quite taken aback by everyone’s vote,” Sutton admits. “Most of the time people lean towards Kenworth rather than Mack. But at the end of the day it depends on the public’s view on what looks good and what doesn’t.” The Super-Liner’s victory came via a winning tally where readers were invited to vote on the 12 Truck…

Looking back over the past 110 years, there seems to be a close correlation between bullets flying and the price of both bushels of wheat and barrels of oil spiking upwards. On March 9, crude oil prices hit a 13-year record high of US$126 (A$172) per barrel, up from US$111 in 2012, while the price of wheat hit a 14-year high of US$12.09 (A$16.47) a bushel, up from US$9.43. You don’t have to be a trading genius to know that there is a link between the price of oil spiking and war in an oil region. But what about grain? After all, food security is as important as fuel security, and COVID-19 taught us it does not take long to clean out the shelves if something goes wrong. No doubt…

Seymour Alternative Farming Expo – Seymour Held in the heart of Victoria at Kings Park, Seymour, the Expo features approximately 500 exhibitors and attracts 20,000 visitors across three days. Explore the latest technology, practices and trends in small and backyard farming, visit the animals and enjoy the market style shopping, food and entertainment. When: April 1–3, 2022 More info: www.seymourexpo.com.au NQ Field Days – Townsville Now under new management, this agri-event located near Townsville strives to showcase best practices in farming, technology, machinery, equipment, manufacturing, aquaculture and mining support services. When: April 7–8, 2022 More info: https://nqfd.net.au Agrotrend – Bundaberg Agrotrend provides two days of farming and lifestyle-focused activities for the whole family to enjoy, whether you are keen to check out and invest in the latest farming technologies or…

Sales of agricultural tractors were down in February, although they remain at very high levels, due to the ongoing challenges with supply. As we have previously stated, dealers continue to cope with the challenges associated with managing workforces around COVID-19 restrictions, the ongoing shortage of stock and now the impact of the devastating rain events on the East Coast. The entire supply chain for tractors is presently being impacted but it appears that it is locally at Australian ports where the longest delays are being experienced. Unloading of both containerised freight and roll-on, roll-off freight is extremely slow at present and it is perhaps timely that the Productivity Commission has begun an enquiry into the efficiency of the maritime logistics system. Tractor sales across the nation were down in February…

Deere hunter Adding parts for John Deere construction equipment to the range is a change for Phil Hunt Parts, but the traditions of solid customer service are staying strong into the next generation. More at TradePlantEquipment.com.au 17,260+ items for sale in print & online…

Andromeda Industries, based just outside of Tamworth, recently expanded its fleet of Toyota forklifts to three with the addition of an 8-Series 62-8FD30 three-tonne diesel forklift. Andromeda Industries director and owner Raymond McLaren bought his first Toyota forklift approximately 20 years ago. “They’re just so smooth. I’m an engineer and I like fine things as well, and the Toyota forklift is a very resolved design, everything seems to be right about it,” McLaren says. “It’s quiet, it’s smooth, it works properly, all the gear ratios seem to be right, it travels fast enough, slow enough, the hydraulic system has been well resolved.” Andromeda Industries deals with not only steel cables and rubber matting, but also specialty jobs hauling particularly expensive equipment. “I drive [the forklifts] myself,” McLaren says. “I have…

Pöttinger has upgraded its Europrofi Combiline rotor loader wagons with a new front panel to optimise convenience and flexibility. The company has redesigned the front panel on the wagons, allowing its 2,000mm-wide forage compression flap to be better adjusted to the crop it is loading. The spring-loaded flap controls the automatic loading system, switching the scraper floor on and off with a time delay if needed, ensuring accurate filling of the loading chamber, right up to the edges. Two basic positions can be set manually on the standard versions, though infinitely variable hydraulic adjustment of the inclination is also available as an option. The option allows the flap to be fully retracted, so that the top section of the loading chamber can be opened when the loader wagon is deployed…

Available in four models, with working widths from 9.3m to 15m, they incorporate numerous features, including telescopic arms, excellent ground contouring, ease of operation and a low transport height. Claas Harvest Centre product manager – Greenline, Blair McAlwee, says the telescopic arms extend and retract via a patented three-stage system for rapid adjustment of the working width. “Depending on the model, the width of each swath can be adjusted from 1.3m to 2.5m and the overall working width from 3.4m to 4.9m,” he says. “In the Trend configuration, swath width is adjusted manually using a simple spring-loaded lever. “Likewise, raking height can be quickly adjusted using the crank handle on each rotor. “In the Business configuration, working width, swath width and rotor lift are all hydraulically controlled using the ISOBUS-compatible…

Claas and Carraro Group are further expanding their decades-long cooperation, following the signing of a new strategic agreement. In addition to the development and production of special and compact tractors, and the supply of axles and gears for tractors, the cooperation will also include the mutual knowledge transfer and exchange of skills. “A clear short-to medium-term goal of our commitment is to increase sales and market share in the segments of special and compact tractors,” Claas CEO Thomas Böck explains. “To achieve our goals, we are investing together in new developments, but also in competences and skills of our employees and know-how transfers.” Carraro Group CEO Andrea Conchetto adds: “We are going beyond a typical contract for the supply of vehicles, components and services, because we intend to pool our…

For those who want to go off-road in style, and have the cash to splash to achieve it, the new seven-seat Jeep Grand Cherokee L is set to debut in Australia in mid-2022. Prices start at $82,250 (plus on-road and dealer-delivery costs) for the Night Eagle model, and the Grand Cherokee L Limited rises to $87,950 (plus on-road and dealer-delivery costs). This additionally includes the Selec-Terrain traction management system and a 4x4 active single-speed transfer case. Both models use the Quadra-Trac I 4x4 system – a single-speed active transfer case that uses input from multiple sensors in the vehicle to pre-emptively adjust torque distribution and make corrections if tyre slip occurs. The top-end Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve, available from $115,450 (plus on-road and dealer-delivery costs), upgrades to a Quadra-Drive…

Goldacres has raised the bar in the trailing sprayer market with the all-new Prairie Pro Series 2. The new series is a complete redesign of the manufacturer’s flagship trailing model, which has been on the market since 2015. Goldacres sales manager Stephen Richards says the redesign was prompted by what customers had requested, adding that Goldacres was able to quickly make changes in line with customer demand because its sprayers are designed and manufactured in Australia. “With farming practices changing in a direction that requires higher accuracy, less wastage and getting more done, a rethink of the range was required,” he says. “The philosophy behind the new model was to create a trailing sprayer that shared the same filling and application technology from the recently released Crop Cruiser G6 Series…

Recognised globally for their reliability and high quality, Mandam products are an excellent match for modern Australian farms, where fast and reliable work is what counts. For Victorian dealer Greg Allan Farm Machinery, the Rhino cultivator and Grot chisel plough are standouts in the wide range of brands offered by the Colac-based family-run business. Rhino The Rhino is a bigger version of Mandam’s Spec HD cultivator, with an additional fourth row of tines and a transport chassis. Designed for stubble cultivation and tillage, it has curved tines to help to reduce the amount of power a tractor needs to use it, which significantly reduces fuel consumption. Equipped with double spring protection and updated swingarm geometry, the Rhino can withstand much greater ground pressure than a regular machine. It has minimal…

Manufactured in Italy and engineered locally to meet the needs of Australia’s diverse agricultural sectors, Dieci’s specialty telehandlers are built tough and reliable. 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 far greater reach, hydraulic capacity and manoeuvrability. Dieci works every day to evolve its machines, adopting the best solutions based on research, advice and experiences with its customers. The manufacturer’s consistent exploration has helped it develop a range of industry-specific telehandlers designed to suit the harshest Australian conditions, with several impressive attachments and features designed specifically for poultry, cotton, piggeries and hay. With lift heights ranging from 5.8m…

Challenges with securing supplies in the wake of COVID-19 is a common story across the country, and Daz Scale, the owner of Sunshine Coast premium secondhand equipment dealers Makin Traks, says his customers have not been immune. Demand has been high for the company’s supply of quality secondhand bulldozers, and Scale says this demand has also rolled over onto graders – a machine the company had not previously stocked. “For the past six months, where people have known us for quality in the dozer realm, they would come to us and say ‘oh if only you did this’,” he says. “So we started sourcing some of those and they have been a red hot ticket item – I think it is just because of the serious delay in new gear…

The Chevy Silverado 1500 range is a bundle of fun and full of practical technology and convenience features Spending a week with the latest iteration of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 revealed a full-sized truck that also sports a full-sized load of techno trickery designed to make it easy to live with and endlessly practical. Yes, even in the paddock. There are three states of dress models in the Silverado 1500 range. The Silverado LT Trail Boss gets things rolling with – arguably – the most appropriate hardware, for this part of the world, and specifically farmers, namely all-terrain tyres and no-nonsense bodywork. The truck on these pages – the LTZ Premium – sits next in the line-up, while the rugged HD LTZ Premium (which swaps out the chrome for blackout…

Farming in Australia has never been more valuable according to the latest forecast, with production expected to hit a record $81 billion in 2021–22. The projection, made by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), exceeds the previous record by $12 billion, set in 2020–21. Commodity prices performed even better than predicted, with this performance following record high crop production as well as the highest produce prices in over three decades. “This is an unprecedented result, and it can be put down to a combination of record high crop production, and the highest prices (in real terms) for Australian agricultural produce in 32 years,” ABARES spokesperson Dr Jared Greenville says. “Australia has harvested what will be the most valuable winter crop ever, even after accounting for…

Meat eaters are seemingly eating more beef than usual throughout the pandemic, causing prices to reach their highest levels in five years, Rabobank says. The increased consumer appetite for beef has been heightened by lockdown restrictions, additional disposable incomes from COVID-19-related stimulus packages and limitations on available alternative protein sources, the agribusiness specialist says in its Q1 Global Beef Quarterly report. Higher consumption levels and supply chain pressures, which continue to build, have caused global beef prices to soar 23 per cent higher than the five-year average in the United States and 24 per cent higher in China. “Over the past two years, retail beef prices have been phenomenal,” Rabobank spokesperson Angus Gidley-Baird says. The higher appetite for beef has resulted in growing supply chain issues, which Gidley-Baird says have…

With some farmers leaving Ukraine and farm staff fighting for their country, there are fears the Russian invasion will significantly hurt this year’s Ukrainian harvest. As Russian troops advance across the country, farmers are unsure if they can start seeding spring crops in March to get this year’s harvest underway. There are many foreign-owned and -managed farms in Ukraine, but some of these farm managers have chosen to leave the country to wait and see how this illegal occupation by Russia will develop. So far, the Ukrainian military and local defence forces have kept the Russians at bay from most of the country, but the invasion is already causing huge problems for Ukrainian agriculture. While tanks instead of tractors roam the fields, prices of seeds, fertiliser and chemicals have escalated…

The second generation of MacDon’s FlexDraper is set to arrive in Australia just in time for harvest season, following its global launch in August last year. The MacDon FD2 FlexDraper builds on the features of its original FlexDraper model, offering up to 20 per cent more capacity of smooth, heads-first feeding than the previous model. This comes from a deeper deck, with 50-inch (127cm) deep drapers on all FD2 models that can lay down high-volume crops cleanly. Now available in configurations of 30 to 50 feet (9–15m), the FD2 also uses MacDon’s FeedMax Crop Feeding System which, it says, features combine-tailored speed control and customisable auger flighting to fit the feeder house of any combine harvester. The unit also boasts a new high-speed cutting system, which it says offers clean…

Claas’ latest generation of dual-rotor central Liner swathers offer excellent ground-contour following for optimum raking performance with minimal forage contamination. “The Grass Care rotor guidance system ensures that the rotors are actively suspended during operation,” Claas Harvest Centre product manager – Greenline, Blair McAlwee says. “When the rotor arms are lowered, the rear rotor wheels touch down first, producing a ‘jet-effect’ that prevents the tines from digging in and damaging the grass sward.” The two Business models also incorporate Active Float rotor suspension and load-sensing hydraulics. “This functions in a similar way to the suspension of the same name in the Disco Contour disc mowers,” Blair says. “The ground pressure of the rotor can be adapted precisely to the forage quantity and ground conditions by adjusting the suspension pressure. “This…

Lemken has announced that it will invest in a new plant to build Steketee hoeing machinery. It will be built in Dinteloord, The Netherlands, and is scheduled to open its doors at the end of 2023. “The world around us is changing fast. That’s why everybody involved in the production chain needs to work together to ensure sustainability in food production,” Lemken managing director Anthony van der Ley says. “Primary agriculture in particular plays a pioneering role here. New technologies open up a wide range of possibilities. For example, by switching to smart mechanical weed control we can apply crop care products more precisely and gradually reduce their use. That’s why we have been going full steam ahead with the development, production and sales of Steketee machines since 2018.” Van…

The rising cost of chemicals is leading more farmers to return to offset discs rather than speed tillers for cultivation and weed control, Big Dog Disc’s Andrew Nolan says. He says the increasing amount of money spent on chemicals by broadacre farmers to tackle weeds has meant farmers are going back to an “old school” solution – and the Big Dog is providing the means to do so. “Three or four years ago, you couldn’t sell a set of offset discs but now, with the prices of Roundup and chemicals going through the roof, farmers have been going back to old-school farming and they’re going back to offsets for weed control and breaking up virgin country,” he says. “There are also a lot of weeds that have built up a…

Over its 25-plus years of experience and after helping tens of thousands of Australians and Australian businesses keep their operations running, second generation family-owned business Alldiesels Australia is well placed to be an authority to both the good and the bad of buying a new, used or rebuilt diesel engines, and shares insight into challenges. Top 11 mistakes (not to make) when buying your next diesel engine: 1. Thinking the day you have a problem, you will be able to buy the exact replacement engine you need Particularly in the current environment with supply chain issues and slower and more expensive freight, there is less stock on the market and longer lead times. If you anticipate you are going to have requirements for a replacement engine, the sooner you have…

Price $134,990 Engine 6.2-litre EcoTech3 V8 Power 313kW Torque 624Nm Transmission 10-speed automatic Kerb weight 2,540kg Gross vehicle mass 3,300kg Maximum payload 760kg Maximum braked towing capacity 3,500kg (50mm ball)/4,500kg (70mm ball) Maximum unbraked towing capacity 750kg Overall height 1,933mm Overall length 5,931mm Overall width 2,063mm Wheelbase 3,750mm Turning circle kerb-to-kerb 14.3m Approach and departure angles 21°/21° Ground clearance unladen 260mm…

Sustained rainfall has propelled Australia’s crop production to new heights as the forecast winter crop harvest was revised even higher, the country’s agricultural bureau says. With the winter harvest now complete, the final figure for winter crop production is forecast to be 61.9 million tonnes, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) as outlined in its Australian Crop Report: March edition. The record haul was underpinned by the country’s top grains in wheat (36.3 million tonnes), barley (13.7mt) and canola (6.4mt), which all set new national records for crop production. The record winter harvest represents a six per cent upward revision from ABARES’ December 2021 estimate. “Winter crop harvests have smashed our expectations back in December,” says ABARES executive director Dr Jared Greenville. “Now…

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have significant ramifications on the global and Australian grain and oilseeds market, according to agribusiness specialist Rabobank. Rabobank agricultural analyst Dennis Voznesenski writes that wheat prices could rise by as much as 61 per cent from current levels if the conflict continues into July when the Black Sea harvest commences, having already risen 21 per cent since the beginning of February. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine will likely result in grain exports ceasing in the short term due to blockages to shipping and the costs associated with exporting grains. Western sanctions targeting Russia will also likely impact wheat exports and will result in structural changes to global wheat flows, according to Rabobank. Both Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s top producers of wheat according…

Australian exporters have benefited from the food security programs of other countries, but they should be aware that offshore storage levels may peak, according to ANZ’s latest Agri Commodity Report. The report analysed 20 years of global grain export data to look at what it could mean for industry forecasts. Grain prices are most impacted by short-term developments, such as the strength of that year’s crop, as well as the relative conditions. The report says one major driver of grain prices will be the food security programs of major importers, as they look to build major reserves of food and feed. The world has continued to lift overall reserves of wheat and rice, the two major staple crops, since the last major global supply shock 15 years ago. ANZ’s head…

JT Energy Systems, a joint venture between Jungheinrich and Triathlon Holding GmbH, has acquired a stake in the Dresden-based AI company and battery specialist Novum. German materials handling and battery manufacturing company Jungheinrich has offices in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, while Triathlon launched its battery business in Australia in 2020. As part of their cooperation, the partners are jointly extending the service life of lithium-ion batteries. The use of AI-based analysis tools makes used vehicle batteries fit for their second and third lifetimes; exetending their sustainability. “Lithium-ion batteries often last longer than the vehicles in which they are used,” Reinhild Kühne, managing director of JT Energy Systems, says. “In the future, we will be in an even better position to exploit the battery’s full potential in order to reuse…

It’s not lost on Phil Hunt Parts managing director Brendan Hunt that the company he manages is a generational business. “Very often these days I’m finding the ‘old man’ started dealing with the father of the family – and today I’m dealing with their sons,” he says. “The blokes my old man started dealing with in the early 90s, I’m dealing with their kids now, and obviously I’m second generation as well.” But, as Hunt explains, it’s something that goes with the territory of being Australia’s sole supplier of second-hand parts for Allis Chalmers, Fiat Allis and John Deere Construction Equipment – a loyal customer base he’s grateful for. “We’ve carved ourselves a bit of a niche for machines that aren’t overly popular across the contractor sector, we leave the…