Innholdsfortegnelse for 332 i Farms and Farm Machinery

The long awaited John Deere four-tracked 9RX series tractors have arrived in Australia, starting with the 570hp 9570RX. The machine made its public debut at the 2016 Wimmera Machinery Field Days in March. Standing tall at John Deere dealership Emmetts’ stand at the field days, the tractor complements the 9R and 9RT highhorsepowered tractor series currently operating in Australia. It is powered by a Tier 4/EU Stage IV emission standards compliant six-cylinder Cummins engine, and features an 18-speed power shift transmission with built-in efficiency manager. Emmetts brand sales manager Patrick Fox says the 9RX series offers advanced track technology not seen on other brands on the market. “John Deere is running a longer track than some of its competitors, which gives its machines a larger footprint and less heat through…

“Nothing has annihilated weeds, shrubs and trees like this before” Advanced Forest Equipment’s SS Eco Mulcher, an attachment that lets skid steer loaders “annihilate” weeds, shrubs and trees, is being brought into Australia by Makin Traks. With features such as universal fitting, robust construction and high visibility, Makin Traks owner/director Daz Scale sees the mulcher as the next big thing. Scale says their attachment to the AFE product began when they imported a Caterpillar 299D XHP compact track loader with an SS Eco Mulcher attached. “We weren’t entirely familiar with the mulcher, but we had heard many good reports about the attachment in regards to its productivity and efficiency,” he says. “Once we got our hands on the machine and the attachment it was a no brainer ... it was…

Due to popular demand, Korean tractor manufacturer Branson has extended its lineup with the F42H, a hydrostatic version of its new 40hp tractor. This follows the successful launch of the shuttle shift F42R model late last year. A key feature on the new F42H is its automatic hydrostatic transmission which, according to Australian distributor Midway Sales director Scott Spring-Brown, is a very popular feature with customers. “This means that the individual foot operation pedals to control forward/reverse direction automatically adjusts engines revs to the working conditions,” he says. “This is a safe, user-friendly, fuel-saving function.” Apart from its transmission, the F42H’s size also makes it a winner with farmers, Spring-Brown adds. “This size compact tractor is a very handy all-rounder,” he says. “It is small enough to take on tight…

Australia’s weather patterns have shifted significantly in the past decade, affecting farming systems right across the country, new research has shown. The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC), which conducted the study, analysed data from more than 8000 Bureau of Meteorology stations around the country and discovered traditional rainfall zones have experienced a dramatic shift since 2000. According to AEGIC agro-meteorologist Dr David Stephens, changes to Australia’s climate include a general increase in rainfall across Australia but a corresponding decrease in winter rainfall, leading to shifts in rainfall zones extending for hundreds of kilometres. “Rainfall between May to October over much of the heavily populated regions of southern Australia has decreased 10 to 30 per cent, while summer rain has increased up to 40 per cent in some areas,” he…

For this test we headed to Campbell Contracting in Pihama, in New Zealand’s Taranaki region, to try out their new Claas Disco 9200C Business rear butterfly mower, which complements their existing 3200C Disco Profil front mower. Rusty and Sarah Campbell, along with Rusty’s parents Scratch and Diane, have had a long association with Claas. They’ve owned another set of doubles, a single trailing mower, and now their new triples to replace a smaller 8500 set. The family has been mighty impressed by the mowers’ ability to drop grass. Claas offers three specification levels for its rear triples: Trend (base spec); Contour (mid-spec); and the top-of-the-line Business spec that can be straight-bar, conditioner, or run with autoswathers as rear butterfly mowers. CUTTERBAR Apart from a few design tweaks and a slight…

The lazy country wave appears to be dying a slow death. The rural highway salute, usually just consisting of a lifted finger or two off the steering wheel, is becoming rarity in rural Australia. Maybe we’re all in so much of a hurry these days. Maybe our little air-conditioned bubbles are so full of gadgets now that we simply don’t notice each other the way we used to. Or maybe I just look dodgy and suspicious. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t wave at me, either. In fact, while driving the new Ford Everest through country Victoria recently, I thought I’d try this theory out. I had a 50/50 strike rate on waves. As a rule of thumb, anyone driving a dirt splattered ute waved. On the other hand,…

It’s getting more difficult to tell the difference between one side-by-side and the next. Or, for that matter, one ATV and the next. They share similar specifications – switchable four-wheel drive, independent suspension, CVT autos, tilting trays, 12-inch wheels, disc brakes, fuel injection, and so on and so forth. The formula is set in concrete. Most of these off-road vehicles look the same too, though some still look and feel more like a tractor than a town car. In some you can fit two occupants, in some three. The control layout is always familiar, because that’s a formula too, and because even in a modern cab there is limited space for experimentation. None you’d accuse of being poorly made, either. There is one big brand model that I reckon looks…

French ag-machinery company Brochard Constructeur has clinched the prestigious Machine of the Year award at the 2016 Wimmera Machinery Field Days for its versatile spreader, marking its second big win in six months. In October last year, Brochard won the Imported Machine of the Year award at the Elmore field days for its EV2200 spreader, which has a capacity of 33 cubic metres. This time around, it was the smaller but equally efficient Dragon 2001 model that bagged the prestigious prize at Wimmera in March. Spreader specialist Techgrow Agriculture is the exclusive distributor of Brochard spreaders in Australia. The company also distributes the Bogballe range of linkage spreaders. Brochard Constructeur CEO Alain Bellion, who flew in from France to attend the field days, was there to accept the award. The…

Valtra has given its N174 tractor model a glittery makeover to celebrate its Golden Tractor for the Design award win last year. Created by Valtra’s Unlimited Studio, the flashy-looking tractor will go on display at several special events and exhibitions around the world. The special-edition N series tractor sports a golden paint job and special decals on the outside, while the interior features a brown leather wrapped steering wheel and seats, as well as an exclusive Unlimited dark grey mat. Valtra says customers can order their N series tractors with the Unlimited specifications. The award-winning design made its debut with Valtra’s T series tractors back in 2014, and will be implemented across all future models. The Unlimited concept by Valtra was introduced in 2013 and allows customers to design and…

European spray manufacturer Amazone has unveiled the AmaSelect electric control system for its sprayers, which automatically selects the best nozzle to be utilised according to operating conditions. According to Amazone, the new nozzle technology can reduce spraying costs by up to 10 per cent, depending on the field size, working width and the number of part-width sections used. Available for its UX trailed sprayers and the Pantera self-propelled sprayer, the system features four individually controlled nozzles in carriers that are positioned at 50cm intervals. Amazone product manager Craig Hopkins says the technology by itself is capable of reducing overlap and chemical costs by five per cent. “Used in combination with Amazone’s GPS-Switch section control, AmaSelect can slash crop protection costs by another five per cent,” he says. All the operator…

We have all, most likely unknowingly, eaten products containing some form of genetically modified (GM) crops, which remain controversial to some people despite being under commercial production for nearly two decades. But when the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the go-ahead last November to GM salmon, it marked the first time any GM animal had been cleared for human consumption. Until then, GM animals remained the preserve of moviemakers (ever seen the 2004 television movie Frankenfish?). So what does this landmark approval mean for the future of the food on our plate? The transgenic Atlantic salmon was first developed by a Canadian Biotech company, AquaBounty Technologies, more than 20 years ago. Its AquAdvantage salmon incorporates additional copies of a growth hormone gene from another salmon species. IS…

The new 4000 series JCB Fastrac is designed around the same core features that have earned the series a reputation for being one of the most versatile and comfortable tractors on the market. Although it has retained all the elements of the existing Fastrac, it’s actually a completely new range designed from the ground up. It includes features that have improved its performance and manoeuvrability in the field, and JCB’s designers have made the ride even more comfortable than that of older Fastrac models. A CVT transmission, AGCO Power engine, front and rear axle suspension, four-wheel steering, and heavy-duty disc brakes are a few inclusions that elevate the 4220 to a new level of performance. In addition, the new CommandPlus cabin boasts more space and better visibility than before, plus…

RICHARD LEWIS is executive director of the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia. He can be contacted on 0421 847 872 or via email at richard@ironcapital.com.au The February sales figures just released show a 20 per cent jump from month to month, making the year up seven per cent on 2015 numbers so far. The demand for horsepower has seen sales of 200+ horsepower tractors up over 30 per cent for the year, as farmers look to upgrade their primary workhorse. Victorian sales were up 10 per cent for the month, giving a flat performance for the year. New South Wales is up 15 per cent and Queensland 10 per cent. Only South Australia recorded a drop in sales for the year, down eight per cent. Both balers and combines…

New South Wales-based machinery company WHM Tractors has raised the bar in the affordable low-horsepower tractor market with the release of its new J Series, with models ranging from 48 to 116hp. Officially launched late last year, the series currently features three models: the WHM 484J, 534J and 1164J. According to WHM Tractors, the new line-up is a result of seven years of hard work, with several models still being developed and yet to be released – including the 394 and the cab-equipped 674 and 904. Some key upgrades on the range compared to predecessor models include a more robust chassis, larger and more powerful naturally aspirated engines, larger cabs, and the option of air-conditioned cabins on its biggest model – the 116hp WHM 1164J. The range also has wider…

A portable soil testing system that returns nitrate level readings within five minutes has snagged an innovation award at the 2016 Wimmera Machinery Field Days. The award-winning 360 Soilscan system is manufactured by American based company 360 Yieldcentre and distributed in Australia by Spot On Ag. By returning accurate soil nitrate level results within minutes, the system allows farmers to respond instantly to maintain optimum crop health and maximise return. The lightweight piece of equipment comes in a sturdy carry case to protect it from the elements, and can be used in the field with a tablet, or set up in an office. Its portability allows it to be shared among neighbouring farms to reduce initial outlay. It operates on both 12- and 240V power supplies. Operating and reading the…

After nearly 12,000 entries from Farms & Farm Machinery subscribers all over the country, and several months of hold-your-breath tension, the winner of our huge Kubota farm package giveaway can at last be revealed. On the receiving end of this prize is 53-year-old Gordon King from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. No stranger to top-class construction and property maintenance equipment, the former mechanical engineer lives on acreage near Coffs and these days makes a living in the exacting business of under-house excavations. He also runs a marine salvage business, “because people often lose things at sea and I know how to find them”. Gordon took delivery of the bright green Kubota bootie on March 1 this year at the premises of Kubota 2015 Platinum Dealer, All Diesel Equipment Sales and…

With performance abilities continuously improving, it is helpful to stay on top of the latest advancements when considering your next agriculture attachment purchase. BUCKETS Buckets are commonly used in the agriculture industry. They can be used for mucking out barns, moving silage and feed, and the overall maintenance of the property. Because versatility and cost of ownership is an important factor, many farmers choose a multi-purpose bucket over a general purpose bucket. These buckets are also known as a four-in-one bucket, and serve four main functions: • General bucket work • Grapple for picking up and moving materials such as logs or debris • Dozer blade for pushing • Box blade for smoothing loose ground Recent advancements in buckets, particularly for compact and small wheel loaders, are further increasing productivity…

WARREN MILLS is the Managing Director of CR Management Systems. For more information regarding Good Practice Guidelines, SafeFarm Systems Guide, Farm Worker Induction, Farm Worker Safety Handbook and other related publications and services, please contact him on 0419 239 877 or warren.m@crms.com.au Of all safety management theories and practice, safety consciousness seems to me to be among the most important, because it is a real attempt to consider the issue of safety in all hazardous situations. Not all work situations are hazardous in real terms. Recent bushfire tragedies reminded me that the Fire Danger Rating system always assumes a fire danger when, for most days in a year, there is no risk of fire danger. I realise that the point of the system is to encourage people to properly prepare…