Issue 138 | September/October 2023 - Australian AgContractor & Large Scale Farmer
NEWS
Kuhn Farm Machinery Expo takes Toowoomba by storm
PROFILE
& LARGE SCALE FARMER
By the books – a new start
TECHNOLOGY
Otway Helicopters, turns to Kubota for best results
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04 FROM THE EDITOR: The individuality of the industry
INDUSTRY NEWS
05 2023 Kuhn Farm Machinery Expo takes Toowoomba by storm
06 Machinery evolution of Case IH focus of latest ‘It’s what we do’ campaign with new regional voice connecting culture and country
07 A rev-head’s dream
08
10
Seed Terminator unveils next-gen innovation for John Deere X9
Record-breaking tractor parade puts NSW town of Inverell on global stage
ASSOCIATIONS
12 Fertiliser Australia launches labelling awareness campaign
TECHNOLOGY
14 A life in the clouds
17 Ag Leader helps perfect the turn with TurnPath
PROFILES
18 By the books – a new start
24 Future proofing for the next big dry
31 Across the ditch: Passion for farming and people drive Northland contracting business
FEATURES
38 What’s new in hay and silage consumables
46 What’s new in bale wrappers, bale handling equipment and telehandlers
61 Low grain loss, high efficiency add up with Fendt Ideal
63 Feedstorm Cross Auger earns gold star review
64 Land Pride AG15 Series arena grader perfecting equestrian arenas
65 Clean farm focus wins the war on weeds
66 Improved seedbed pays off despite dry early conditions
68 Pöttinger sends new loader wagon onto the slopes
69 John Shearer launches new precision seederbar
71 Raising the bar
72 Terria: More applications and even higher efficiency
THE INDIVIDUALITY OF THE INDUSTRY
IT TAKES ALL SORTS TO MAKE THIS INDUSTRY TICK!
When editing the two feature profiles in this issue of Australian Ag Contractor & Large Scale Farmer, I was struck by the polarising nature of the people we had interviewed.
At one end, there is Jason Turney who has slowly and steadily built his business up over a number of years after taking a $500 punt on an old farm quad he’d come across.
At the other, there’s James Wright, who mixes his practical knowledge with an academic approach in managing a number of sheep stations.
Both have their place in modern farming and agriculture operations, and both play an equally important role in the current performance – and future – of the Australian farming and agriculture industry.
Both also have some pretty strong commonalities – bloody good Aussie jokers with supportive families who work together to create successful businesses, striving to get the best from the land they work. And boy, do they work!
Each has an interesting and unique yarn to tell, yet they were equally surprised we wanted to tell them, wondering why anyone would
want to read about their lives, their careers and their businesses.
And that’s what makes them – and plenty more like them – the backbone of Aussie farming, and we’ll continue to hunt out exactly those sorts of people and bring you their story.
And, to finish this month’s piece, there’s the story of the two hillbillies who walked into a restaurant.
While having a bite to eat, they talk about their moonshine operation.
Suddenly, a woman at a nearby table, who is eating a sandwich, begins to cough.
After a minute or so, it becomes apparent that she is in real distress. One of the hillbillies looks at her and says, Kin ya swallar?’
The woman shakes her head no. Then he asks, ‘Kin ya breathe?’
The woman begins to turn blue, and shakes her head no.
The hillbilly walks over to the woman, lifts up her dress, yanks down her drawers, and quickly gives her right butt cheek a lick with his tongue.
The woman is so shocked that she has a violent spasm, and the obstruction flies out of her mouth.As she begins to breathe again, the hillbilly walks slowly back to his table. His
SCOTT WILSON
2023 KUHN FARM MACHINERY EXPO TAKES TOOWOOMBA BY STORM
AN INFLUX OF KUHN FARM MACHINERY IMPLEMENTS TOOK TOOWOOMBA, QLD BY STORM AT THE 2023 KUHN EXPO LAST WEEK WHERE KUHN AUSTRALIA HOSTED THEIR EXPO ON A LOCAL PROPERTY SHOWCASING MORE THAN 50 OF THEIR FARM MACHINERY IMPLEMENTS TO DEALERS AND CUSTOMERS FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
With more than 350 registered attendees across the two-day event, event organisers were thrilled by the attendance at the first Kuhn expo to be staged in Queensland.
Kuhn Australia’s managing director Bruno Fetiveau said, “Bringing dealers and customers together every few years to network and showcase our vast range of machinery is the highlight of our calendar.”
Expo attendees saw impressive live demonstrations, machinery displays, product workshops and presentations on Kuhn‘s cutting-edge hay and forage, tillage, spraying, spreading and feed mixing led by Kuhn product specialists.
Attendees were also invited to take part in the Kuhn Expo silent auction of the demonstration machinery.
Twenty-two demonstration machines were available to purchase on the final day of the event, where a portion of proceeds were donated to the mental health support organisation Are You Bogged Mate led by Mary O’Brien.
In addition to the interactive daytime activities, dealers were also invited to an exclusive dealer dinner held on Wednesday evening.
The dinner was held at The Downs Club, Toowoomba, where dealers heard from Bruno Fetiveau, Tractor Machinery Associations’ Gary Northover and Are You Bogged Mate’s Mary O’Brien.
In amongst an extensive selection of implements was Kuhn’s VBP 7190 round baler wrapper combo that was on display for the first time in Australia. Also on display for the first time were Kuhn’s new mower conditioners. The FC 13460 RA and FC 9330 RA mower conditioners have been designed to optimise output and quality with an integrated swath grouper.
Kuhn Australia marketing manager Michael Murer said, “The live demonstrations are a unique opportunity for the crowd to see the machines working in optimal working conditions. The demonstration of the VBP 7190 round baler wrapper combo was a crowd favourite, following its 2023 Machine of the Year win.”
Kuhn also had global product experts and international KUHN factory experts from France and The Netherlands in attendance. These representatives provided exclusive industry insight to the dealers and customers on Kuhn machines and the future of farm machinery.
This year’s Kuhn Expo was supported by industry partner Tama Australia who generously provided the silotite film and twine for the hay and forage demonstrations.
MACHINERY EVOLUTION OF CASE IH FOCUS OF LATEST ‘IT’S WHAT WE DO’ CAMPAIGN WITH NEW REGIONAL VOICE CONNECTING CULTURE AND COUNTRY
IN 2021, AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY BRAND CASE IH EMBARKED ON ITS FIRST BRAND CAMPAIGN IN MANY YEARS, WITH THE THIRD INSTALMENT OF THE ‘IT’S WHAT WE DO’ STORY RECENTLY HITTING AUSTRALIAN SCREENS.
This time around, the focus is on the evolution of the machinery: “From horse. To horsepower. From monstrous. To autonomous. From fierce continents. To frozen ones. And we plan on staying here…”
Farmer and scientist Anika Molesworth narrated the first instalment of the campaign, which highlighted Case IH customers, while Mick Brennan, via Case IH dealership, Intersales voiced the second part of the story paying tribute to the efforts of the Case IH dealership network and the service it provides.
Now, West Australian indigenous artist Taminga Connell brings this stage of the campaign to life, taking the viewer through the development of the Case IH portfolio of products over the past 180 years.
It’s the first time Taminga, who created a major artwork as part of Case IH parent company CNH Industrial’s initial Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launched in May, has been part of a brand campaign.
“It’s all been new to me but I’ve always called rural and regional Australia home, so I was keen to be involved. I appreciate the contribution agriculture-focused companies like Case IH make to our communities and the passion they feel for regional Australia, and I feel honoured to be an indigenous voice in this campaign,” Taminga said.
Taminga, a Bunuba/Kija woman, and her family live in Kununurra in West Australia’s Kimberley region where she and husband Scott operate Kimberley Spirit Tours, and the associated not-for-profit Kimberley Spirit Foundation, which aims to help reduce rates of youth suicide in the region by empowering and equipping children with the skills to reach their full potential.
Aaron Bett, general manager of Case IH Australia/New Zealand, said the campaign is adding the third pillar, product, to Case IH’s
At the conclusion of the event Bruno Fetiveau reflected that, “The 2023 Kuhn Expo has been a tremendous success. As the world’s largest farm implements manufactur-
focus on the critical aspects of the business – customers, dealers and products – and they were thrilled to have Taminga, as part of the story.
“Taminga lives in one of the most remote regions in our country, which went through its own challenges early this year with catastrophic flooding, so she knows first-hand the challenges of the likes of isolation and weather events, and the resilience that’s often needed, like our customers in every corner of the nation,” Aaron said.
“Case IH, and our dealer network, work hard every day to support our customers and
er, the Expo is an opportunity for us to share knowledge with dealers and customers. We welcomed attendees from across Australia to learn about Kuhn innovative farm technol-
the regions they call home. The ‘It’s what we do’ mantra highlights the legacy of the brand, the dedication of our customer focused dealers and celebrates everything that our hard-working farming communities do to grow our food and fibre. The Case IH team remains committed to playing our role in contributing to greater productivity and sustainability outcomes for agriculture and the ongoing growth of regional communities.”
The campaign was again created by Leo Burnett and partners, and began airing from July 9 across television, out of home (OOH) and digital channels.
ogy, and we’re excited to see what the future has in store for the next Expo.”
For more information and to learn more about Kuhn, visit www.kuhn.com.au.
IMAGE FROM THE ADVERTISEMENT AND IN-STUDIO WITH TAMINGA.
A REV-HEAD’S DREAM
INSIDE KUBOTA’S WILD PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOONIGANS AND THEIR ALL-AUSSIE ADVENTURE.
The roar of engines fills the air at Cootamundra airport, but today there isn’t an airplane in sight.
Instead, the long stretch of runway is filled with cars of all shapes and sizes, heralding the arrival of American motorheads, the Hoonigans.
These high-octane YouTube sensations boast over 5 million subscribers. Renowned for their viral videos and death-defying stunts, the Hoonigans are the ultimate rev-heads - and they hold Australia in high regard.
“Our name was actually derived from an Australian word. When we first heard the term ‘hoon’, we were like, that’s it,” says Hoonigan host and business development manager, Zac Mertens.
On their tour Down Under, the Hoonigans are filming content for their YouTube show This vs That.
The online show sees two wildly different cars, hotted up within the same calibre and similar quarter mile times, compete in a full-throttle race.
“Essentially it’s a drag race, there’s no timing, no lights or anything; it’s a simple hand drop,” Mertens says.
“But what makes it interesting is the race is between two wildly different cars.
“You might have an insane burnout car up against a slammed minivan. None of this should make any sense, but as it turned out they should, on paper at least, be about the same speed.”
Talk about a rev-heads’ dream. Today the gang are shooting multiple episodes. Which means multiple laps of the airstrip. And there to ferry the boys from one end to another are
Kubota’s trusty RTVs and an M7 tractor.
“One of the worst parts about shooting on an airstrip is you have to walk long distances back and forth so it really helps having the RTVs to transport equipment and help get everybody around; it makes it much safer.
“All the vehicles are super easy to use,” Mertens says as he points to the M7 tractor.
“Like jumping in that thing, it’s gigantic. You think it’d be daunting but it’s so simple and straightforward.
“Everything works so well, it will even do a wheelie if you want it to.
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SEED TERMINATOR UNVEILS NEXT-GEN INNOVATION FOR JOHN DEERE X9
IN ANOTHER LEAP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FARMING, SEED TERMINATOR IS SETTING THE PACE FOR AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION WITH ITS LATEST INNOVATION – THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SEED TERMINATOR FOR THE JOHN DEERE X9 PLATFORM.
Unveiled to a crowd at the Dowerin Field Day in Western Australia, this latest platform was designed from the ground up to suit the latest high-capacity combine harvesters, incorporating over a decade of learnings.
The buzz around the new Seed Terminator is hardly surprising, considering it’s the third new platform developed by the team in just under seven years. The 2023 harvest allocation of these units has sold out, with a total of 20 units operating this harvest. An additional 5 units have just completed harvest across Europe and Canada.
As pioneers in the agricultural technology sector, Seed Terminator takes immense pride in delivering game-changing solutions that redefine farming landscapes. With a proven track record, this innovation is not just another product – it’s a testament to the company’s dedication to progress.
Director and inventor of the Seed Terminator, Dr Nick Berry, shares ‘our mission is to empower farmers with technology that can help them efficiently feed the world and leave their farm to the next generation in a better state than they found it.
‘This new platform is a continuation of our mission. We’re not done yet.’
‘We would like to express our gratitude to
“I was told it couldn’t be done… but it can be done. I would not suggest doing it because I don’t want to hurt the machine,” he laughs, “but it can be done.”
Kubota has been a long-standing supporter of these auto enthusiasts since 2022. It all started when Hoonigan co-creator and rally car driver Ken Block approached the company to help develop his Utah ranch.
“Ken’s dream was to build this ranch, like a motorhead’s paradise. We’re talking a full-blown gymkhana course, a world class supercross track, a snowboard park, downhill mountain bike runs, and another 1.1 mile RTV track with massive jumps,” Mertens says.
“We already had a heap of Kubota equipment out there helping us to build the racing tracks, so we contacted the guys at Kubota USA. They were already aware of our brand and were more than happy to help.
our farmer research partners, whose invaluable input and collaboration have helped us deliver innovative solutions that benefit the whole farming community.’
“Weeds love predictability.
“They love it when we do the same thing every year at about the same time.”
“Harvest weed seed control is awesome for late germinating weeds. The weeds will need to grow upright to get sunlight, so the seeds are high in the canopy, and they’ll be late set-
“The partnership was great because it meant we had even more equipment, so creating and maintaining all the tracks was easy.”
Tragically, Ken Block was killed in a snowmobile accident in Utah earlier this year. He was 55. His death sent shockwaves through the motorsport community. But according to Zac Mertens, his legacy lives on.
“Ken’s passing was just so sad. He was someone we just never thought could die,” Mertens says.
“He taught us to push harder and harder and always aim for perfection. ”
Later this year, Hoonigan will be launching a racing series in memory of their fearless leader, with Gymkhana Grid returning to the United States.
This year Kubota is coming on board to help provide the entertainment.
“We’re doing this in honour of Ken, so we
ting seed. This all improves the chances of getting the weeds seeds into the front of the header.”
For those who missed out on the initial release, there’s the opportunity to view the new platform at the 2023 Yorke Peninsula Field Day in South Australia.
Anyone looking to enquire about availability for the 2024 harvest, please contact your local Seed Terminator commercial manager seedterminator.com.au
have to go big and make a spectacle out of everything,” Mertens explains.
“In car racing, it’s inevitable there will be crashes, so I said, ‘Let’s get the skid steers out there, let’s use them to clean up, but also do stunts.
“We’re calling it the ‘Kubota Clean Up’. Basically it’s a stunt show based around the clean up using Kubota equipment.
“It’s been so great working with Kubota. There was no push back on the creative whatsoever, everyone is so supportive of what we do. It’s been very cool.”
Suddenly the drone of a drag car drowns out Zac’s voice. He laughs.
“Sorry guys, we got some pretty loud noises out the back.
“We work a lot, but we make it look like we don’t have jobs, because we’re just having so much fun.
“Today is no exception.”
A NEW ERA OF INSANE EFFICIENCY
Designed from the ground up to suit the latest combine harvesters, incorporating over a decade of learnings, this is the next generation of Seed Terminator. A global first, even our most avid believers didn’t think we could create a machine to handle upwards of 115 tonnes and hour. But we did. Welcome to the fleet X9. seedterminator.com.au
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RECORD-BREAKING TRACTOR PARADE PUTS NSW TOWN OF INVERELL ON GLOBAL STAGE
NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
TITLE FOR LARGEST PARADE OF FARMALL TRACTORS AS COMMUNITY HOSTS CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS.
Farmall tractor collectors from across the east coast of Australia have helped put the community of Inverell on the map with a turnout of dozens of Farmall tractors setting a new Guinness World Records title.
Over a weekend, Inverell hosted the centenary celebrations for the much-loved Case IH Farmall tractor, with tractor enthusiasts from across Australia bringing their tractors to the town to participate in two days of festivities.
On the Saturday, 110 Farmalls went 3.2km around the trotting track at the Inverell Showground, setting a new Guinness World Records title for the largest parade of Farmall tractors, with tractors from the 1930s right up to current model Farmalls participating in the record attempt.
Representatives from Guinness World Records were in Inverell for the attempt, with participants and onlookers erupting into celebrations when Guinness World Records adjudicator confirmed the record had been set.
Tom Horwood, an Inverell business operator who has been collecting tractors for more than 40 years, has dozens of vintage Farmalls in his collection, the oldest a Farmall Regular from the late 1920s. Tom was part of the record attempt and said he couldn’t have been prouder to be a part of it and have the record set in his home of Inverell.
“It was really exciting to be out there with so many other Farmall enthusiasts, and while we were hoping we could succeed in setting the record, you can never be sure, particularly when you’re dealing with so many vintage machines. So, when the adjudicator told us we’d done it, we were over the moon,” said Tom, who was behind the wheel of one of his Farmalls from 1929.
“For Case IH to select Inverell as the place to hold the 100th birthday celebrations for this amazing tractor is a great honour
CNHI MANAGING DIRECTOR BRANDON STANNETT AND GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS OFFICIAL ADJUDICATOR SONIA USHIROGOCHI, WHO TRAVELLED FROM JAPAN TO ATTEND THE RECORD ATTEMPT, WITH THE OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE MARKING THE RECORD SUCCESS.
for our community and it’s something I’ll always remember.”
Aaron Bett, general manager of Case IH Australia/New Zealand, said the adrenaline was running for all the participants as they started the record attempt.
“We always wanted to hold a very special celebration for our Farmall tractor, and the record success has really been the icing on the cake. The Inverell community, the council and the local business chamber have been so
generous with their assistance and support and have helped us make the Farmall centenary the memorable event we were aiming for,” Aaron said.
“This tractor really changed the face of global agriculture when it was launched in 1923 and has continued to evolve over the past 100 years to meet the demands and expectations of farmers here, and around
AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE FARMALL RECORD ATTEMPT AT THE INVERELL SHOWGROUND.
the world. We’re proud of the fact the celebrations in Inverell have honoured the Farmall’s incredible legacy in Australia and New Zealand and I thank everyone who has been involved.”
FERTILISER AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES LABELLING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
FERTILISER AUSTRALIA HAS LAUNCHED A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FERTILISER LABELLING. THE CAMPAIGN AIMS TO EDUCATE HORTICULTURAL GROWERS, INDUSTRY BODIES AND RURAL RETAILERS ON IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT LABELLING OF FERTILISERS AND THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT LABELLING.
The campaign will predominantly be rolled out through social media and direct communication over the coming months.
Stephen Annells, Fertiliser Australia’s executive manager, said that while fertiliser is critical to feed our growing population and minimise the amount of land used to grow food, recent supply chain restrictions caused by COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to products being sourced from markets that are unfamiliar with Australia’s labelling requirements.
WHY DO FERTILISERS NEED A LABEL?
Fertiliser labels contain vital information to help agronomists and farmers make decisions about nutrients for optimal crop yield and quality while caring for the environment and food safety.
While most fertilisers are not classified as dangerous goods, some products are scheduled poisons or hazardous substances. Labels provide this information so people who transport and handle the products stay safe.
Fertiliser labels also aid traceability which is a requirement of quality assurance schemes such as Freshcare.
WHAT SHOULD BE ON FERTILISER LABELS?
Agronomists and farmers use fertiliser labels to determine the best product to meet their needs. We call this the four Rs:
• Right nutrient or product
• Right rate
• Right application method
• Right timing.
“There have been cases where the quality of imported fertiliser has not matched the certificate of analysis provided by the supplier. In one case, cadmium levels far exceeded the maximum permissible concentration. In another, the ‘fertiliser’ appeared to be simply soil,” Stephen said.
and its concentration. Nutrients may only be included on the label if they meet or exceed the concentrations listed in the tables below.
That’s why it’s important that fertiliser labels are descriptive and include all relevant information, such as the plant nutrients contained in a fertiliser, the form of the nutrient Minimum nutrient concentrations in liquid fertilisers and soluble solids intended only for use in solution.
“Several of these consignments, primarily sold into the horticultural industry, had no labels. Some didn’t even have correct Safety Data Sheets or Certificates of Analysis.” While most fertilisers are not classified as dangerous goods, some products are scheduled poisons or hazardous substances.
Fertilisers can also contain contaminants which can accumulate in the food chain. Inorganic fertiliser labels should provide warnings on impurities when they exceed a ‘trigger concentration.’ These contaminants include cadmium, lead, mercury, fluorine and biuret. For impurities of concern, maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) have been set. It is often impossible to know if poorly labelled products exceed MPCs without chemical analysis of the product.
SO, WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
There have been cases where the quality of imported fertiliser has not matched the certificate of analysis provided by the supplier. In one case, cadmium levels far exceeded the maximum permissible concentration. In another, the ‘fertiliser’ appeared to be simply soil. Usually, these issues are managed by the manufacturer’s and importer’s QA systems which includes sampling and analysis of the product.
Fertiliser Australia members are required to have QA systems in place, as well as labelling that meets the National Code of Practice for Fertiliser Description & Labelling. This means you can purchase fertiliser product from Fertilizer Australia members with confidence. You can find the National Code of Practice for Fertiliser Description and Labelling at https://bit.ly/3zfFHWk
Labels provide this information so people transporting and handling the products stay safe.
“The danger of incorrect or no labelling is particularly concerning for the horticultural industry, as some fertilisers can contain impurities that risk plant health, human health, and food safety,” said Stephen.
“In horticulture, fertiliser labels also aid
traceability, a requirement of quality assurance schemes such as Freshcare.
“Our goal over the next 12 months is to inform growers, advisors and fertiliser retailers about what information should be on a label and the consequences to themselves, their staff, their produce and their land, of not knowing what’s in the fertiliser.
“To help guide industry best practice, we
have worked closely with Australian states to develop the National Code of Practice for Fertiliser Description and Labelling, which is available on the Fertiliser Australia website.
“Fertiliser Australia members must have QA systems and labelling that meet this National Code of Practice so you can purchase fertiliser products from Fertiliser Australia members with confidence.”
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A LIFE IN THE CLOUDS
AERIAL SPREADING AND SPRAYING BUSINESS, OTWAY HELICOPTERS, TURNS TO KUBOTA FOR BEST RESULTS.
Childhood sweethearts turned local business power couple Rob and Sandy Martin are helping Warrnambool farmers get the best out of their crop, by taking to the skies.
Using the latest technologies through their aerial spreading and spraying business, Otway Helicopters, the pair help farmers to avoid damage to pastures and soil to deliver the best results.
Seated behind the controls of his helicopter, Rob Martin hovers above Southwest Victoria’s rolling green hills, day in, day out.
“We use a Eurocopter AS350 B2 Squirrel, which is a single-engine light utility helicopter. It’s not just a passenger helicopter, it’s a real work horse and built to lift,” Rob said.
A seasoned pilot, Rob has spread urea and fertiliser blends over some of the nation’s most productive farmland.
“The main reason farmers use us is because they don’t want to do any damage when taking tractors through their pastures,” Rob said.
“It’s a wet climate in the Western District of Victoria so there’s a lot of rain in the wintertime, meaning softer ground. If you send a tractor through that paddock to spread fertiliser, you’re looking at damage to the soil from wheel marks and an overall loss of production. Aerial spreading takes that completely out of the equation.”
The pair have known each other nearly their entire lives. Growing up on neighbouring properties, agriculture runs through their blood.
“We were both raised on dairy farms in the
same district. I always knew I wanted to work in agriculture, so I left school at 15 and did just that,” Rob said.
The pair briefly went their separate ways when Sandy’s family went up north to work on cattle stations.
But it wasn’t long until they were reunited when Rob found himself working on the same cattle station as Sandy in his early twenties.
What began as a childhood friendship soon blossomed into romance.
“I got called up to do helicopter work, looking for lost cattle in the red gum country, which was for Sandy’s boss. I guess it was fate,” Rob said.
“Our lives rekindled and we moved back down south, got married and started a family together.”
The couple returned to familiar territory, starting a dairy farm in Victoria’s Southwest. But life on the land comes with its share of hardship.
“We worked in the dairy industry for about a decade but the drought at the time almost finished us off, it was so tough,” Rob said.
With two young children, Rob and Sandy were determined to find a steady income. Armed with a helicopter licence and a lifetime of farming expertise, the pair took a punt in 1997 and started Otway Helicopters.
“We pretty much got the bug for it and went in, boots and all. We decided if we were going to do it, we were going to do it properly,” Sandy said.
And they did. Otway Helicopters has serviced Victorian farms from the skies for the past 26 years.
“It’s work that requires lots of co-ordination, something we’ve worked on for years. These helicopters are expensive to run, so we’ve got to make sure everything is in place,” Rob said.
While Rob takes care of business in the clouds, his wife Sandy manages operations from below, ensuring everything is where it needs to be.
“In the morning we send the trucks filled with fertiliser off to the farms we are servicing that day. Then we need to transfer the fertiliser into the bucket that will hang from
the helicopter. It has to be the exact amount required per hectare, so it’s really important we get it right,” Sandy said.
“When Rob flies in we have everything ready to go. We use a ‘hook and go’ solution so it’s a quick turnaround from landing to take off.”
Helping keep the job on track is Rob and Sandy’s arsenal of Kubota machinery.
“We were using old and slow machinery to shift the fertiliser into the buckets and it was slowing down our work,” Sandy said.
“Our friends down at AgriMac Warrnambool convinced us using the latest technologies would be the best investment for our operations and overall business,” Rob said.
iCONFIGURE
Creating a bespoke control experience for every operator iCONNECT
Redefining operation through new driveline software
AG LEADER HELPS PERFECT THE TURN WITH TURNPATH
PRECISION AGRICULTURE
TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, AG LEADER, HAS INTRODUCED A NEW ‘HANDS FREE’ TURNING OPTION TO ITS INDUSTRY-LEADING GUIDANCE AND STEERING SYSTEMS.
The aptly-named TurnPath system provides fully automatic, precise and repeatable end-of-row turning from either straight or curved guidance patterns.
PASSES BE EASILY SKIPPED IF
DESIRED.
Ag Leader sales manager – Asia Pacific, Douglas Amos, says the new function optimises turning accuracy and efficiency.
“Every farmer in Australia can relate to the frustration of turning machinery and large implements around at headlands,” he says.
“You have to disengage the autosteer system, take back the steering wheel, shut down and disengage the implement, make the turn, line up the next pass and then re-engage the implement.
“You need just about two sets of hands to manage everything.
“TurnPath makes turning completely ‘hands-free’, so the operator can focus on other tasks.”
Douglas says the technology has been suc-
cessfully tested on more than 60 different machines across four continents.
“Ag Leader’s goal has always been to make farming easier and TurnPath is a good example of that,” he says.
“It’s easy to set up, it’s easy to use, it performs consistently and it works seamlessly across your entire fleet.”
TurnPath will be available as a one-time unlock option through the InCommand display from November 2023 onwards.
A FREE DEMONSTRATION IS AVAILABLE.
To take advantage of TurnPath, the machine must be equipped with a SteerCommand Z2 or SteadySteer system in combination with an InCommand 1200, InCommand 800 & InCommand 800 Guidance Only display.
Any correction source can be used, although the best results are achieved with TerraStar-C Pro or RTK.
Ag Leader is offering up to $6000 trade-in on legacy equipment for SteerCommand packages, including an InCommand 1200 display and your choice of TerraStar-C Pro or RTK guidance signal purchased before 30
September 2023.
“SteerCommand Z2 is a completely integrated guidance system that utilises CAN, integrated steering or external hydraulic valves, while SteadySteer is an assisted system that mounts to your steering wheel,” Douglas says.
“InCommand 1200 is an all-in-one, isobus-compatible display that controls a range of precision planting, spraying, harvesting and decision support systems.
“This high definition, low-glare 30 cm touchscreen display has built-in lightbar guidance, four camera inputs and splitscreen capability.
“It has wireless connectivity that allows you to sync and share guidance lines, coverage maps, live statistics, yield information and satellite imagery with other connected machines and remote devices.
“In combination, installing a SteerCommand and InCommand system are the first steps towards improving the efficiency of all your cropping operations.
“Talk to your local Ag Leader dealer about how you can switch-out or upgrade your existing equipment to take full advantage of TurnPath and this offer.”
“I was reluctant to try out a new piece of equipment at the time, to be honest, but they were a massive support in finding the right machinery and after the first day we were hooked. Having the Kubota track loaders has made our operations flow and we can move from farm to farm quicker.
“Damo and the AgriMac team have given us so much guidance with setting up the equipment, and the ongoing support to maintain our machinery has been incredible. They’ve taken the hassle out of it all.”
“They also showed us how to use the Kubota technology to weigh the exact amount of fertiliser required per hectare. It’s helped us get the highest yields and best results for our clients,” Sandy added.
Like the thousands of pastures the pair have tended to over the years, Rob and Sandy pride themselves on their growth.
“We’ve worked with some of the same families since the very beginning. We’ve seen their kids grow up and they’ve seen ours. But we have also been fortunate enough to work with new clients and we hope that continues,” Sandy said.
For Rob and Sandy, they pride themselves on being a family-owned and operated business. As they continue to support Victoria’s Western District agricultural community, they will continue to rely on their tight-knit team and trusted Kubota machinery.
by the books –A NEW START
THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY CAN TAKE ON MANY DIFFERENT FORMS. FOR JASON TURNEY IT WAS AN OLD QUAD BIKE SITTING OUT IN THE GRASS ON HIS NEIGHBOUR’S PROPERTY SEVEN YEARS AGO.
“It was buggered,” he recalls.
Even so, he parted with $500, hooked up a spray tank his father-in-law had given him and decided to have a go at spot spraying on local cattle farms around the Moura area where he and wife Kristie lived in central Queensland.
Working in the local coal mines at the time, this was the second time he and Kristie had attempted to get a foot in the door with agricultural contracting.
They had already learnt the hard way how bruising it can be to get a new business venture off the ground, especially if you don’t have many assets or have a guarantor to back you up.
Both from farming backgrounds, with Kristie off a cattle farm and Jason a small crop and cattle farm, Kristie was working in the mines while Jason had been working on a local farm, when they first met.
While he loved his work, the pay wasn’t very good and it
THE “BUGGERED” $500 QUAD SPOT SPRAYER.
wasn’t long before Jason joined Kristie and started working in the mines as a dragline operator. While they both appreciated the higher income, mining wasn’t a good fit for either of them. It bothered Kristie to see good farming land dug up while Jason missed farm life.
“I hated it from day one,” he says.
Now with a young family, in 2014 they decided to seriously
pursue agricultural contracting and applied for a bank loan to buy a spray rig and get started. Having spent a good week working through the paperwork and putting together a business plan to go with the lending application, Kristie and Jason
THE NEW JOHN DEERE 8R 340 PLANTING THE 2023 CHICKPEA CROP.
spraying on his days off from the mine.
were crushed when the bank turned them down flat. It was a humiliating experience for them.
“They basically laughed at us,” says Kristie.
It was a couple of years later that Jason brought the old quad home and talked to Kristie about having a go at spot
It would have to be a family effort as Kristie was now at home with small children and would have to do the hard yards with them largely by herself.
After eight months of struggle as they progressively saw less and less of each other, they managed to get a newer Polaris quad through the business, Nitro Farming.
By then, the kids weren’t seeing much of their Dad and Kristie
would often pack a picnic so they could go out to where he was spraying to see him.
While their previous experience with the bank had been unpleasant, it had shown them what they needed to do to prove they were serious about their business, knowing they couldn’t get it off the ground properly without borrowing for the bigger equipment they would need.
“We had to get our books up,” says Kristie. “The banks wouldn’t touch us until we had 12
months’ worth of books.”
Jason was putting in all the hours he could and they were saving hard.
An old 1993 model EZZ truck bought for $3000 at auction joined the ranks and, while they had a soft spot for it, it certainly challenged them.
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THE TURNEY FAMILY, KRISTIE, SLADE, LYNESSA, CHEVELLE AND JASON.
JASON TEACHING SLADE TO DRIVE THE CHASER BIN DURING SORGHUM HARVEST 2021.
It was a big moment, but the realities of finding large scale contract spraying work during a drought soon became apparent.
“It was a wild old truck,” says Jason. “The wiring was all buggered in it and the lights kept carking it.”
Each job they’d have to hook up an old camping solar panel on the batteries to keep them lively enough or find a power point to plug the charger into so they had lights to get home.
Then, out of the blue, Jason got a call from someone who was selling their sprayer - a second hand self-propelled S4730 John Deere – asking if they wanted to buy it.
They were nervous about approaching the bank again after what had happened with their first effort, especially as there was a drought on. But, armed with their business accounts, they headed back to the bank. With Jason selling his cut down 105 Series Landcruiser ute for the deposit, the bank came to the party.
AN EARLY MORNING FISH WHILE WAITING FOR GRAIN TO DRY DOWN TO GET HARVESTING.
“Initially it sat there and we couldn’t get any work for it. But eventually it started raining again and everything took off, so broad acre spraying got under way,” says Jason.
Now, with too much work on his hands, Jason finished up at the mines.
Scrimping and making do continued as did days which then turned into weeks when Kirstie and the kids didn’t see Jason at all.
“The first couple of years I would be out by myself sleeping in the truck. I’d work until the wind dropped, then get a couple hours sleep before the wind would be up again and I’d be spraying again. I virtually lived in the back of the truck and would be away two months at a time.”
Five years ago, they had bought a brand-new John Deere 4038 sprayer and with Jason away so much, Kristie and the children moved 15km west, closer to where a lot of the contracting work was happening around the Rolleston/Orion area in the Central Highlands region.
But, with another drought the following year, spraying work again dropped off.
With the backup of the mining job long gone, it was clear they needed to diversify the contracting.
With the purchase of a John Deere 9770 header, this was the first year Jason starting contract harvesting to get them through the dry times, and began travelling – joining the annual wheat harvest cavalcade that sees contractors working their way south from Queensland in October, down through New South Wales and into Victoria a few months later, following the wheat as it comes ready to harvest.
This was a new learning experience for Jason with the crops in
Queensland different to those in NSW.
Some varieties of wheat are different there, with the cooler climate seeming to really lock them into the husks a lot more, making them harder to thresh. This saw more setting up of the machine needed.
But there were pluses too. When it rained further south,
2023 SORGHUM AT ROLLESTON. LYNESSA, CHEVELLE, SLADE AND (THE DASHING LITTLE HOUND) HANK.
HARVEST AT DIRRANBANDI SW QLD 2022 SEASON.
CHEVELLE ATTENDING CLASSES ON THE ROAD.
you could be harvesting the next afternoon, while in Central Queensland you could be out of action for five days, he reckons.
The time spent apart for the family, since moving into contracting, has seen Kristie and Jason very protective of the time they have together and with their children Lynessa now 11, Chevelle, 10, and nine-year-old Slade.
This has seen them invest in a 21-foot-long caravan so the whole family can travel south together during the wheat harvest.
With three bunks at the back, a big bed at the front and a bathroom, the kids love it, says Jason, although he admits the first year was a bit miserable as it rained virtually the whole time.
Uprooting the kids isn’t as big an issue as it might be for some families as they are home schooled by necessity anyway, with a well-equipped school room at home.
The Rolleston area is about four hours from the coast, and quite isolated. The village at its heart has a population of just a few hundred people. While Emerald is much larger, with a population of around 20,000, it is two hour’s drive away. It’s here that Jason goes for parts for his equipment and when bigger shopping is needing to be done.
It can make for some interesting conversations when people say just ‘pop into your local
OUR CARAVAN, 3 KIDS AND HANK HEADING SOUTH FOR HARVEST 2023.
branch to pick something up’, says Kristie.
When on the road, books and computers are spread from one end of the caravan to the other, Kristie reckons, with a whiteboard pen on the tractor window.
“There are phone boosters and hot spotting computers to phones to attend classes on the road, in paddocks or parks in the towns we are passing through.”
Lynessa attends high school through the Crimson Global Academy - an online school based in New Zealand, while Chevelle attends CDE, the online Centre for Distance Education, and Slade is registered with HEU – the Home Education Unit, so one remote classroom is simply swapped for another on the road.
Camping as they travel has become a real adventure for the kids. Along the way they get to swim and fish in the streams and rivers and see some of the local sights. Places, like the opal fields, they would be unlikely to ever visit from home.
One of the girls got a drone for an early Christmas present last year and happily spent some of her time flying around with the drone and taking videos of the headers as they were working.
The wheat harvest is a pretty
stressful time for farmers and contractors alike with long hours spent in the cab, Jason reckons. Having his family close eases that pressure and brings some normality back to life on the road.
The harvest also allows him to see parts of the country he wouldn’t see otherwise and gives him the opportunity to see how different farmers run their operations.
Being able to see first-hand
OUR FIRST HARVESTER JOHN DEERE 9770 STS HARVESTING WHEAT 2021 CQ.
JASON AND SLADE WITH THE JOHN DEERE S680 HARVESTER.
which farm systems work better than others and being able to incorporate that into his other contracting work means the kids are not the only ones gaining knowledge from life on the road.
He’s met some real characters over the relatively short time he’s been contracting, Jason reckons, and made some wise farming friends who lift him up when things may seem a bit tough.
Kristie has also met some interesting characters, including one farmer who scared the life out of her after spotting some wild pigs in the paddock they were harvesting. Driving the chaser
2022 HARVEST TEAM
ENJOYING A LAUGH AND A BEER AT THE END OF THE DAY.
bin, Kirstie was out of contact with Jason in the header, when she was suddenly confronted by the farmer waving his gun out the side window of his ute beside her, and thought she was going to get shot at.
Aside from that drama, many of the clients they contract for also seem to gain from socialising with them Jason reckons, especially when harvesting.
Some of the older farmers live in very isolated areas, may never have married or had children, and so can lead fairly solitary lives. While it may take them a little while to warm up, they seem to enjoy a good yarn and spending time with his family and the crew.
One concern they have had in recent years is the increase in the number of people contracting - especially with headers for
harvest. Initially the pair thought they were contractors like themselves, but it seems they are often farmers who have bought headers for their own use and are sending their sons out to drive them and pick up some work to help pay for them.
While that may make good sense to them, they don’t have the same high costs as the actual contractors and this is seeing them under cutting the long-term contractors, they say.
The farmers can go into a job and charge less as they don’t have the same outputs, says Kristie.
Insurance is one area they say is much tougher on professional contractors.
“Insurance wise, farmers can harvest up to 100 km from home under their farm insurance. While we pay $6000 a month
JOHN DEERE S680 UNLOADING WHEAT INTO THE CHASER BIN, MOURA CQ
2022.
in insurance, for harvesting, spraying, planting and liability, the farmers doing contract harvesting are paying $2,500 a month.”
Slade has turned into a little farmer and seems to be the youngster most likely to want to stay with the business and the lifestyle, they reckon.
He can drive a header already and Jason can see him wanting to join the business as soon as he’s 18. But there will be a plan B option for him should he be keen - an apprenticeship will come first.
As much as anything you need to know how to fix your own equipment this far from the service centres, Jason says. You can’t have the machinery down for two hours waiting for the mechanic to turn up, then wait another four hours while they drive back to town and return with the parts.
Where things will head in the future, Jason and Kristie aren’t certain. Ideally, they’d like to own their own farm and are happy with their decision to start their own business.
“We have a great life, full of adventure although sometimes a little chaotic. We do what we love and we love what we do,” says Jason.
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future-proofing FOR
THE NEXT BIG DRY
JAMES WRIGHT HAS A SPECIAL INTEREST IN FUTURE-PROOFING THE SHEEP STATIONS HE MANAGES AND MAKING THEM MORE RESILIENT TO CLIMATE SWINGS.
With a degree in natural resource management and having long been involved with sustainable land use, bringing a more academic approach to farm management and now carbon farming has been a natural progression.
Watching the land thrive under the management changes needed to gain carbon credits - as an additional revenue stream for the business - is particularly rewarding.
“This is a dream come true for me,” he says.
During the 10 years he has worked in various management roles with the Paroo Pastoral company, James has had his work cut out for him at times. Now, as general manager, he is looking at future-proofing the business in a warming climate.
Paroo Pastoral owns 12 station properties clustered around Upper Western New South
HEIDI AND JAMES WRIGHT HAVE CARVED OUT CAREERS IN DIFFERENT AREA’S OF AGRICULTURE.
Wales, Buckleboo Station on the Eyre Peninsula and Gundooee in Upper South East of South Australia. The farms cover around 1,250,000 acres with a variety of soil types, contours, and rain fall. Dorper sheep are the mainstay of the business with smaller numbers of merino sheep and cattle.
When they moved into a drought, not long after James joined the management team, the focus had been on feeding their livestock.
“Feed was bought from all over the place. Victoria, NSW we even got some from Queensland. We carted thousands of tonnes of feed and that got us through,” he says.
But that strategy came at a cost.
“Though we retained a lot of
MERINO SHEEP THRIVE ON TONGO STATION IN NSW DURING NORMAL YEARS.
livestock, it took its toll on the balance sheet and the staff. We reviewed our whole process and decided we wouldn’t do that again.”
So, toward the end of the drought, the company bought the 3100-acre Gundooee station near the town of Meningie - a higher rainfall area in South Australia.
Gently undulating and quite sandy, the farm was good dry land lucerne country and retained patches of native scrub. While the much hardier dorpers - bred for harsh conditions - stayed on the stations in NSW, the less robust merino sheep and cattle were moved here for the remainder of the drought.
“We ended up with a good range about six months after purchasing that property. It allowed us to spell the country. We allowed it to really recover and, six months after the rain returned, moved the other stock back onto it.”
Since then, older merino ewes are now moved onto Gundooee station for their last lambing. After mating, pregnant ewes are retained, with the resulting lambs fattened on the property and the ewes sold.
Annual pasture of ryegrass, some barley and legumesarrowleaf clover and medic - are sown into the lucerne to give early winter feed for lambing ewes.
It’s good land and it could be tempting to build a top-quality business on the property, he reckons, running Suffolk or Bor-
der Leicester ewes. But, while they utilise the property, its main function is as a backstop during future droughts.
“By running old ewes, we can sacrifice that part of the business in a drought, as they’d be the first ones to be sent off anyway.”
When they bought Gundooee station, a containment feeding lot was developed that can feed 6000 sheep with a feed wagon. In drought, young ewes from their NSW farms can now be brought here.
While pleased with this strategy, it is dipping his toes into
carbon farming on another property that has James most excited about future-proofing and is seeing him bring in changes across the entire business.
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AROUND 6000 EWES CAN BE CONTAINMENT FED ON GUNDOOEE STATION.
ROTATIONAL GRAZING ALLOWS WEEDS AND TREES TO GROW, SEQUESTERING CARBON AND EARNING CARBON CREDITS.
During the drought, while they had plenty of feed, there were serious problems with water on the 250,000-acre Buckleboo Station on the Eyre Peninsula –near the Gawler Ranges in South Australia. Solely running dorpers
on this property, they resorted to carting town supply water to get through.
“Another revenue stream would have enabled us to reduce stock numbers and still have cash flow through that dry time.”
That alternative revenue stream is now within reach. While it took a couple of years to get their confidence up and get organised, James says they are close to gaining their first carbon credit units.
This has been achieved by
changing the management of this property from an historic model of leaving sheep permanently in a single, although very large, paddock, to a rotational grazing system. This change will now see carbon sequestered by allowing scrubland and trees to regenerate and grow larger.
While rotational grazing is common in high rainfall areas, in the pastoral landscape sheep generally stay in the same paddock. This is hard on pasture, trees and
shrubs as they are constantly grazed, repressing growth.
“Most of these paddocks are now getting 18 months rest, which is allowing a full cycle for trees, saltbush and grasses to seed and get growing with a chance to regenerate to a size where they can withstand grazing, and sequester carbon as they continue to grow past that vulnerable size.”
Regulated through the federal government, the carbon programme needs vegetation to reach over 2m in height to be eligible for credits, he says.
“I’ve seen incredible regeneration of the pastures since making this change. Grassland - everything just taking off. A mob of around 6000 sheep are now going into very good pasture every three months. We have had very good rain but, if we went into a drought, you would have 12 months up your sleeve where you can make some really good management decisions.”
WITH HIGHER RAINFALL GUNDOOEE STATION IN SA IS A BACKSTOP IN DROUGHT.
AI CARBON DOING BASELINE DATA
COLLECTION ON BUCKLEBOO STATION ON THE EYRE PENINSULA SA.
James is so impressed by the results, all of the company’s NSW farms now have registered carbon projects on them, although they are 12 months behind Buckleboo Station.
“The project’s life is 25 years, and they can bring a pretty good estimate of what it’s going to bring as another income steam. That gives resilience in times of extreme events,” he says.
“You know, if you look after your land, what you’re doing with the carbon sequestration and pastoral grazing is completely complimentary to your business, with the banks viewing it as a positive thing.
“We know if we come into a dry time, we can off load say seventy percent of our sheep, just keeping our youngest and best. We will keep them in the rotation and the properties will be supported by the carbon income.”
Instead of being very stressful, drought times can now become maintenance times where they
can focus on things like staff training, he says.
“The cash flow from the carbon would be generous enough we can be doing above and beyond what you’d do in a normal pasture year – while in a drought.”
While the carbon project won’t be viable for some stations fur-
ther north where the land is more open and there aren’t the native weeds, for their farms James reckons the carbon project is going to be a very profitable enterprise.
“It’s going to far outweigh anything we could have made with livestock.”
The company goes through carbon development company AI Carbon who do all the groundwork establishing a baseline for the property at the start of the project as well as dealing through the carbon markets each year taking a 25 per cent portion of the profits as their fee. At the current carbon price of $37 per tonne, AI Carbon estimate the Buckleboo station could be worth roughly $40 million over the next 25 years.
While nothing to be sneezed at, part of James’ enthusiasm comes down to predictions the carbon price is likely to increase substantially over the next few years as large-scale mining companies seek to offset their emissions ahead of the Australian government’s 2030 deadline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 43% below 2005 levels.
Being involved with Paroo Pastoral and the carbon markets is a long way from where James first started out in agriculture after leaving school and doing a three-month certificate course in stock and station management in Katherine, north Queensland. Here, he became friends with Heidi Dennis.
After the course, the two went
CATTLE LIKE THESE NSW HEIFERS WILL BE MOVED ONTO GUNDOOEE STATION DURING DROUGHT.
their separate ways. James to work on a cattle station north of Alice Springs while Heidi went to work at Cape York in northern Queensland. But they stayed in touch and became pen pals for nine months.
With no internet, sending and receiving letters made them special.
“Mail only came once a week, so it was a nice surprise if there was a letter,” he says. Their relationship began to
MUSTERING ON BUCKLEBOO STATION.
blossom as they both went on to university.
James’ degree was in natural resource management while Heide did a double degree in marketing and management, spending her last year in the United States. Having won a three-month scholarship through a stud Angus society while at university, James joined her there working on ranches for the year. Having really enjoyed their time in the US, they returned for another year in California and even considered settling there.
A job with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Canberra, through a graduate programme, came up for James and they both moved to Canberra.
Though in different spheres, this saw their agricultural
careers get underway. James’ roles went more towards his degree area of natural resource management – so he was working in sustainable ag for most of their four years there, while Heidi worked as a media and communications officer for the cattle council of Australia and the sheep council of Australia. Having enjoyed the lifestyle at Katherine when they had been there previously, the pair headed back there when they decided they needed a change.
Again in communications, Heidi worked for the Department of Primary Industries while James began working with indigenous ranger groups, pastoralists and land care groups, rolling out different grants and funding programmes as the regional coordinator with the Natural
Resource Management group for the northern territory. Covering around a third of the northern territory, it was a very busy and hands on job for him.
Though they loved the fishing and camping and had made good friends, with Heidi now expecting their first child and James’ work now more of a maintenance role with the projects, they decided to head back to South Australia where they both came from, to be closer to family.
Not long after James and Heidi first met, Heidi’s father Ray invested in some farming operations in western NSW - the Paroo Pastoral company. Not a farmer himself, the stations have always been managed. It was onto one of these stations - Yantabangee –that James and Heidi settled.
Here Heidi started her own business, Wright Social, an agriculture marketing company working in social media which she was able to run from home.
James meanwhile found himself in unfamiliar territory having never worked seriously with sheep before. So, he started at the bottom as a senior station hand and learnt the ropes.
After three years, he’d learnt a lot about the stations and how they worked, although he hadn’t managed to incorporate much of his sustainable land use knowledge.
Needing more of a challenge, the pair moved to Adelaide to consider their next roles.
The move off the station ultimately saw James stay with the company but move into an office-based management role. When they moved into drought and the general manager fin-
ished up, James took over the role, managing the company remotely – the type of challenge he thrived on.
It saw a lot of traveling, supporting staff and finding feed for the animals.
James, Heidi and their two
children – George, 9, and seven-year-old Kianna - live just outside of Adelaide and James is still away for about a week each month with business.
Heidi has several employees and contractors who work with her – all remotely. And while
she’s not involved with the family business at all, James is grateful for her support with the time he spends away, so he can be.
The kids get to visit the farm during the holidays, with George keen on being out on a motorbike. Some of the creeks and riv-
ers are big enough to put a boat in and there’s plenty of fishing. While they may not be farm kids, George and Kianna know what’s on the property and where their food comes from, which is important to both James and Heidi.
PREGNANCY SCANNING OF MERINO EWES ON TONGO STATION NSW.
Acrusin Multipack
passion for farming and people
DRIVE NORTHLAND CONTRACTING BUSINESS
YOUNG NORTHLAND CONTRACTOR
EDEN VULETICH SAYS, LIKE MOST KIDS WHO GROW UP ON A FARM, HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT AGRICULTURE, BUSINESS AND HELPING PEOPLE.
After finishing high school, Eden spent a few seasons doing long hours (including two seasons working on farms in the Western Australian Wheatbelt) to build up capital. In 2017 he went into a 50/50 partnership with his parents, Warren and Diane Vuletich, to establish Vuletich Contracting Ltd.
He says they started off small, but they have big ambitions to grow and they have set themselves goals to achieve.
of Whangarei and northeast of Dargaville.
“We are very central to all of the Northland districts –Whangarei, Kaipara and the Far North. We provide services to a range of clients, from large scale dairy farms right down to small, 10-acre lifestyle blocks.
“Our client base has steadily grown over the last five years. The ongoing support we receive
THE CONVENTIONAL BALER IS FLAT OUT DURING SUMMER, MAINLY ON LIFESTYLE BLOCKS.
from our farmers has been critical to our success so far. Service is everything,” Eden says.
Vuletich Contracting offers a wide range of services. These include spraying, cultivation,
across ditch the
“We found that we were struggling to get contractors in when we needed them, so we could see there was an opportunity to get into contracting. We started off with a round baler and a conventional baler and it has just kept growing from there.”
PROFILED IN NZ’S RURAL CONTRACTOR & LARGE SCALE FARMER APRIL/MAY 2023, WE VISIT VULETICH CONTRACTING IN NORTHLAND, NEW ZEALAND.
Vuletich Contracting is based on the family farm in the Mangakahia Valley, which is northwest
ONE OF THE DIRECT DRILLS THAT VULETICH CONTRACTING USES FOR AUTUMN PASTURE RENOVATION IS A DUNCAN ENVIRO DD30.
THE 2023 VULETICH CONTRACTING CREW
(FROM LEFT): WARREN VULETICH, EDEN VULETICH, JACOB HIBBERT, JAMES MACARTHUR, AND ZARA VULETICH.
direct drilling, mulching, round and conventional bales of silage and hay, fencing and feed sales. They also have a partnership with their long-time employee Jacob Hibbert to make bulk silage with a loader wagon.
Vuletich Contracting now employs four full-time staff and takes on two or three seasonal operators from September to Christmas to help with the peak period of planting crops and making silage.
“We lease a bit of land to grow grass silage, maize and hay for our clients to purchase. We bring in beef cattle for winter grazing, then on-sell them in early spring in time to shut up the pasture paddocks for silage.
“By doing this along with
repairs and maintenance in the workshop, fencing, delivering feed, spraying, and general farm labour we can keep our team of employees and myself employed over the winter.” Eden says.
Warren was a mechanic before he and Diane went farming in 2002. His skills come in very handy for keeping the machinery running.
MACHINERY
Vuletich Contracting runs a fleet of Deutz-Fahr tractors, and Eden says, in his opinion, they are good value for money and quite efficient to run, especially considering the price of fuel at the moment.
They currently have seven Deutz-Fahrs. They include models from the 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series and they extend from 100 hp up to 250 hp. Most have been bought second-hand as the Vuletich family has made it a priority to add more implements to the business to expand its range of services.
“We have trialled different
brands over the years, but we have found that the Deutz engine has the best fuel economy. We also appreciate the support we get from Power Farming in Whangarei,” Eden says.
The bigger tractors in the fleet are used to run the double mowers and the McHale Fusion combi baler.
Both of company’s round balers are McHale. One is a fixed chamber McHale Fusion 3+ baler-wrapper and the other is a McHale F5500, which is also fixed chamber.
“The two balers are identical, but the F5500 doesn't have the wrapper on the back. We use it to do baling on hills and we have a small McHale wrapper that we can take with us for those jobs. We try to keep the Fusion on the flatter ground.”
All of Vuletich Contracting’s grass harvesting tools – rakes, mowers and tedders – are Claas.
“We have always run Claas mowers. We have had a good run with Claas, and Claas Harvest Centre does a good job looking
AND HIS
after all our grass harvesting gear.”
Last year they added a Strautmann Super Vitesse loader wagon to their fleet. Jacob Hibbert bought it second hand and runs it as an owner-operator.
“Bulk silage is a small part of the business at the moment, but it is something we are planning to get into more. The way things are going, with the rising cost of plastic and the difficulty disposing of it, bulk silage may be the way to go for some of our clients and when it is, we want to be able to offer them that service.
“It also gives Jacob a stake in the business and he is looking to buy his own tractor to run the Strautmann,” Eden says.
Another brand of equipment Eden likes is Amazone. The busi-
EDEN (LEFT)
FATHER WARREN VULETICH. FROM THEIR BASE IN MANGAKAHIA VALLEY, THEY LOOK AFTER FARMERS THROUGHOUT NORTHLAND.
VULETICH CONTRACTING RUNS TWO FIXED CHAMBER MCHALE BALERS, A FUSION 3+ BALER-WRAPPER AND A F5500.
ness runs Amazone power harrows, spreaders and an Amazone three-point linkage mounted sprayer with a 15-metre boom.
The sprayer has automatic section control as well as automatic rate and boom height control. It is an ISOBUS machine and Vuletich Contracting runs it with Topcon GPS.
“Our Amazone sprayer does a great job and we can save money for our farmers on chemicals because we are not wasting any by overlapping or worse yet missing areas. We can also supply our proof of placement maps to our clients for their records.”
They use the sprayer to spray out pasture in preparation for planting crops with either direct drill or full cultivation. They also
spray for a range of insect, weed and disease control, clean up pasture, and do pre- and postemergence spraying on maize crops.
Two direct drills cover the autumn pasture renovation and a portion of the spring crop planting. They are a Duncan Enviro DD30 and a Kuhn SD3000.
Both are disc drills that provide accurate seed placement with minimal soil disturbance. They can also apply slug bait and a starter fert in the one pass.
Eden says agricultural machinery is ever changing and getting more technical.
“I find it very exciting. I can see things becoming much more automated over time. Three of our tractors are all GPS, auto-
VULETICH CONTRACTING USES A FLEET OF SEVEN DEUTZFAHR TRACTORS TO RUN ITS MANY GRASS HARVESTING AND CROP ESTABLISHMENT TOOLS.
WITH ALL THE RAIN NORTHLAND HAS HAD THIS YEAR, VULETICH CONTRACTING HAS KEPT BALING LATER IN THE SEASON THAN IT WOULD IN A TYPICAL YEAR.
steered and auto-turn. It helps minimise fatigue on long days and lets us focus more on the quality of the job rather than steering in a straight line.
“Our new baler now has on-board moisture monitoring and scales. It takes the guess work out of the equation when doing feed budgets for our clients.”
While the machinery is all doing a good job, there is always room for improvement. Eden is always looking to see what he can do better.
The business now uses a job and GPS system from FarmBackup. It eliminates paper job sheets, records all job details and records effective time worked, travel time, preparation time,
breaks downtime, all from a smartphone app.
It prompts a prestart safety check, and then if the operator has any maintenance or safety concerns, it sends an alert back to the office. It then generates invoices based on the data it has recorded, which saves time because no data entry is required.
SEASONS
Spraying and cropping usually starts late September; as the grass starts to grow the team prepares for the busy period ahead. A wet start to the 2021 season meant the work was off to a much later start than normal and there was an overlap with all of the cropping and silage work.
ALONG WITH BALING, THE SERVICES VULETICH CONTRACTING PROVIDES INCLUDE CULTIVATION, DIRECT DRILLING, SPRAYING, AND FENCING.
picking up the pieces after gabrielle
Although it caused the worst flooding Eden Vuletich has ever seen in Northland, his family was not badly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
“Some of the kumara growers around Dargaville lost 60 or 70 percent of their crop, and we had floods on some farms in places they did not even know could get flooded.”
The Vuletich Contracting team got stuck in and helped out local dairy and beef farmers who were affected.
“Initially the ground was too wet to use tractors or equipment so our crew was helping clear debris and repair fences using chainsaws, fencing tools, and our post rammer.
“A lot of grass paddocks have been damaged by flooding, so when it dries out and gets closer to autumn we will be helping out with pasture renovation for anyone who needs it. Our direct drills can undersow with minimal soil disturbance, which is good for the pasture that has survived.”
Eden says the company’s balers still have lots of work to do as well. During the dry seasons that Northland has had for the past three or four years, they usually finish baling in mid-January.
With all the wet weather the region has had this year the grass was still growing in February and he expected to still be making hay and silage for some time yet.
ALONG
WITH THEIR CONTRACTING
WORK, THE VULETICH FAMILY SELLS FEED TO FARMERS IN THE NORTH.
“We managed to get it all done in the end but it wasn’t easy. It all happened at once; there is normally some overlap spreading out the workload but it didn’t work out like that.
“The good thing is most of the tractors run on GPS, so we were able to split the cropping into two shifts. We kept the tractors running pretty much 24/7 to get the work done on time.”
As summer rolls in, the Vuletich Contracting team moves onto hay, crop protection, carting feed and fencing. The conventional baler is flat out tending mainly to lifestyle block clients. The round balers are baling hay for dairy winterfeed as well as some erosion control hay.
Depending on summer rain, the workload load through the end of January usually slows down, giving the team a much-needed summer break.
Autumn pasture renovation keeps the team busy working with the direct drills, power harrow air-seeder, sprayer and mulcher.
The majority of Vuletich Contracting’s repairs and maintenance are done in-house, ensuring everything is ready to go for the new season.
Warren has 30 years’ experience in the automotive engineering and tutoring industry, so he leads the way in the servicing and repairs. He teaches the rest of the team who assist him as he goes.
“There isn’t much Dad can’t fix,” Eden says.
THE TEAM
The Vuletich family sunk their roots in the Mangakahia Valley 20 years ago. The family farms 120 hectares and leases another 120 ha for beef finishing, growing hay, grass silage and maize. This fits in very well with the contracting.
Eden has a younger sister, Zara, who worked as an operator/ driver for the two years before moving to Auckland to begin an electrical apprenticeship. She still enjoys helping out with the contracting over the busy periods when she is able to.
“Our employees Jacob and James MacArthur are both extremely passionate about the industry. They have now been with us for a combined four years. They play a key part in our ability to provide our clients a consistent, high-quality job year-round. They know the farms and the clients, and we look forward to growing with them.”
Phillip Walker is another valued member of the team. He has been a return seasonal operator for the last five seasons. He operates the rakes and truck, and his experience and sense of humour keeps everyone safe and sane.
“Family is very important to me,” says Eden. “If it wasn’t for
my supportive partner Melissa, my team, and my parents Warren and Diane, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
The Vuletich team enjoys getting involved in the local community whenever they can. They recently helped out in establishing a local community garden, bringing the cultivation equipment along to get the ground ready for planting.
“We are a big part of our local community and we help out as much as we can. Mum has been a big part of organising many fund-raising events to help the local school, hall and recreational centre.”
In the long-term, Eden is planning for the business to grow so
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that he can offer a full range of services. He wants to become a one-stop-shop that provides everything from harvesting and crop preparation to feed sales, on-farm support and advice.
“I want to be someone that farmers can trust to provide all the services they need, so that they do not have to be dealing with multiple people to get a job done.”
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what’s new in... HAY AND SILAGE CONSUMABLES
AUSTRALIAN FARMERS AND EXPORT CUSTOMERS RELY ON SUPPLEMENTAL FEED TO ACHIEVE PEAK PERFORMANCE FROM THEIR ANIMALS. CONTRACTORS WHO FOLLOW BEST PRACTICE AND USE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY CAN MEET THEIR CLIENTS’ DEMAND FOR HIGH QUALITY HAY AND SILAGE. HERE ARE SOME OF THE LATEST TWINES, NETWRAPS, SILAGE FILMS AND INOCULANTS THAT WILL HELP YOU PRODUCE TOP QUALITY FORAGE.
LALLEMAND
SILAGE INOCULANTSIT’S THE MICROSCOPIC DIFFERENCES THAT COUNT
The name of several strains of bacteria found in forage inoculants are set to change following a modification to the taxonomy of the genus, Lactobacillus
Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorisation or classification of all living things into groups based on their domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.
The genus Lactobacillus contains more than 260 bacterial species that have extremely diverse genotypic, phenotypic and ecological features.
Following a detailed review, the genus has been reorganised into 25 separate genera, including the newly-created Lentilactobacillus and Lactiplantibacillus categories.
Hence, Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus hilgardii, two bacterial species found in Maghniva Platinum, are now offi-
cially called Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Lentilactobacillus hilgardii.
Likewise, Lactobacillus plantarum, which is found in Magniva Classic, becomes Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Both inoculants are marketed by Lallemand Animal Nutrition.
Lallemand Animal Nutrition country manager, Alex Turney, says while these changes may not be a primary consideration for silage contractors and livestock producers when considering which forage inoculant to use this spring, it does reinforce the bigger picture.
“Forage inoculants alter the rate of fermentation in preserved forage and more specifically, help to create an anaerobic environment that prevents the proliferation of spoilage-causing yeasts and moulds.
“In essence, we are using beneficial bacterial species to control undesirable bacterial species in an extremely complex biological environment.
“These new names reflect that complexity – and also the incredible level of knowledge that goes into forage inoculants.”
Lallemand is a global leader in the research, development, production and supply of strain-specific yeast, bacteria and microbial derivatives that are used in a wide range of industries.
Lallemand is continually searching for new strains of yeasts and bacteria that are fit for purpose. Its nutrition division is a leading supplier of scientifically-proven silage inoculants, probiotics and yeast derivatives used in the preservation of fodder and in livestock feed.
“We pride ourselves on developing ‘strain specific’ biological solutions,” Alex says.
“For example, Magniva Platinum doesn’t contain members of the hilgardii and buchneri families, they contain the specific strains CNCM I-4785 and NCIMB 40788.
“Lallemand investigated hundreds of different strains with the hilgardii and buchneri species
before identifying and assessing those that delivered the desired outcome.
“In combination, these two specific strains deliver a fast-acting ‘front end’ fermentation with ‘back end’ aerobic stability that has been proven in dozens of leading agricultural research institutes throughout the world.
“In practical terms, producers, if they need to, can open the silage pit sooner without any impact on nutritional value or aerobic stability and avoid spoilage during feeding out.
“In the same way, Magniva Classic contains two specific strains of P. pentosaceus and L.
plantarum that dominate silage fermentation in less than four hours.”
Both inoculants contain a blend of carefully-selected enzymes to drive optimal fermentation.
Lallemand’s patented ‘Stable Suspension’ technology ensures even suspension, high stability and a long tank-life after mixing which means even application of inoculant across the harvest.
Lallemand also distributes a range of sealing technology, including the Silostop range of oxygen barrier films, reusable SilageKeeper UV protection covers and SealKeeper gravel bags.
“Silostop oxygen barrier films limit the growth of spoilage-causing yeasts and moulds,” Alex says.
“Independent testing has confirmed these oxygen barrier polyethylene films are up to 100 times more effective than conventional polyethylene cling film and black and white in preventing the entry of oxygen into silage.”
Silostop is available in a range of thicknesses to suit different storage conditions and duration.
SilageKeeper UV covers protect Silostop oxygen barrier or conventional PE films against the impact of sunlight and damage
caused by animals and environment.
“With proper care, these reusable woven covers will last for at least five years, significantly reducing the amount of plastic waste,” Alex says.
SealKeeper gravel bags help to create an airtight seal along the seams and edges of silage stacks and bunkers.
These flexible, oblong-shaped and re-useable bags are an environmentally friendly alternative to tyres or tyre walls.
They are ideal for use in combination with Silostop film and SilageKeeper covers when premium protection is required.
ZEUS
WAPPED IN PLASTIC –THE ZEUS WAY
“Not all bale wraps are created equal,” Andrew Makin, sales manager for Zeus in Australia reminds us. “I am seeing a lot of bales in the field full of mould.” Buying quality can look like an extra investment initially, so Andrew is seeing compromises being made and a lot of inferior products being used, but the result often ends in a disappointing and expensive stock of rotten bales full of holes and mould.
There is such a range of products on the market, it’s understandable customers may be confused by the different silage wraps.
Perhaps not understanding the impact on the end result, purchase decisions are made on price. Andrew says he, “is seeing many examples of customers that are attracted to different brands, made of lower quality ingredients, that see silage coming out with mould. Mould is a sign that air has entered the bales. Lower quality wraps have lower puncture resistance and small micro holes are created when stubble punctures through the plastic. These holes lead to mould. When you factor this price into the per bale ratio, you will realise the initial ‘savings’ on the cheaper wrap are a false economy.
“Zeus is a converter of resins into silage wraps. We select and use the best available resins and polymers with the latest extrusion equipment and experienced staff to make a wrap designed to give the best performance which the silage customers feed out to their livestock,” says Andrew, “We are fortunate in Australia to be able to leverage from Zeus’ global scale that gives us the latest available technology.”
Who is Zeus and why are its products superior in quality?
Zeus started in 1998 with one product and now has 870 staff in over 26 countries, a $600 million turnover and is growing. Not one to sit on his hands, Zeus CEO and founder Brian O’Sullivan was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year at home in Ireland,
in both the overall and international categories. Brian talks of being a hard worker rather than an entrepreneur. He has undoubtedly maintained a very clear vision for Zeus’ products, and that starts and ends with quality products for the customer.
Andrew says, “Everyone talks about how they have a quality product, but Brian O’Sullivan walks the walk. He’s a busy man, but he’s never too busy to come and spend time in the field learning the needs of customers here in Australia.
He won the 2021 EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Ireland and is a finalist in the world awards, but he still had time to visit Australia and New Zealand recently. Knowing the needs of his markets is of utmost importance to Brian, and Australia is definitely highlighted on his map.”
Brian says, “Australia and New Zealand are important markets for our global business. We can use our experience in the northern hemisphere working closely with the latest innovative machinery technology to develop market-ready products for our customers here.
“There are three key components to Zeus producing a true quality product. The first is to know our customers’ needs, what frustrates them in the field, what is holding them up, and what problems they have that need to be solved. Then, we work with the best innovative new technology worldwide to refine our products. We consist-
ently contact our suppliers on new market advancements to make and present the best new products. I then firmly believe the key to quality is to make the products you sell, that way we know what products we are putting in and how to get the best outcomes.”
The strong communication links Andrew has directly to Brian - wherever he may be in the world, allows Zeus innovation to be realistic about the needs in Australia. Andrew says, “We understand customers are looking at longer-term security of stored fodder. An example of how Zeus responded to this was to apply technology to the new Max2 covers.”
EPICROP Max2 Covers
The Epicrop Max2 covers are made with a 12-layer oxygen barrier with a 12-month performance guarantee. Feedback from users of the 2 in 1 smart silage solution: “We were surprised how quickly the combi cover hugged to the face of the silage stack and how good our silage turned out.”
Epicrop Bale Wrap
Another example Andrew cites of Zeus listening and delivering innovation is with the Epicrop Agri films manufactured by seven and five multi-layer co-extrusion lines. Combined with the latest technology, the result is much stronger puncture resistance.
“There’s always a few bucks to save here and there on wrap,”
says Andrew, “I should know because I’ve been using it from the very start of the first-ever wrapped bales. But I’ve also seen the costs.”
Andrew sees this working with contractors in the field, “Cost cutting seems like a good idea until you need to keep getting on and off the tractor because the wrap keeps breaking, or you can’t get all the plastic off the roll – so that then gets chucked away. Or if there is a long dirty, big plastic tail blowing in the wind. Well, this costs the user money.
“These are critical considerations, particularly now for maximising milk production from quality silage. It’s always good to see a relieved customer who chose a genuine premium Zeus wrap to do its job and keep the air out and not spoil like the other brand that’s ended up with holes and mould,” says Andrew.
To discover more Zeus agricultural solutions, scan the QR code. If you’d like to get in touch, Andrew Makin is always happy to chat to help you find solutions on 0488 528 599 or join our Facebook community Zeus.
FARMTECH
HY-SI
Developed by Agro-K in America, and distributed in Australia by Farmtech, the aim of HY-SI silage preservative is pretty simple – make the best hay and silage.
HY-Si is a nutritional tool that helps accelerate plant sugar to lactic acid, which is what’s responsible for preserving haylage and silage. HI-SI is made by the unique bio-fermentation processing of cobalt. HI-SI doesn’t have any living bacteria but does contain nutrient-rich fermentation by-products and enzymes.
Energy and protein losses typically occur in the wilting, fermentation and feed out stages, and HY-SI works to reduce those losses. It has been used by farmers worldwide since 1969 for improved milk and meat production.
It uses a unique bio-fermentation process which sees a unique series of manufacturing process-
is linked to a mild carbohydrate base. This helps accelerate the conversion of plant sugars into lactic acid.
HY-SI is different because it works with the existing bacteria present in the forage, complementing and accelerating the natural ensiling process.
Most silage preservatives work by either adding live bacteria (inoculating) or by trying to control the composting bacteria. HY-SI is different because it works with existing bacteria present in the forage, complementing and accelerating the natural ensiling process. HY-SI works by feeding and energising the naturally existing vitamin B12 synthesising bacteria that is present on all forage material, causing them to reproduce rapidly and generate significantly more available vitamin B12.
This extra B12 is a key fuel which is utilised by the organic acid producing bacteria to accel-
HY-SI contains the unique ingredient Cobalt Dextro-Lac (CDL), which works in the rumen to enhance the bioavailability of cobalt. CDL is the lowest cost input for what you will return in terms of milk and meat production.
Extensive university research
- 20% increase in volatile fatty acid in the rumen; - 35% increase in blood plasma glucose levels.
In addition, not only is it effective when applied to forage during harvest, HY-SI can also be included as part of a total mixed ration (TMR) diet for a herd. TMR
The perfect flow
IMPRESS 3160 VC PRO
The highest reliability in all crops thanks to the new, modular binding unit for net or filma second roll holder increases flexibility even further
32 k nives ensure maximum versatility and create the best chopping quality right up to the edge of the bale
The pull-out EASY MOVE knife bank offers the highest level of convenienc
For more information on our product line contact us at (03) 8353 2770, www.poettinger.com.au
CLAAS
CLAAS WRAPEX
Claas Wrapex stretch film is a high quality and cost-efficient solution for all types of round and square baler wrappers. It combines outstanding stretching, elasticity and adhesive strength.
Proven in millions of applications throughout the world, Wrapex is made of three-layer, UV-protected, 25 micron co-extruded polyethylene film.
Wrapex does not develop its full adhesive power until pre-stretching. The adhesive remains in the film, preventing contamination. Improved efficiency has been provided through maximum pre-stretching of up to 82 percent.
The film has high elasticity in both longitudinal and transverse directions, offering extremely high resistance to tearing or puncturing. Its unique layer sealing protects bales from moisture and air, while its light green colours minimises temperate fluc-
tuations. Wrapex is available in 750 mm wide x 1500m rolls.
Claas Rollatex, Quadotex and Wrapex are available at Claas Harvest Centres throughout Australia and New Zealand. All Claas netting, twine and film is manufactured using strict quality assurance procedures, including identification numbers for tracking.
CLAAS ROLLATEX
Claas Rollatex wrapping net is suitable for all types of round balers. Rollatex is available in guaranteed minimum lengths of 2500m, 3150m and 3800m and 3500XW lengths with optimal pre-stretching (7.0–10 percent).
3500XW has extra wide coverage to ensure the edge of the bale is completely encased.
Rollatex features a water-repellent, UV-resistant surface and 270 kg linear tear strength to produce strong, well-structured bales that will resist moisture penetration and maintain their
shape during transport and storage.
Claas Covered technology ensures complete edge-to-edge bale coverage, reducing shoulders and eliminating air pock-
a balance of grains and proteins, vitamins and minerals. HY-SI is an excellent addition to a TMR diet.
HY-SI specifically targets the ‘base level’ bacteria – the B12 synthesizers.
The HY-SI ingredient, CDL,
is designed to improve animal digestion and increase the amount of nutrients an animals’ digestive system extracts from the feed it consumes. In short, HY-SI improves the utilisation of your feed by improving the animal’s digestive system.
Blood plasma glucose is the
animal’s energy source. Increases in blood glucose indicates improved digestion and better absorption of vitamins, minerals, proteins and nutrients from the roughage and grain. The result is improved herd health and performance. Controlled feeding studies with CDL have repeated-
ets for optimum silage quality. In-built carry handles, zebra roll pattern, edge protector, and warning thread at the end of each roll provide easy transport and loading.
CLAAS QUADOTEX
Claas Quadotex 3400 premium baling twine has been developed specifically to optimise the performance and bale quality of Claas Quadrant large square balers. With a 280 kg knot tightness and 102 m/kg meterage, Quadotex 3400 provides maximum baling pressure and reliability.
Quadotex 3400 is manufactured from eco-friendly, untreated polypropylene using a mono strip fabrication process for optimum quality.
The perfectly round twine ensures smooth running through the baler, optimal tying and knot reliability. It is UV stabilised and has high absorption characteristics on impact.
Each 11.5 kg reel has 30 percent more twine stock in the baler for maximum productivity.
ly demonstrated cost-effective returns in lactating and non-lactating dairy cows and in replacement dairy heifers as well as in beef feed lots, cow-calf herds and cattle background operations.
For more information, go to https://hy-si.com.au/
VENUS PACKAGING
It’s all about less down time in baling of hay and silage crops which means rolls of netting and silage film are getting longer as well.
Keeping up with the trend, Venus Packaging is adding to the popular TotalCover range with longer rolls.
The TotalCover Gold will be available in 4000m rolls (up from 3150m) whilst the stronger white TotalCover type 13 will be available in 3500m rolls (up from
3000m). There is no compromise on strength though as new advanced technology and production means equal or better strength can be maintained. The longer lengths will be available in standard 1.23m width as well as 1.30m for over edge covering of round bales.
The range of premium European silage films is also increasing for Venus Packaging with the introduction of 1700M Powerstretch in a bulk 20 roll contrac-
tor pallet (no boxes to dispose of) and 1800m PowerUltra in a 22 micron thickness which allows even more bales (up to 20% more) to be wrapped before having to change rolls. For the cost conscious, Osprey Pro will be available as a 7 layer 25 micron 1650m roll (up from 1500m). Responses from last season suggested that it was adequately wrapping the limited silage cut and baled.
The standard trusted range of Powerstretch and VenusPowerXL silage films are still available as are the original lengths of TotalCover until stocks run out.
Venus still has the largest range of twines for big square balers to successfully bale any UHD, HD or regular big square bale. We also have round bale and small square bale twines, including Sisal.
Venus stock an extensive range of sizes of Silage Pit Covers up to 20m width in 200 micron thickness. A new addition this season will be Combi 150um pit cover combined with a 40 micron underlay. This ensures better sealing of the pit with less chance of air permeating into the silage. Get more details at www.venuspack.com.au.
For over 40 years, Roesners have manufactured the all purpose Marshall Multispread, designed for Australian Agriculture.
The Marshall Multispread delivers proven performance and versatility with over 11000 units in the field across Australia, backed up by superior customer service and support.
Multispread machines are available with advanced features such as the D3 spinner system for accurate spread patterns up to 36m and the i4M Variable Rate controller with loadcell weighing system and GPS auto shut-off.
To discuss your fertiliser spreading requirements, call Roesners today to speak directly to our dedicated sales, spare parts and support team.
SPEED BALING
The use of a novel accelerated drying method is allowing Donald region hay producer, David Manifold, to cut and bale vetch in just seven days in late September!
As its name suggests, the process involves mowing and tedding on Day 1, a second on Day 2, raking on Day 3, inverting on Day 6 and baling on Day 7.
In addition, a sulphur-based preservative named Hay Guard is applied at baling to inhibit microbial growth, thereby keeping the bale cooler and preserving its nutritional value and dry matter content.
The system allows hay to be baled at 25% moisture, about one third higher than conventional hay making systems, meaning hay can be harvested much earlier in the season and much longer each day.
David and Edwina Manifold, together with children, Thomas, Harriet, Imogen and Annabelle, grow about 1600 ha of crops and run 1100 Highlander ewes based around the Gil Gil district property, ‘Milangil’.
Their cropping program is about 450 ha of Morava vetch and Mulgara and Yallara oats cut for hay.
David is one of an estimated 20 growers in Australia using the accelerated drying method.
“We’ve been using Hay Guard for about 10 years as a ‘fail safe’ for when we have pods in the vetch or moisture,” he says.
“In 2019, we decided to have a serious look at the accelerate drying method and we are now totally convinced.”
Hay Guard is a preservative, not an inoculant.
Once applied to hay, it turns into a gas that scavenges oxygen in the bale and inhibits the growth of yeasts and moulds.
Last September, he participated in an on-farm demonstration that clearly showed the merits of the system.
Half of the 68 ha vetch crop was cut and baled seven days later.
Nutritional analysis showed the bales contained 15% moisture, 22.6% protein and 37.7% neutral digestible fibre and 11.1 MJ/kg metabolisable energy.
The remaining portion was cut on the same day, tedded on Day 2, raked on Day 3 and baled on Day 21, as per normal.
The nutritional value of that portion was severely downgraded by six rain events totalling 49.5 mm between Days 8 and 21.
Nutritional analysis showed the bales contained 11.4% moisture, 20.6% protein, 59.7% neutral digestible fibre and 7.8 MJ/ kg metabolisable energy.
“The results speak for themselves – the first cut yielded of 2.9 t/ha worth $280/t, whereas the second cut yielded 1.3 t/ha worth $150/t,” David says.
“That’s a difference of about $540/ha, even after allowing for the extra costs of the second tedding, inverting and Hay Guard.”
David’s adoption of accelerated drying method has also necessitated investment in high capacity forage harvesting equipment, including a Claas Volto 1300 tedder and a Claas Liner 2900 rake.
The ten-rotor Volto 1300 tedder has an operating width of 13 metres, while the two-rotor Liner 2900 rake has a maximum operating width of nine metres.
“I do this virtually by myself so I need the machinery to do it,” David says.
“Previously I was mowing and leaving the windrow for two or three weeks before baling.
“Now I need to be able to cover a lot of hectares every day for several weeks straight, so that’s where the Volto and Liner fit in.
“Vetch goes from flower to pod in seven days.
“The trick is to have it cut as soon as it flowers but before it goes to pod.
“It all happens mid to late September, so it’s pretty full-on!”
Dried windrows are baled using a high capacity Claas Quadrant 5300 big square baler.
A Gazeeka moisture meter provides real-time monitoring of dew and stem moisture as forage passes through the bale chamber.
The Hay Guard is applied at 1.2 L/tonne using a Palmer tank mounted on the baler.
“Conventionally, baling is done in the morning or night with the dew,” David says.
“With Hay Guard, it’s totally the other way around – we are baling in the middle of the day and relying on the high sap moisture.
“We are still fiddling around with our agronomy but we are very focussed on keeping fungal diseases down by applying an azoxystrobin-tebuconazole combination fungicide in crop.
“We are also doing a lot of work with fertilisers, particularly trace minerals.”
Bales are collected from the paddock onto a truck using a
Claas Scorpion 736 telehandler, which has a maximum reach of seven metres and a maximum lifting capacity of 3.6 tonnes.
“We are trying to produce a top quality product, one that is significantly better than what our customers can do themselves,”
David says.
“That means they have to be stacked under cover within a day of baling.”
Up to 8000 bales are stored in four massive hay sheds, in addition to a leased off-farm facility.
“Baling earlier means you get great colour and better nutritional value,” David says.
“On the flip side, the bales are heavier and softer and can lose their shape, plus you need more shed space to ventilate the bales.
“Fire is still one of the greatest risks we face.
“Hay Guard consumes the oxygen in the bale and prevents it from heating, so we’re cutting the problem off at the knees.
“We leave a space between and above each stack of bales to allow moisture to evaporate and place the wetter, greener bales on the outside where they have greater exposure to air.
“We also monitor temperature and move any warm bales out if necessary.”
David purchased his first Quadrant baler about 10 years ago.
“We’ve been running Claas combine harvesters and balers for years and we’ve never had a major problem,” David says.
“My father (the late Roger Manifold) had a great relationship with Albert Britten and his son, Geoff, who ran a farm machinery dealership in Lake Bolac that later become a Claas Harvest Centre.
HAY GUARD
BIOSTART
SUPERIOR SILAGE
Experienced silage makers Graeme and Cameron Tyrell have been making silage on the family farm in Corryong, Victoria for 45 years.
Graeme makes quality ryegrass and clover silage with high protein and low moisture content. He made pit silage for the first 10 years then moved to making round bales, which he has been doing now for 35 years. The balers evolved too with John Deere round balers used early on then a Welger round baler and now a Kuhn VBP 3165 combo round baler and wrapper. Part of his silage making includes conditioning the pasture when it is actively growing and preparing the cut pasture by tedding, and then baling within 24 hours using Biostart’s SilageKing.
After using numerous live culture inoculants, Graeme settled on SilageKing as his silage preservative, which contains no live microbes, because it produced
the results he was looking for.
‘SilageKing is matched with an excellent pump setup that distributes the preservative evenly through the bale, so we haven’t had the mould accumulation that we have experienced in bales previously. This season’s bales have had no mould at all, so we are happy,” explains Graeme.
“Ease of use is another factor for farmers who like the fact that Biostart forage products can be stored at room temperature, require no mixing and can be reused after opening – not being corrosive to machinery is a further bonus,” says Biostart Australian Ag sales manager, Nick Smyth.
Craig Hage from Tanunda, South Australia, also makes silage, and appreciates the ease of use.
“It gives consistent results on the end product compared to my previous inoculant and it is easy to use. There is no stuffing around mixing batches and can
be tipped straight into the tank on the baler,” explains Craig. Michael Horton, co-manager of Bell River Hay and the family farm in NSW explains why he likes using SilageKing: “Initially we liked that if you didn’t use the whole can of SilageKing in one go there is no wastage, but we also found, when we used it on rank digit grass silage and drought affected canola, that we were able to turn an average product into a more palatable and nutritional product.”
“I did my work experience with the Brittens when I was at school and believe it or not, I’m still using some of the things I learnt from them.
“I remained in contact with Geoff and when we were in the process of winding back our hay operations down south, he
convinced me to try a Quadrant 3300.
“He told me it was a high-capacity machine and it certainly lived up to expectations.
“It did something like 18,000 bales, which was 50% more than anything we’d ever done with a single machine.”
David values his relationship with Claas Harvest Centre in Lake Bolac. “The best machine is irrelevant if it breaks down on a Sunday and can’t be fixed until Monday,” he says.
“Our Quadrant is six years old and we’re still getting upgrades and improvements.
HOW SILAGEKING WORKS
BioStart have developed their silage preservative to be easy to use. As a result, SilageKing can be stored at room temperature, applied straight from the can with no dilution, and opened cans remain viable when work resumes after breaks.
SilageKing has two modes of action; it increases the action of ensiling microbes while reducing the action of spoilage microbes. In the first mode, SilageKing activates the beneficial lactic acid and acetic bacteria that occur naturally on the forage prior to chopping and baling. These activated bacteria produce the lactic acid and acetic acid that then ensile (preserve) the forage.
Secondly, SilageKing inhibits the growth of the naturally occurring spoilage microbes that are also present on forage in the paddock. SilageKing inhibits the growth of both yeasts, which heat silage pit faces, and spoilage fungi, some of which produce mycotoxins that impair animal weight gain and fertility. SilageKing can be used for cereal, lucerne and grass silage. MaizeKing is now available specifically for making maize silage.
Nick Smyth is the Australian Ag manager for BioStart 1800 359 559.
“We had German technicians out here last year doing software upgrades and adjustments that took our bale weights from 600 to 700 kg.
“I think it’s great that Claas wants to send their guys over from Germany to see how my machine is working.”
what’s new in...
BALE WRAPPERS, BALE HANDLING EQUIPMENT AND TELEHANDLERS
MODERN FODDER PRODUCERS, FEEDLOTS, DAIRY FARMS AND LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS HAVE TO PRODUCE OR FEED OUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF FORAGE. TO DO THIS, FARMERS AND CONTRACTORS NEED EQUIPMENT THAT CAN HELP THEM MAKE AND MANAGE TOP QUALITY FEED AS CHEAPLY AS POSSIBLE. IN THIS FEATURE WE CHECK OUT THE LATEST BALE WRAPPING AND HANDLING EQUIPMENT ON THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET.
A new addition to new-look Scorpion telescopic loaders
Claas Scorpion agricultural telescopic loaders have quickly built upon the success of their predecessor with enhanced features, performance and flexibility.
Developed in partnership with leading materials handling manufacturer, Liebherr, this series has delivered even greater handling performance, efficiency, comfort and safety.
Some of the many improvements include the addition of the Dynamic Power engine management system, the Smart Loading driver-assistance system for easy and precise control, automatic parking brake, optional controlled crab steering and a new cab configuration.
Claas Harvest Centre product manager – Claas Scorpion, Shane Barratt, says the addition of the larger Scorpion 960 model to the line-up has provided customers with more flexibility in operation.
“They all have great working hydraulics and increased lifting capacity, enabling optimal handling performance and productivity. The Scorpion 732 is a compact, highly manoeuvrable ‘all-rounder’ that has an above-average lifting capacity of 3 tonnes with a 160 LPM load sensing pump,” Shane says.
“At the other end of the scale, the Scorpion 960 boasts a 6 tonne lifting capacity and a maximum lift height of well over eight metres with 200 LPM load sensing pump.”
The Scorpion Series features a high-performance hydrostatic drive which guarantees particularly convenient and precise manoeuvring with power on tap.
“The proven Varipower or Varipower Plus transmission have three speed ranges which are easy to control using range selection on the joystick. The hydrostatic ground drive accepts the full engine output at any speed so full torque is available in all situations” Shane says.
“An electrohydraulic parking brake is automatically activated if the driver leaves the seat, the machine stops or the engine
CLAAS
is switched off which is a great functional safety device.
“When the driver puts a foot on the accelerator to travel in a set direction, the parking brake is automatically deactivated.”
The entire range is powered by Deutz Stage IIIA (Tier 3) diesel engine; the 732, 741 and 746 develop 136 hp, while the 756 and 960 have a maximum rating of 156 hp. Both engines have new software and a higher torque curve to improve efficency.
All engines incorporate Dynamic Cooling, which automatically controls the fan speed according to engine demand.
“Air is drawn in at the front and flows around the engine before exiting out the back of the machine,” Shane says.
“Compared to other competitors which draw air for the engine from underneath the engine pod which can soil componentry and shorten service intervals.
“The reversing fan system also works fully automatically, based on the settings selected by the operator.
“When working in particularly dirty conditions, the driver can also reverse the fan manually at any time, at the touch of a button.”
The new models have two engine management systems for smooth and efficient operation and transport.
“The 746, 756 and 960 models also feature Dynamic Power, which regulates the engine speed based on the demand from the hydraulic system,” Shane says.
“The enhanced Smart Roading function automatically adjusts the engine speed. Once a constant speed is achieved, the engine automatically adapts its power depending on the load.
“The use of both systems in tandem ensures a comfortable ride in all applications, produces noticeable fuel savings and minimises noise, particuraly at top speeds.”
In addition to the front, allwheel and crab-steering modes, all new models come with a fourth steering mode - manual crab-steering.
“In contrast to the traditional crab-steering mode, the front axle can still be controlled, which offers distinct advantages for certain applications, such as compacting the edges of clamps or moving along the walls of buildings and cleaning out silage bunkers,” he says.
The Scorpion 746 and 756 models can also be fitted with large 500 mm diameter tyres, and the Scorpion 960 can be fitted with 600 mm tyres. Both of these larger tyre options offer improved stability and reduce ground pressure when working in the field.
All models are equipped with the proven and robust Scorpion quick-release headstock, which is compatible with older attachments. The headstock has 50 mm diameter locking pins, which offer low wear. Unlike other brands there is no play between the attachment and headstock locking mechanism.
Flexible options are also available for all of the models. “This
includes front and rear hydraulic supply, hydraulic pick up hitches, counterweights and different manufacturer headstocks if the customer has existing attachments,” Shane says.
“The attachment point for the telescopic boom lies lower on the chassis with Scorpion telehandlers, significantly expanding the field of view to the right and the rear, and offering a low centre of gravity, maximising safety and comfort of the machine’s operation to the operator.
“The cabs have been designed very well and offer uninterupted all-round visibility on the machine.
“All the important switches and controls are logically arranged
FARMERS
WARINGA
SECURE, EASY AND EFFICIENT BALE HANDLING SOLUTIONS FROM HIGHLINE
Waringa Distribution is the proud Australian distributor of Highline Manufacturing’s premium bale handling equipment, including the FaStack 1200/1800, for transporting and stacking square bales, and the BM1400 and BM607/605 bale mover, for loading and moving round bales in single or double row configurations. Highline’s bale handling products are simple to operate and extremely durable with industry exclusive features for efficient and secure transporting of bales.
Highline Manufacturing, a Canadian based manufacturer and a division of Bourgault Industries, has manufactured premium farming equipment for over 60 years, with Waringa becoming the Australia-wide distributor of Highline’s rock removal and bale handling and processing products in 2020.
“Highline are industry-leading and their products have proven to be extremely durable and perform exceptionally well in Australian conditions,” says Sam Abbott, general manager at Waringa Distribution, “Our customers are impressed with the strength, build quality, and simplicity of Highline’s premium products.”
FaStack square bale stackers
The Highline FaStack provides a secure and efficient bale handling solution for transporting and stacking square bales whilst ensuring the integrity of the bales.
The FaStack is available in two models: the FaStack 1800 for transporting and stacking up to 24 square bales, and the FaStack 1200 to stack up to 12 square bales. Both models feature a touch screen and simple handheld remote for operating all the machine’s controls, including a one-tip unloading function, without leaving the cab.
The number of bales that can
and are easy to operate,” Shane says.
“All key operating data has been bundled together into a 175 mm (7”) colour screen, allowing the operator to see all the impor-
be stacked is determined by the size and orientation of the bales which can be stacked as either ‘on-string’, strings down, or ‘off strings’, strings on the side, changed with the flip of a switch on the remote, with no manual adjustments to the machine required.
The FaStack also has an exclusive design that prevents damage to the bales and keeps them in place when transporting.
A patented clamp arm grabs and lifts the bales to prevent scrubbing. The bumper cushions the impact to keep the bales intact, and side rails secure the bales in place. The FaStack 1200 also has the added feature of a rotating front table to turn bales into their final position whilst loading and before lifting them onto the bed, resulting in tighter stacks and faster, more efficient unloading.
Feed Mixers
Highline manufacturing is focused on ensuring the equipment offered is part of a complete solution to feeding livestock in the most efficient and effective way possible. The AccuMix, AMX850T towed feed mixer is another tool in Highline’s lineup that is simple, reliable and cost effective.
The tub features prominent dividers that effectively reduce mixing dead spots, ensuring a seamless and efficient clean out process.
The twin vertical mixing screws are equipped with five knives each as a standard configuration, ensuring efficient and thorough mixing. Additionally, these screws offer the option of up to 10 knives, providing flexibility
and room for expansion based on specific requirements.
The hubs are built to withstand heavy-duty applications, ensuring reliable performance even under demanding conditions. Each hub is designed with a 10-bolt configuration, enhancing stability and strength for increased durability.
This product comes equipped with standard dual axles for improved stability and high flotation tyres (550/45-22.5 16 ply) that offer excellent traction and durability.
The excellent mix consistency across the entire load guarantees a high-quality blend of materials, reducing the likelihood of any variations or inconsistencies in the final output.
With an industry leading 58” wide front unload door, this product enables fast and even feed delivery, ensuring efficient feeding operations. The larger door size reduces the need for frequent tactor stops, streamlining the feeding process and increasing overall productivity. The spacious front unload door facilitates optimal cleanout, making maintenance and cleaning tasks much easier and more effective.
Optional mud flaps are available to effectively prevent material throw from the tractor tyres onto the front unload conveyor. These mud flaps serve as a protective barrier, reducing the risk of debris and other materials interfering with the feeding process.
There are three conveyor options to cater to various requirements: Hydraulic Fold, Dogleg and Flat conveyors.
tant settings such as speed, steering mode or level of hydraulic oil at a glance.”
Shane says the Smart Loading driver-assistance system helps to improve efficiency and safety.
“It includes a return to bucket position for loading operations and automatic overload protection,” he says.
“Smart Loading also enables fine control of the working
hydraulics to enable stacked goods to be positioned with greater accuracy.”
The speed of the working hydraulics can be halved via a toggle switch.
FARMTECH
AUSMIX
FarmTech recently sold its 50th AusMix vertical feed mixer, marking a milestone for the Australian company.
After identifying the need for a heavy duty mixer that was better suited to the Australian feeding systems which often require mixing round bales for fibre, FarmTech launched the AusMix Series, competing against approximately 30 imported brands.
Available in either single screw or twin screw verions, the AusMix range features thick steel bowls for durability, along with heavy-duty Fibre-X augers
integrated with three different options of heat-treated tungsten-carbide knives to ensure they can easily cut through high fibre, forage, grain, or heavy wet rations and produce a thorough and consistent feed.
The width of the bowl has been designed to process large round bales, with discharge options of either a conveyor belt, side-shift conveyor or extended flip-up conveyor (up to 4m).
The AusMix vertical mixer Series consists of the XL12 single screw or the XL 24 or XL 32, both with twin augers, with other options also available.
Zealand Hatch from FarmTech
says they have been getting excellent traction with feedlots and dairy operations across Australia, as well as exporting machines to New Zealand
“We have built models from 10 cubic metre single screws all the way up to a gigantic 45 cubic metre triple screw and a variety of sizes in the middle, with our most popular model being 22 cubic metres,” he says.
TUBELINE
These machines are excellent at using less film than conventional wrappers. They are imported from Canada and widely known for their ability to wrap bales inline. When doing this, the machines use about half the normal wrap per bale. These machines have a powerpack and do not require a tractor to operate the wrapper.
It's easy to operate. When a
bale is dropped onto the ramp, the wrapper automatically starts wrapping. These are excellent for dairy farmers looking to wrap their bales of silage and store it near where they will be feeding.
The TL1000R is designed as a low-cost, low-maintenance single bale wrapper for round bales measuring between 4’ and 5’ in diameter. It sports a uniquely compact chassis that is hoisted by your 3PL and powered by the hydraulics of your tractor.
The TL1700SR is an advantageous choice for farmers who are looking for low-cost bale wrappers to help them.
Its ability to wrap square bales as well as round bales even allows you to help your neighbors when they lack the ability to do so, making it possible for you to gain an additional income stream by working as a contractor.
JCB
JCB Loadall goes all-electric as zero emissions take centre stage
JCB has launched the 52560E, the first fully electric version of the popular JCB Loadall. Designed to deliver the same performance as the conventional diesel-powered machine, the 525-60E offers a zero-emissions load handling solution to construction, industrial and agricultural customers.
JCB Chief Innovation Officer Tim Burnhope: “JCB has taken a pioneering lead in the move to electric propulsion in construction, agricultural and industrial machinery, having successfully introduced the 19C-1E mini excavator and the 30-19E Teletruk to the market.
“As world market leader for telescopic handlers, the launch of the JCB 525-60E Loadall takes equipment electrification further into general construction, industrial and agricultural markets, offering a zero emissions load handling solution with no compromise in performance or productivity. We are very excited about the prospects for this machine.”
Key features of the new Loadall include:
- Dual electric motors for drive and lift deliver increased efficiency
- Brake regeneration boosts battery charge
- Regenerative hydraulics increase efficiency
- Full shift operation capability
- Range of charging options, including on-board and rapid charging.
The 525-60E uses two proven electric motors, one for the driveline and the second to power the hydraulic system. The 17kW traction motor drives through
a permanent four-wheel drive dropbox to proven JCB drive/ steer axles. The 22kW hydraulic system motor powers a fixed displacement gear pump, delivering a maximum 80 litres/min of flow. Flow is proportional to joystick position and the lift end is controlled by an electro-hydraulic valve block, with hydraulic regeneration on boom lower and retract.
The electric motors are 85% efficient, which compares well with the 45% efficiency of a diesel engine. Extensive analysis of customer duty cycles, through JCB’s LiveLink telematics system and on-site studies, tests and evaluation, has allowed JCB engineers to optimise the machine’s battery to meet customer requirements. The 96V lithium-ion battery is capable of providing full-shift operation.
The traction drive motor utilises regenerative braking instead of a traditional braking system, topping up the battery in the process. The hydraulic system also regenerates flow whilst lowering the boom, reducing the power requirement and extending operating hours. The brake regen function automatically turns off when the battery is fully charged.
The machine has the same on-board charger as other JCB E-TECH products, capable of recharging the battery in 8 hours using a standard 240V, 16A electrical supply. An optional JCB universal charger can be used for a rapid top-up during breaks, in as little as 35 minutes.
The 525-60E has been designed to meet the current and future needs of customers in a variety of industry sectors, providing zero-emissions operation for working inside buildings, in
underground construction and maintenance work and in urban areas with stringent emissions regulations, such as London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
A secondary benefit of electric operation is a significant reduction in noise levels, making the Loadall suitable for extended operation in sensitive urban job sites. The 525-60E delivers an in-cab noise level of just 66.7dB, while the external level is 92.2dB. A white noise reversing alarm is available as an option, to warn site workers of machine movement.
JCB has not compromised on operator comfort. The full-size ROPS/FOPS cab is well laid out and designed for fatigue-free operation, with easily located controls. The fully glazed cab has a 2.2kW heater, heated front, rear and side screens for rapid defrosting and demisting and a heated suspension seat, ensuring the operator is comfortable regardless of outside temperature. The 525-60E also uses JCB’s well proven and patented Load Control System, ensuring optimum safe load handling.
External dimensions are unchanged from the diesel model and the 525-60E offers the same 3.7m outside turn radius. Maximum lift capacity is 2,500 kg, with a 2,000 kg maximum load at the full six metre lift height. The machine has been designed to deliver similar cycle times as the diesel telescopic, with no loss of performance. It can be used with forks, a range of buckets and many other JCB Loadall attachments.
The first electric machines arrived in Australia in July and are drawing a great deal of interest.
“We had customer names to them before they hit our shores,”
said JCB CEA general manager of distribution Greg Sealey.
“These machines will allow customers to play their part in eliminating harmful emissions and reducing their carbon footprint. This is particularly important where environmental consciousness and sustainability are increasingly prioritised.
Switching to an electric telehandler demonstrates the customer’s commitment to green practices and can enhance their reputation as an environmentally responsible organisation.
“While the electric telehandler offers environmental benefits, it also provides a quieter and smoother operation compared to diesel models. This can be advantageous in noise-sensitive environments, such as urban construction sites or residential areas, where minimising noise disturbances is crucial.
“The reduced noise levels not only enhance the working environment but also contribute to better overall communication and safety on the site,” adds Greg.
“Additionally, the electric telehandlers offer cost-saving benefits in the long run. Although they may have a higher upfront cost, they have lower operating expenses. Maintenance expenses are also typically lower and they require less frequent servicing compared to their diesel counterparts.
“The electric telehandler offers comparable performance capabilities to diesel models and provides impressive lifting capacities and reach ensuring customers can tackle a wide range of tasks effectively and efficiently, without compromising on performance or productivity,” said Greg.
CAB WITH A VIEW –HAY CONTRACTOR OVERLOOKS BASS STRAIT
As a hay baling contractor working in a picturesque corner of southeast Victoria, Jeff Buckland has arguably one of the best views of any workplace in Australia.
Over summer his green tractors and balers are a familiar sight working pasture hay into large round bales dotted across the dairy farms of Fish Creek, which roll down to the continent’s southernmost tip at Wilsons Promontory on Bass Strait.
It all started with Jeff’s father Neville doing a bit of fertiliser spreading in the 1960s to help out the neighbours around their farm between Fish Creek and Yanakie.
“Early on Dad cleared and cultivated the country on two-wheel drive tractors with no cab. Sometimes he’d come home at night and all you could see was the whites of his eyes, he was so covered in dust,” Jeff remembers.
When Jeff came back home after completing his mechanic’s apprenticeship, they branched out into baling small square bales of hay, buying their first baler 10 years ago.
“When we started contracting we bought our first John Deere tractor, a 128hp 4055, and the rest of the equipment followed after. We were pretty busy, because at that time nobody had much of that cultivation equipment. We baled and carted square bales everywhere with a truck and bale wagon.”
Upgrade to round balers pays off
It wasn’t until Jeff helped out a mate who had a round baler business that they decided to buy their own machine and sell the square baler and wagon.
Enter a John Deere 854 round baler, and the Bucklands haven’t looked back. After the 854 had served its purpose they upgraded to the no-fuss powerhouse
John Deere 960 variable round baler and in 2021 notched up their biggest year ever, producing 10,000 round bales.
During the hay season they now run three John Deere tractors, plus balers and mower-conditioners.
“It’s always worth it to go a bit overpowered, instead of being under, because then the horse power is there. We put the F310R and R310R mower conditioners on the big tractor, a 6195R, and the baler on the smaller tractor, which is a 6155R,” Jeff explained.
Technology in high tech cabs makes life easier
Jeff keeps the old 6430 tractor bought in 2007 down at their second block, to feed hay out to Angus beef cattle and a crossbred sheep flock, and to use as a backup rake tractor in hay season. Where the 6430 was a case of start up and go, Jeff says the cabs of the current machines have technology that makes life a lot easier.
He’s been grateful to sales consultant Shaun O’Hara at the local John Deere dealership, Brandt Leongatha, for helping him figure out how the new models work.
“Shaun has been awesome in sitting with me or being available on the phone to figure out the technical side of our new gear,” Jeff said.
For more information contact your local John Deere dealer.
JOHN DEERE
NEW MLT850 NEWAG XL TELEHANDLER
Manitou Group, the worldwide reference in handling, aerial lift platforms and earthmoving sectors, launched its new NewAg XL telehandler model at the Eurotier international animal farming fair recently.
The MLT 850-145 V+ telehandler is the fourth model in the NewAg XL range, following the launch of the MLT 841, 1041 and 961. With a load capacity of 5 tonnes and a working height of 7.6 meters, this new model completes the existing range to meet not only the needs of large farms and cooperatives, but also the food industry and the recycling sector. Designed for very intensive use, in particular the loading of bulk cargo, cereals, wood chips and silage, the MLT 850 is also perfect for handling straw bales and big bags.
Performance: enhanced productivity
With a 5 tonnes capacity, high-capacity attachments and a high hydraulic working speed, the MLT 850 offers the best work rate in its class (+18% compared to the competition, i.e. 2 more semi-trailers loaded per hour). This model offers more than 600 Nm of torque, with a pull force of more than 9,160 daN (+20%
compared to the competition).
The high movement speed provided by the 200 l/min LSU pump is complemented by a bucket breakout force of over 8,670 daN (+32% compared to the competition). Combined with a high-capacity tank, the user can work with the best flow rate all day long without interruption. To optimize efficiency, the HighView camera installed on the boom head makes it possible to monitor the trailer fill level directly from the cab (+10% productivity). The M-Vario Plus continuous variable transmission allows the machine’s behavior to be adjusted to suit every need, thanks to the comfort and dynamic modes.
Effortless comfort: the trademark of the NewAg XL range
Placing innovation at the heart of its strategy, as always, Manitou Group is taking advantage of its presence at Eurotier to preview a new patented steering system*: the user can now steer the machine effortlessly using a mini-joystick in order to reduce fatigue and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders linked to repetitive steering wheel use. This is a major step forward in terms of ergonomics and productivity in the telehandler market.
In order to provide its users with the ultimate in comfort,
Manitou Group has followed the requirements of the NewAg XL range with a cab that is spacious yet quiet thanks to excellent sound insulation, which limits the noise level to just 69 dBA. The cab has also been raised compared to the lower capacity NewAg XL models to maximize visibility. The large roof grille with its angled slats and the optional Safeview dual cameras complete these innovations for a 360° view around the machine on the dashboard display.
To facilitate access to the cab, the two Easy-step steps combined with the under-door lighting make getting in and out even safer, day or night.
The MLT 850 NewAg XL also comes as standard with JSM Autopower (available with the M-Vario Plus transmission), which automatically adjusts the required engine speed to the hydraulic movements controlled via the JSM. This reduces
fuel consumption and operator fatigue.
Unparalleled profitability
Arnaud Sochas, marketing innovation manager, says: “As a result of all of these innovations, the MLT 850 offers the lowest total cost of ownership in its class, 8% lower than the competition. This means that fuel consumption is almost 20% lower than the competition**. This represents a substantial saving for annual usage of 2,000 hours. Preventive maintenance costs are also reduced by 4%.”
To achieve such a reduction in TCO, Manitou Group equips the MLT 850 with Stop & Start as standard. This function reduces fuel consumption and therefore noise emissions by switching off the engine when the machine is at a standstill, without the operator needing to do anything (automatic restart). The hour meter is therefore based on actual hours worked, thus spacing out maintenance with an oil change every 1,000 hours, and increasing the machine’s residual value.
To simplify maintenance in heavy-duty applications, the self-cleaning air pre-filter located above the engine compartment reduces the cleaning frequency of the main air filter. The engine compartment opens in two parts to provide easy access to major components. A quick-release panel also allows you to blow away debris and dust in front of the radiators. In order to make maintenance of critical hydraulic components safer, the lubrication points are centralized (automatic lubrication system*** available as an option) and easily accessible.
* System not approved for road use. ** Conforms to consumption tests according to standard EN 16796-4. *** Standard or optional, depending on trim level.
JADAN GROUP
Jadan hay handling equipment is manufactured here in Australia by a company that understands the strain and labour cost of stacking hay. Its machines are designed to make the job much easier.
Jadan is owned and operated by an Australian farming family who know from experience that farmers want durable, reliable gear to cope with difficult farming environments.
Jadan’s small bale accumulator is coupled immediately behind the small square baler. It collects the bales as they exit the chamber and positions them on the accumulator to make a flat pack of 15 bales.
When the pack is complete, the table tips automatically and the bales are released in a pack onto the ground.
These packs of bales can be collected using the Jadan small
bale grab, which attaches to the front-end loader on your tractor or telehandler.
The bale grab’s prongs are hydraulically driven into the pack of bales and it picks up the whole pack at once. It then loads the pack onto a truck, stacking and binding as it goes.
The Jadan bale accumulator is fast and tough and will work behind any brand of small square baler.
It has a fully-sealed electrical system and is built to a high standard. It now comes standard with a folding tray to reduce transport width.
Optional extras include scales to weigh the bales with a digital read-out in the cab, a bale density controller, and a remote override. The over-ride is useful for quality control, for example, you can dump unwanted or broken bales.
PÖTTINGER AUSTRALIA
PÖTTINGER PRESENTS
NEW IMPRESS 3000
Extensive facelift to the first generation of round balers
Five years ago, the Austrian agricultural machinery manufacturer Pöttinger successfully launched its Impress round baler, which was developed entirely in-house. How to make good things even better? The Impress has undergone a facelift and now appears in a fresh design with a new name and even more intelligent details.
Focus on user-friendliness and reliability
The new look reveals a number of improvements, as well as the introduction of a selection of new equipment options. Proven components such as the floating pick-up, the liftup rotor and the chopping system with up to 32 knives have not been changed. Nevertheless, by increasing the baling pressure by 20 percent, the Impress V models now produce bales that are even firmer and heavier than before.
The range of options has been expanded to meet the demands of large farms and contractors and underlines the professional level of these machines. The basic range still includes two fixed-chamber balers, Impress 3130 F Master and Impress 3130 F Pro, as well as three models each for the variable-chamber balers.
The Impress 3160 and Impress 3190 are available in the V version without a chopping system, V Master with a 16-knife chopping system and straightforward control concept, and in the V Pro version with a 32-knife chopping system, load sensing, ISOBUS control and numerous automatic functions.
The product range is rounded off with three baler and wrapper combinations: Impress 3130 FC Pro fixed-chamber with a bale diameter of 1.3 metres, Impress 3160 VC Pro variable chamber up to 1.55 metres and Impress 3190 VC PRO variable chamber up to 1.85 metres. Bales with a diameter of up to 1.5 metres can be wrapped.
Binding unit 2.0
A central element is the completely new binding unit. The feed and tension of the binding material is now regulated from outside the baling chamber, not by the core of the bale. This means that rolls of material can be used regardless of the condition of the core. The maximum width of the binding material is 1,400 mm. The baler can be equipped for film and film binding using a tail binding unit. The roller is no longer braked electrically, but hydraulically. The settings for net and foil are saved separately. If frequent changes are made between net and film, a second binding roll holder can be ordered. There is then no need to remove the heavy roll and only the new material needs to be threaded in. An optional loading system now supports the operator when changing the roll. The new binding unit is installed on all models. On PRO models, solo or with wrapper, as well as variable or fixed chamber, it can be upgraded to film and film binding.
Equipment options to make things easier
An optional LED lighting package for all Pro models ensures optimum illumination of areas such as the pick-up and bale ejector and wrapper platform.
LED strips with switches are installed under the side panels for maintenance work and changing rolls of film etc. The machine can now be cleaned quickly using compressed air using an optional hose reel with air supplied from the air brake system through an overflow valve. Moisture sensors can be fitted to conveniently assess at the control terminal the storability of the crop.
The new Impress Pro generation also sees the introduction of the new Power Control 3.0 terminal. This enables the direct selection of functions using membrane keys and the input of parameters using the 5” touch monitor. The monitoring system can be supplemented by an optional camera system. A separate 10” LCD screen can display up to four camera images at once.
Updates also for the wrapper combinations
In addition to baler changes, improvements have also been
made to the wrappers: The prestretch unit and the holding and cutting device have been revised, for example. The wrapper platform can now rotate the bale before and after the wrapping process to reliably tidy up the ends of the binding and wrapping layers. This prevents loose ends of film from snagging during transport or storage. In addition, excess air is pressed out between the layers, which has a positive effect on the silage quality.
The film magazines now hold 2 x 8 rolls of wrapping film or 2 x 6 rolls of wrapping film and 2 x 1 roll of binding film. Together with the two spare roll holders for net or binding film at the front of the baler, there is enough material on board for long days in the field. There are also more tyre options with widths of 620 mm and 710 mm available for markets that permit transport widths of over 3 metres.
Product maintenance
The changes that affect product maintenance mainly concern optimisation of bearing points, chain runs and greasing. The rotor is now fitted with a freewheel to ensure smooth coasting in all conditions. Maintenance status is now monitored by a service counter, which informs the operator about upcoming greasing intervals. To round off, a 1000 rpm driveline is now also available as an option for V and Master models.
NEW HOLLAND
New Holland extends variable chamber baler offering with premium Pro-Belt baler.
New Holland Agriculture has commenced production of its new Pro-Belt Series, an extension of its variable chamber round baler offering. This premium round baler is a versatile, high-performance and durable baler which delivers excellent bale shape in all crops and conditions.
New Holland product segment manager fodder conservation, Sune Nielsen said the Pro-Belt baler has been built from the ground up with a completely new bale formation design.
“Reliability and durability
were at the top of the list for the Pro-Belt’s engineering scope of development, adding to New Holland’s already strong position in the hay industry,” Sune said.
“The variable chamber will be available in a 165 cm and 190 cm maximum bale size configuration, both in a rotor feeder version and 25-knife rotor cutter version The baler will come standard with auto greaser, moisture meter, service lights and is IntelliBale compatible.
“The Pro-Belt is simple in design with durability as a key element, running less chains and rollers than the current rollbelt. Larger rollers, bearing and
sprockets with diamond chain throughout mean this baler is highly dependable for high annual use in all crop conditions.”
The Pro-Belt has been designed based on feedback New Holland collected through numerous customer test-drives conducted across the world –from North America to Australia, New Zealand and Europe, collectively producing 150,000 bales. Participants clearly expressed the performance characteristics they considered fundamental: crop versatility, capacity, and bale density and appearance. The new baler delivers on all counts with outstanding performance.
The new baler has been developed for reliability and durability, with a split gearbox for
high mechanical efficiency and robustness and a streamlined design with fewer, stronger components and moving parts.
The heavy-duty 520 mm-diameter rotor in combination with the active drop floor provides constant feedback to the operator, enabling them to maximize productivity with high throughput and non-stop feeding.
It performs equally well in silage and dry straw, producing consistently high bale density and perfectly formed, firm bales for easy handling and stacking.
With a capacity up to 30 tonnes per hour and 140 kg/m3 in straw, the Pro-Belt will enable customers to bale their crop faster, finishing their field in less time with fewer bales.
BVL MIXER WAGON
A mixer wagon can improve the health of your dairy herd, as well as efficiently utilising available feed and reducing costs.
German-made BVL mixer wagons are some of the strongest and most well-respected mixers on the market and, due to outstanding build quality, are also incredibly durable.
BVL mixer wagons are constructed with a 20 mm floor plate and 8 mm sidewalls. The sidewalls are lapped at the joints and fillet welded on both sides. This double thickness is positioned at the highest wear point of the bowl, greatly increasing the wall strength and life expectancy.
Auger flight joins are normally a weak point on mixer wagons. BVL overcomes this by overlapping each join, resulting in unmatched strength and durability.
The anti-spill ring works by preventing feed spillage out of the wagon while mixing, which is especially effective on dry and fibrous material. The antispill ring holds pressure on the material for the augers to cut and mix fasters with maximum consistency. It also increases the strength of the bin in the event of the loading tractor hitting the mixer.
It also has four independent weigh cells – one in each corner –for consistent weighing.
The non-symmetrical set-up of counter knives in a BVL mixer wagon guarantees an optimal
interface between the two mixing chambers, which results in an efficient flow of material, high volume utilisation, faster mixing time, and a lower power requirement.
BVL’s Exact Dosing System uses the asymmetrical design, along with the shark bite on the auger, to ensure full utilisation of the bowl capacity and make sure trace elements, which find their way into the bottom of the bowl, are evenly mixed. This, in turn, results in a consistent row of product discharged through the door opening, which is positioned at the widest possible position to ensure the product is deposited as a loose, even swath.
The specially redesigned V-shaped self-tracking and self-cleaning cage rollers are at the heart of the BVL conveyor system, eliminating build-up and keeping tracking true. Quality is further enhanced with a 6 mm double-layered rubber belt.
The improved feed consistency offered by a BVL mixer wagon creates greater digestibility for the herd, improving feed intake and the potential for increased feed conversion ratio to milk solids, of improved weight gain.
The feed mixer wagon works by supplying a mixed ration over the day, so cows have the correct balance of energy, protein, fibre, and minerals in a healthy rumen environment. As a result, they are more efficient, productive and profitable.
GOWEIL WRAPPERS MAKE THEIR MARK
Over the past few decades, Goweil has established itself as a specialist in manufacturing round bale wrappers, with both the manufacturer’s G50 Series and G40 Q Series machines highly suitable for the Australian market.
G50 Series round bale wrappers
The G50 Series line-up is led by the G5020, which boasts a twin wrapping arm and the Profi program control, which automatically controls the wrapping cycle, the process of holding and cutting the film, as well as the bale deposit when the bale has been wrapped.
The G5020 Inliner is designed along almost identical lines to the G5020, albeit with some modifications, but is pulled directly behind the baler, eliminating the need for a separate tractor and driver.
Similar to the larger machines in the G50 range, the G5012 trailed round wrapper comes with a twin wrapping arm, but is fitted with the Standard program control where bales are picked up manually using the electronic joystick. The processes of wrapping, film holding and cutting are started automatically, with the bale deposit being initiated at the push of a button.
The G5010 is the smallest in the G50 Series line-up and has a single wrapping arm, but is the perfect entry level machine for professional users.
The robust and solid construction of the G50 Series wrappers ensures an exceptionally long
life and, while the wide and compact design makes for agile performance and adaptability to sloping positions, the low centre of gravity makes the machines highly manoeuvrable.
G40 Q Series square bale wrappers
The G4010 Q Profi is a stationary machine powered by a 17.5kW Kubota diesel engine, has a twin wrapping arm and is controlled by the Profi program control with a radio remote control.
This wrapper makes it possible to wrap square bales with a length of up to two metres. One feature that comes in particularly handy is the ability to wrap double bales. This feature increases performance and cuts down film consumption by up to 20%. Another major advantage the G4010 G Profi has to offer is the capacity to wrap both square and round bales.
The G4020 Q Profi is a trailed machine with a twin wrapping arm and hydraulic bale pick-up, and is the machine that delivers one of the highest levels of performance of any square bale wrapper.
Thanks to the Profi program control, the execution of all cycles is fully automatic, making working with the machine as easy and comfortable as possible.
For more information on the Goweil G50 and G40 Series, contact distributors Webbline Agriculture on 1800 125 500 or by emailing sales@webbline.com. au, or by visiting the website at www.webbline.com.au.
INVEST IN THE BEST
COMFORT PERFORMANCE COST EFFICIENCY
HIGH PERFORMANCE MOWING WITH DISCO
WITH A WORKING WIDTH OF ALMOST 10 METRES, THE NEW DISCO 1010 IS BILLED AS THE WIDEST MOUNTED DISC MOWER
WITHOUT A TELESCOPIC BOOM ON THE MARKET.
Claas Harvest Centre product manager –Greenline, Shane Barratt, says the new unit incorporates a unique vector folding system that enables safe operation and transport.
“During transport, the side units are first moved hydraulically into the 120-degree transport position,” he says.
“They then pivot slightly backwards via a ram combined with the hydraulic non-stop collision safety device and are automatically locked hydraulically.
“In its transport position, the mower lies diagonally behind the tractor on the headstock and thus shifts the centre of gravity to the tractor’s longitudinal axis.
“This solution reduces the load on the front axle by about 50%, which greatly improves the tractor’s steering behaviour, especially on lighter tractors that have a shorter wheelbase.
“Besides reducing the transport height to four metres, this system also reduces tail swing, making it easier to safely negotiate gates, narrow roads or tight bends.”
The main frame and headstock have also been redesigned, with the main gearbox moved slightly to the rear and the angular gearboxes facing the mower beds being slanted by two degrees.
“This ensures that the drive shafts work in a straight line, which reduces the noise level and wear,” Shane says.
Disco 1010 incorporates two award-winning Max Cut mower beds that deliver exceptional cutting quality and operational efficiency.
The mower beds can be operated with a PTO speed of just 850 rpm, reducing fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent.
Pressed from a single piece of 5 mm thick steel, the unique wave-shaped design enables the cutting discs to be positioned further forwards, improving cutting quality in all conditions.
The special shape of the skids and the large channel between the discs provides a high degree of self-cleaning.
“The new wear skids provide another 15 mm more cutting height, minimising pasture damage and reducing the amount of contamination introduced to the crop,” Shane says.
The safety link safety module ensures each cutting disc is protected by a pre-determined breaking point, isolating it from the drive train in the event of contact with a foreign body.
An axial bolt holds the cutting disc firmly in place to prevent it flying off if it breaks.
The specially-hardened intermediate pieces are shaped differently for the mower discs that converge and diverge for a clean cut and maximum overlap.
The adjustable Active Float hydraulic suspension ensures mowers adapt perfectly to ground, and turns frictional resistance into the rolling resistance.
“This system has been tried and tested for more than 15 years and has been proven to reduce forage contamination and wear,” Shane says.
“The contact pressure, which can be independently adjusted on either side for mowing borders and slopes, is displayed on two gauges on the headstock.”
Both booms are equipped with the unique hydraulic non-stop collision protection from Claas as standard.
“If the mower bed comes into contact with obstacles, the mower bed moves backwards and upwards by 15 degrees,” Shane says.
“Oil is pressed from the collision protection into the relief cylinder, which means that the mower bed is additionally relieved, protecting the mower bed from serious damage.
“The mower bed then automatically swings back into its working position due to the oil pressure.”
Max Cut mower beds also incorporate Claas’ rapid blade-change system.
“The caps and mower blades of the clockwise and anti-clockwise rotating mower discs are painted black and red, respectively,” Shane says.
“This means replacement blades can be immediately assigned to the appropriate mower discs.
“The blade box is divided into three compartments for red and black replacement blades and used blades.”
The protective covers fold out wide, providing excellent access to the mower beds.
During operation, the side units can be individually raised and lowered using a simple control terminal.
Otherwise, a separate oil connection can be supplied for each boom, which allows the individual lift to be integrated into the tractor’s headland management system.
All greasing points are clearly and permanently marked with the appropriate service intervals.
Disco 1010 is available in Trend and Comfort specifications, the latter having load-sensing hydraulics, ISOBUS operation and individual lifting as standard.
The Disco 1010 Comfort can be parked both in the working positions and in the transport position after attaching the supports supplied.
TYM 50HP TRACTOR PUNCHES ABOVE ITS WEIGHT
WILLIAM AND SALLY CUTLER RUN A MACADAMIA AND PECAN NUT FARM IN TELEGRAPH POINT, NSW. WITH 20 HECTARES, A LOT OF TIME IS SPENT HARVESTING NUTS AND MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY.
Will relies on his Korean-made TYM T503 HST tractor for just about every job around the farm, with the 50 hp workhorse amassing 5,400 tractor hours since 2010.
“The TYM T503 tractor is both very universal and also a great orchard tractor,” said Will. “With its low centre of gravity and small turning circle, it manoeuvres brilliantly around the orchard rows and in between the branches. HST transmission means that I can go back and forth in the orchard, using the pedals without wasting time changing gears. It’s easy to adjust the speed incrementally so I have complete control, which increases my productivity.
“During harvest time, I put the harvester on the front, the mulcher on the back, and I can harvest nuts and cut the grass at the same time, so the ground is ready for the next batch. It’s important to keep a well-maintained orchard so the nuts can be picked up properly. I have lots of attachments and also use forks on the front and a 1/2 tonne megabin. Wide industrial tyres are an option, and I chose these because they have less ground compression and don’t damage the orchard surface.
“As well as orchard work, I’ve used the TYM T503 to clear around the edge of the farm, snig logs, make roads with gravel in the bucket, put in a couple
of dams, expand the dams and clean them. It’s very balanced in 4WD and can go most places. The flat operator’s platform makes getting on and off the tractor very easy.”
Will also has a TYM T1003 tractor, which he uses for chipping, pruning and heavier mulching jobs around the property, but the TYM T503 is his go-to tractor. “What I love about the TYM T503 is that it’s doing the work you’d expect out of a higher horsepower tractor but with the advantages of a more com -
pact tractor. It has all the power I need and has been very reliable, working over 5,400 hours since 2010 and with a lot more to come.”
The TYM T503 tractor is available in manual or HST transmission, folding ROPS or cabin versions. It’s powered by a quiet four-cylinder Perkins diesel engine.
TYM tractors are distributed by Inlon dealers around Australia. For more information, call 1800 945 090 or visit www.tym. ag/925.
RUBIN 10 HIGH EFFICIENCY. HIGH ACREAGE. HIGH YIELDS.
RUBIN 10 – its superior clearance and 25” discs allow the Rubin 10 to work and control a greater amount of organic matter. Its symmetrical arrangement of discs is unique in the industry and ensures work in a straight line without any lateral offset. Working in a straight line saves fuel and optimizes GPS guidance.
■ Hydraulic depth control adjustable from the tractor cab.
■ Unique symmetrical disc arrangement for optimized GPS and fuel economy.
■ Individually mounted and guided discs with non-stop spring-loaded safety device for high speed work.
CLAAS’ LATEST GENERATION OF DUALROTOR CENTRAL LINER SWATHERS OFFER EXCELLENT GROUNDCONTOUR FOLLOWING FOR OPTIMUM RAKING PERFORMANCE WITH MINIMAL FORAGE CONTAMINATION.
Claas Harvest Centre product manager –Greenline, Shane Barratt, says the seven new models offer numerous innovative features and functions to ensure premium forage quality.
“The GrassCare rotor guidance system ensures that the rotors are actively suspended during operation,” he 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,” Shane says.
“The ground pressure of the rotor can be adapted precisely to the forage quantity and ground conditions by adjusting the suspension pressure.
“This ensures faster operating speeds and reduces soil contamination.
“It can be easy adjusted directly on the machine, with a gauge on the main frame indicating the pressure in the hydraulic circuits.”
The Liner 2600 and 2700 use a simple pin-and-hole system to adjust the working width, whereas working and swath width can be adjusted hydraulically on the larger models.
Raking height is adjusted by a crank handle on the rotors.
Hydraulic rotor height adjustment is available as an option.
The tine arms are firmly attached by a 20-spline shaft and secured with a Profix bracket.
“Inserting and removing the tine arms is quick and very straightforward,” Tim says.
“In the event of a collision, they can be quickly replaced.
“The integrated pre-defined bending point provides optimum protection for the rotor housing.”
Each tine arm is fitted with four 9.5 mm thick dual tines, which are secured via a bolt to prevent the tine from flying off in the event of a collision.
Each pair of tines is offset by 10 degrees to create a 10 mm long trailing end to help lift the crop from the ground.
This design ensures gentle and effective raking performance and optimal swath formation.
The two rotors are mechanically driven via
the PTO, increasing their raking force by up to 50 percent compared with hydraulic drives.
The shaft speed in the two Y-gearboxes on the main frame has been reduced from 540 to 350 rpm to protect the drivetrain.
The freewheel of the drive shaft is positioned directly inside the Y-gearbox, enabling the rotors to rotate freely in transport position.
Friction clutches protect each rotor against overload and allow work to continue nonstop even during load peaks.
All rotors are fitted with a four-wheel chassis as standard for optimal ground-contour following.
The wheels are positioned close to the circle of rotation of the tines to ensure smooth rotor guidance and optimum ground-contour following.
The front two chassis wheels are steerable.
Six-wheel chassis are optionally available for the Liner 2900 to 2700, and are fitted as standard to the Liner 3100.
The new models are steered by a wide, robust transport axle with zero-play mechanical forced steering.
“The steering angle can be mechanically adjusted from a soft to a sharp response and for turning,” Shane says.
“The angled position of the wheel mounts ensures that only light steering forces are needed and also makes for perfectly smooth running.
“Speeds of up to 40 km/h can be achieved on the road.”
With the exception of the Liner 3100, all models have a transport width of less than 3 m and a transport height of 4 m with tine arms attached.
LOW GRAIN LOSS, HIGH EFFICIENCY ADD UP WITH FENDT IDEAL
WHEN YOUR LIVELIHOOD IS GROWING CROPS, YOUR CHOICE OF COMBINE HARVESTER IS CRITICAL. THE ARMANINI FAMILY CHOSE A FENDT IDEAL 8T, AND IT ARRIVED IN OCTOBER, 2022.
Robert and Steven Armanini, their father John and their wives Susan and Daniela, grow wheat, canola and rice on 1300 ha of irrigated land in the Riverina.
Robert explains that a big reason they chose the Fendt Ideal was its separation area.
“It has dual helix rotors and it has a length of 5m, which allows for such a big separation and threshing area. In wheat and canola, the separation area is important, but for rice it is even more important.”
The big rotors have a 600-mm diameter. They separate gently and reliably while operating at lower speeds and using less power.
Separating rice is difficult because it is harvested green with 20 to 23 percent moisture.
Robert says he looked at other brands which had a similar capacity. “From what we could see, we weren’t happy with their grain loss.”
He also took the time to measure grain loss in the Fendt Ideal.
“Harvesting a 6-7 tonne/ha wheat crop at 35-40 tonnes/hour harvest losses were less than half a percent. Harvesting rice averaging 12 to 13 tonne/ha with a large amount of green material coming in, harvest losses were only 1 percent.
“This is exceptional and means more return at the end of harvest. That is one of the biggest reasons why we went with this machine.”
Robert has two other important reasons for choosing the Fendt Ideal – its tracks and its 12m AGCO PowerFlow front.
Fendt Ideals can be specified with tracks or dual wheels and the Armaninis chose the 760 mm (30-inch) tracks.
The decision paid off within a month, when they harvested the wheat and canola in spring. “It was very wet and lots of people were getting bogged. We didn’t have those issues.”
It might seem that with tracks comes the compromise of slower road speeds, however not in this case.
“It has rubber tracks and flies down the road at 40 kph,” Robert says. “Even with large tracks, the machine is very manoeuvrable.”
POWERFLOW FRONT
The AGCO PowerFlow front was new to the family. Up until now they had windrowed canola and then harvested with a pick-up front. The PowerFlow gave them the option to direct head the crop.
“We were a little bit anxious as we didn’t know how it would go, but the front did an awesome job in canola. We wouldn’t go back to windrowing.”
The next challenge for the PowerFlow was the rice. “We were confident it would work. It did take some adjustments, as there is so much green material. The AGCO reps came out to get it working in rice and it went really well.”
A major benefit of the PowerFlow front is its versatility – the one front can harvest all their crops. Previously they had three different fronts. This means extra capital cost, as well as the down time needed to swap and maintain them.
The separator, tracks and PowerFlow were the three key features convincing the Armanini family to swap to a Fendt Ideal, however there are many others which Robert appreciates.
He was not familiar with an MAN engine,
but is now a convert. “They are really efficient on fuel. It is very quiet, producing 540 hp on the Class 8.”
Robert also compliments the AirSense cooling system. “It is usually hot and dusty at harvest. The cooling system automatically reverses the fan regularly to blow out any stuff on the radiator. It is always clean and works really well.”
ADVANCED FEATURES
The Armanini family ordered their Ideal with a CVT transmission. “Not a lot of headers offer this and we wanted it. The machine figures itself out, and we no longer have to select gears.”
Fendt’s IdealHarvest system also gets a tick
of approval from Robert. “In that mode the machine controls everything based on the operator’s priorities.”
With IdealHarvest, the operator sets the harvest strategy (for example to minimise grain damage, minimise grain loss or minimise mog in the bin). Robert usually opts to minimise grain loss, followed by grain quality.
“It takes photos of the grain before entering the bin and then it will vary its settings if the grain is not up to standard.
“There is a lot of tech in this machine. It has remote access for the dealer to see any alarms or potential faults, and they can be rectified remotely.”
The Fendt cab was already familiar to
Robert because his previous harvester was an AGCO Gleaner, and he chose a joystick over a steering wheel.
“A joystick doesn’t sound like a big deal, and I thought it probably wouldn’t be, but it is. At the end of the day you come home more relaxed – you haven’t been bent over the wheel, and you don’t have that obstruction. You sit back and relax.”
EFFICIENCY BOOST
Their Fendt Ideal is improving efficiency for the Armanini family in a number of ways – the front is wider, grain losses are minimal, the engine is fuel-efficient.
Add to this the 17,000-litre grain tank. It takes 12 tonnes of wheat or 9-10 tonnes of rice. “It is a massive bin,” Robert says.
This means less time spent unloading. It is particularly useful in the rice fields, where it may be too wet for trucks or tractors to get in, so the harvester can only unload at the end of a run.
“Unloading takes 80-seconds via a large-diameter auger. This was another valuable feature. We wanted a machine with big augers, operating at slower speeds to improve our rice grain quality.”
The Armanini family have been purchasing AGCO harvesters since the 1980s. Their local dealer Serafin Ag Pro introduced them to the Fendt Ideal.
“The dealer has been great, and the AGCO people have always been very helpful.”
Robert says parts are readily available. “If they are not in store, then they arrive overnight.”
The Armanini family has ordered another Fendt Ideal 8T harvester which will arrive in spring. They have ordered the 2023 model with the 4WD and high wear package options.
They are happy customers. “I believe this machine with the dual helix rotors provides us with the best way to achieve low harvest losses, particularly in rice.
“For cereals and rice timing is everything. When it is ready it has to come off. You need the capacity and efficiency. This Fendt Ideal 8T has satisfied all our harvest requirements.”
FEEDSTORM CROSS AUGER EARNS GOLD STAR REVIEW
IN THE CENTRAL WHEATBELT AREA OF WA, FARMER ROGER NEWMAN IS REELING AFTER THE LAST HARVEST. THE SIMPLE MAKEOVER OF CURRENT MACHINERY ENSURED IT WAS ALL SMOOTH SAILING.
With a near-perfect start to the 2023 season and the seeder parked back in the shed, he’s reflecting on the changes he made ahead of the 2022 harvest.
Farming in the heart of Western Australia’s wheatbelt, Roger and his brother operate a 5000ha+ broadacre cropping program focusing on winter cereals and oilseed crops.
After some late-night internet research and YouTube watching, Roger found the FeedStorm Cross Auger.
“There was a video of the FeedStorm auger. It just looked awesome; it didn’t slow down, and it worked all day. The video might be misleading, but I thought I’d take the punt and see.”
Six months down the track, Roger couldn’t be happier with his decision. Taking delivery of a new New Holland Header in 2022, Roger got one of his fronts retro-fitted.
“MacDon got a makeover,” he says.
“We were able to compare two headers across our entire operation. Having two New Holland machines, both operating with MacDon fronts, one with an original (MacDon) cross auger, the other retro-fitted with the Primary Sales Australia Feedstorm adjustable cross auger.”
With the introduction of the Feedstorm cross auger, Roger saw with the front run -
ning the Feedstorm that it was smoother and quicker.
“And we saw fewer header blockages,” he says. “The next time we update our header set-up, we won’t hesitate to get a Feedstorm auger fitted.”
The Feedstorm is adjustable from the cab, making it a quick, easy on-the-go adjustment for adequate crop feeding. The return on investment is seen through reduced machin-
Better summer weed control for
LAND PRIDE AG15 SERIES ARENA GRADER PERFECTING EQUESTRIAN ARENAS
KUBOTA AUSTRALIA IS INTRODUCING THE LAND PRIDE AG15 SERIES ARENA GRADER, EXPANDING THEIR OFFERINGS IN THE EQUESTRIAN RANGE.
Kubota Product Manager for Land Pride, John Moloney said the AG15 Series arena grader is the perfect tool for equine hobbyists and enthusiasts to upkeep their arenas to a professional standard.
“The AG15 Series is a 3-point linkage attachment suitable for tractors from 18-65hp and is quick hitch compatible,” said Mr Moloney.
“Adding an optional Land Pride Quick-Hitch allows you to connect and disconnect the Land Pride Arena Grader from the tractor, without having to leave your seat, making it an easy-to-use piece of equipment.
“The Land Pride Arena Grader features adjustable S-tines which include replaceable tips for efficient maintenance and can be adjusted to your preference.
“Danish tine clamp holds the S-tine shanks straight and tight, ensuring that the tines remove compaction layers evenly and consistently across the working width. The tine working depth is a maximum of 10cm and set by a simple ratchet handle.”
An adjustable levelling bar is a key component in ensuring an even and level finish. It
will even out hoofprints and smooth the soil, making the arena more accommodating for both the horse and the rider.
“No arena grading job is complete without providing a quality finish. There are two rear finishing roller options available on the AG15 Series. The pipe roller option will create a more rippled and aerated surface where more cushioning is required under foot,” said Mr Moloney.
“If you’re looking for a smoother and firmer finish, the mesh roller will be a better option.
ery hours, reduced time fixing blockages and reward for more grain in the tank and less post-harvest management.
“The safety issues we’ve avoided due to having the cross auger are unimaginable; we didn’t have to climb in the front and unblock the front.
“Whoever thought of it, I’ll give him a gold
star. For us, it was about capitalising on the machinery investments we’ve already made. We’re looking for longevity of gear and improved production and profitability.”
The Feedstorm adjustable upper cross auger is designed and made in Australia and is a great tool for broadacre farmers, and it’s an improvement to their harvest perfor-
Both rollers break clods effectively and leave a uniform finish, adding an extra level of attention to your arena.”
The Land Pride Arena Grader is offered in 60” (1.5m), 72” (1.8m) and 84” (2.1m) widths to suit all arena sizes and the overall unit is covered under a one-year warranty, except for the S-tine shanks, which are considered wear items.
Deliveries of the Land Pride AG15 Series arena grader range are available through your local Kubota dealer.
mance by reducing front harvest loss and saving both time and money.
For more information about the Feedstorm augers, contact Primary Sales Australia (08) 9250 3500or jump on Youtube and see it for yourself. Available for Macdon D60, D65, D1, FD2, FLEX FD70/75, 3152 and John Deere 600/700 Series.
CLEAN FARM FOCUS WINS THE WAR ON WEEDS
YEARS OF MANAGING WEEDS IN A CONTINUOUS CROPPING PROGRAM HAS CONDITIONED AARON CANDELORO TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEVER FARM FOR MAXIMUM PROFIT; YOU FARM FOR MAXIMUM CLEANLINESS – AND THEN YOU WILL WIN.
“We can aim for the highest yields and all talk about big yields and profits, but with that focus you can end up with dirty paddocks,’’ Aaron said.
He said his family, within reason, now aimed for maximum cleanliness and understood they could still lose money in certain paddocks, which he acknowledged also had been the message from other farmers employing latest strategies to combat weeds.
However, after six years of harvester-integrated weed seed control, paddocks on the Candeloro Farms properties in Western Australia through the Toodyay, Goomalling and Victoria Plains shires are becoming cleaner and, hence, they are winning.
Aaron and his brothers, Jerome and Dion, and their father, Joe, crop 13,500 hectares to wheat, barley, canola and lupins, and weeds have always governed their farming decisions.
“Depending on the weeds, we may need to change our rotation plans at times and perhaps go with canola more,’’ Aaron said.
“Ryegrass, radish and brome grass can all give us a headache. Herbicide-resistant weeds are an issue. We have 100 per cent
Roundup resistance off firebreaks.’’
He said the family previously used chaff carts, which were good despite the chore of burning the chaff dumps, while they also sow crops late to help control early weed germinations upfront.
They use a Kelly Chain to stimulate weed growth, and they undertake crop-topping as well as swath spraying of canola.
The Candeloros adopted harvester-integrated weed seed control when the first hydraulic Harrington Seed Destructor for headers was introduced and they now use the latest vertical, mechanical direct drive Seed Destructor.
They have five New Holland CR10.90 harvesters all equipped with Seed Destructors.
“As our headers got bigger, the Seed Destructor kept up with the horsepower requirements to handle the bigger machines,’’ Aaron said.
“It has a good drive package, so belts don’t slip and you can drive to the load of the header motor – you want to harvest at full capacity.
“We can harvest with the Seed Destructor at 6-7 kilometres per hour.’’
CAREY LOTON, MCINTOSH & SON WONGAN HILLS WA AND ANDREW VEARING (RIGHT), PRODUCT SUPPORT MANAGER WITH DE BRUIN ENGINEERING, CAUGHT UP WITH WA GROWER AARON CANDELORO, TOODYAY, DURING THE RECENT HARVEST TO UPDATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FAMILY’S LATEST VERTICAL, MECHANICAL DIRECT DRIVE SEED DESTRUCTORS.
He said the evolution to the vertical, mechanical direct drive Seed Destructor was “1000 per cent’’ better than the original hydraulic version and they encountered no problems with the systems during their first harvest recently.
Invented by WA grower Ray Harrington and independently shown to kill up to 99 per cent of weed seeds.
The Seed Destructor is designed and manufactured by de Bruin Engineering and distributed nationally by McIntosh Distribution.
The core mill technology was developed by UniSA with funding and support from GRDC.
“They are very easy to operate and there is little maintenance –we just grease a bearing. And the mills are worn-out now, but we got 570 hours with them, which we were happy with,’’ Aaron said.
“We harvested green canola and swathed canola and we had no problems with any blockages.’’
He said the stone trap with the Seed Destructors was a handy feature, allowing them to clear
THE CANDELOROS HAVE SEED DESTRUCTORS ON ALL FIVE OF THEIR NEW HOLLAND CR10.90 HARVESTERS, WITH SEVERAL PICTURED IN FULL SWING DURING THE RECENT HARVEST.
items like rocks, sand and wire twice a day in lupin crops and every morning in cereals.
The ability to remove the rear hatch was another benefit to offer the option of carrying out grain loss checks.
The Candeloros also easily bypassed the Seed Destructor in one block, leaving chaff windrows to feed cattle.
With minimal rotor loss with the new harvesters and the high kill rate with the Seed Destructors, Aaron said they were confident they would continue to reduce their weed seed bank.
“After finishing just about the best harvest we have ever had, we are starting to see that radish is not a problem. We have still got isolated areas with radish problems, but we are not seeing whole farms as well.
“We have still got ryegrass, but previously we had patches with more ryegrass and less wheat. Now we have more wheat and less ryegrass.
“And if a weed problem does come up, we don’t have the header rows and so we are not spreading it throughout the paddock.’’
Aaron said the Seed Destructors were secured through McIntosh & Son at Wongan Hills, with excellent support from the branch underpinning the family’s long-term relationship with the business.
The Seed Destructors can be fitted to all major header brands, including Case IH, John Deere and Claas, as well as New Holland machines.
Growers interested in further information about the vertical, mechanical Harrington Seed Destructor can contact their local dealer.
IMPROVED SEEDBED PAYS OFF DESPITE DRY EARLY CONDITIONS
THE ABILITY TO “CHASE MOISTURE” AND ACCURATELY PLACE SEED DURING DRY SOWING CONDITIONS IS PAYING BIG EARLY CROP DIVIDENDS FOR THE JONES FAMILY NEAR WYALKATCHEM IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
The Jones’ recorded one of their best ever crop production seasons in 2022 and after solid recent rainfall following a dry period, crops are again establishing well this year and the annual rainfall total is now more than 100 millimetres higher than at the same time last year.
“The crops are coming away nicely. We received more rain for April-May last year and the canola was more even, but we are now over 100mm above last year and ahead of the last five years, so it is significant. An extra 100mm will help come September,” Campbell Jones said.
“Later sown crops took a little longer with the cooler temperatures, but most were up at the end of May and are looking good. To receive 60mm at the start of June, you can’t ask for anything better.
“We also threw some urea out before the recent rains, so we have been very lucky.”
The family has cropped 5000 hectares to canola, wheat and barley and also is manag-
WA GROWER CAMPBELL JONES, WYALKATCHEM, WITH THE FAMILY’S 12-METRE MORRIS QUANTUM AIR DRILL AND 22,600-LITRE MORRIS 9445 AIR CART. CAMPBELL SAID THE SEEDING SYSTEM HAD ACHIEVED EXCELLENT CROP GERMINATIONS IN RECENT SEASONS AND IF THEY HAD STILL BEEN USING THEIR PREVIOUS BARS, THEY WOULDN’T HAVE GOT HALF THEIR CROP UP THIS YEAR.
ing 1300ha of chemical fallow this season to prepare for canola production over the area next year.
CAMPBELL POINTS OUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MORRIS SEEDING SYSTEM IN DRAWING MOISTURE UP TO WHERE THE FAMILY PLACED SEED, WHICH WAS DROPPED TO ABOUT 50MM IN THE DRY CONDITIONS TOWARD THE END OF THEIR SEEDING PROGRAM IN ORDER TO “CHASE THE MOISTURE’’.
The program was sown with a 12-metre Morris Quantum air drill configured with a double chute seeding kit and a 22,600-litre Morris 9445 air cart incorporating a liquid tank and featuring the manufacturer’s input control technology (ICT).
Flexi-N liquid and Crop Builder 18 granular fertilisers are placed at the bottom of the seeding trench and cereal seed is normally sown at a depth of about 20mm and 75mm above the fertiliser, while canola seed is placed on the surface and pushed into the ground via the air drill’s press wheels.
The Jones’ previously used an 18m seeding bar, however they returned to a 12m working width to adopt a genuine controlled traffic farming system initially via another bar before upgrading to the Quantum air drill.
“The Quantum is our first hydraulic tine bar and it has achieved better seed placement and a decent seedbed in tougher conditions,” Campbell said.
“With the other bars, we wouldn’t have got half the crop up this year.”
The family’s Morris Quantum air drill also includes the popular Auto-Lift and Auto-Pack control technology. The Auto-Lift allows automatic lifting and lowering of tines at the end of seeding runs, while the Auto-Pack automatically adjusts packing pressure to achieve correctly packed furrows, an ideal seedbed and to draw moisture into the trench via capillary action.
“After receiving 88mm of rain from March
GERMINATED WHEAT ON THE JONES’ WYALKATCHEM PROPERTY IN WA PICTURED DURING THE DRY PERIOD ON MAY 16, ONLY NINE DAYS AFTER IT WAS SOWN ON MAY 7.
27 to April 1 and then less than 11mm for eight weeks over seven events, it became hit and miss getting to moisture as we got to the back end of our seeding program, so we just kept dropping the depth down to put it onto moisture,” Campbell said.
“We ended up dropping the seeding depth to about 50mm.
“We have got some varying soil types and paddocks that have been deep ripped, but we were constantly getting the 80 kilograms of tine pressure that it was set at.
“As more pressure comes on, the tine will kick back and it will apply that breakout pressure. In lighter country it might require 350 psi and in heavier country it can go up to 1000-1200 psi, but it’s getting 80kg on the press wheel and that helps maintain the uniformity.”
He said they had achieved excellent crop germinations in recent years.
“This year we really tested it out with the Quantum and we are very happy with it. We were able to maintain that depth and with the packing pressure we managed to get a strike.”
“We were able to dig below the seedbed and we managed to get the moisture to come up to help germinate the seed.”
Campbell said the strength of the Morris Quantum air drill, delivered by its unique interlocking, laser-cut tubular frame, also continued to impress him.
“We have never had any problems and it’s going to last for years and years,” Campbell said
Meanwhile, the larger capacity Morris 9445 air cart has allowed the Jones’ to increase their seeding shifts from eight hours to 12 hours before refilling, while the ICT, in addition to variable rate technology, has contributed to further product savings.
The Morris Quantum air drill also is now available in a new 24m working width for the 2024 season and is expected to be unveiled at field days later this year. For further information about the air drills, growers can contact their nearest dealer.
Switch from field to transport in 30 seconds
PÖTTINGER SENDS NEW LOADER WAGON ONTO THE SLOPES
ALPINE TERRAIN DEMANDS THE BEST FROM TECHNOLOGY. STEEP SLOPES, UNEVEN TERRAIN AND HUGE DIFFERENCES IN ELEVATION, THESE ARE THE OPERATING CONDITIONS THAT PÖTTINGER KNOWS VERY WELL BEING BASED IN AUSTRIA.
The Alpin range of equipment is continuously being adapted to meet these demands even better. With the Boss 2000 Alpin, Pöttinger now presents the latest revision to the Boss Alpin series. The central element of the three new models is the 1.80 metre wide pickup, which they inherited from their big brother, the Boss 3000. In addition to a modern design, the Boss loader wagons have also been equipped with new on-board electronics. The Boss 2000 Alpin is available in three sizes with DIN loading volumes of 13.50m2, 16.10m2 and 18.70m2: Boss 2140 Alpin, Boss 2160 Alpin, Boss SS 2190 Alpin.
Maximum stability on slopes
Boss 2000 Alpin models are purpose-built, low-profile loader wagons. With a track width of 2.09 m, the tyres are wider than the body for maximum stability. In addition to AS profile, tyres up to 520 mm wide can be fitted. Mudguards are available as an option. These are at an angle so that dirt cannot accumulate. Thanks to the welded frame design, Boss Alpin loader wagons are particularly lightweight.
Wide pick-up
The pick-up has an effective width of 1800 mm (DIN) and its freedom of movement has been greatly improved. In especially demanding terrain, a trailing jockey wheel chassis contributes to a cleanly collected crop. Ground tracking can also be optimised with the Autotast active parallel lift drawbar.
The five tine carriers, which are guided by a cam track, are driven by a maintenance-free V-belt. A crop swath roller and flexible transfer plates are standard and ensure a perfect flow of forage with any type of crop.
SUPERMATIC loading unit
Maximum forage conservation with low power requirements are key characteristics of the Supermatic tine conveyor unit. As standard, the Boss 2000 Alpin has a 6-knife chopping system. A maximum of 16 knives can be installed. Each knife is equipped with its own individual protection system, At headlands, the loading unit and pick-up switch off automatically. This means that the loader wagon can be driven over swaths without disturbing them, while the tractor's full power is available for turning around.
Configured especially for small tractors
Boss Alpin loader wagons can be operated with as little as 40 horsepower and a PTO speed of 540 rpm. Just one double-acting and one single-acting remote with open centre are all that are needed to operate the loader wagon. This means that it can be used with older and/or smaller tractors. The drawbar can be attached to the tractor using a hammerstrap, the lower linkages, or a low K80 ball hitch. A drawbar extension enables operation with tractors fitted with wide tyres or dual wheels.
The right control terminal for every operator
The standard system supplied with the Boss 2000 Alpin includes a Basic Control terminal. This enables the operator to preselect the functions for the pick-up and tailgate so they can be carried out using a spool valve on the tractor. An LED indicates whether the tailgate is open or closed. The optional hydraulic parallel lift drawbar can be operated using an additional spool valve. The higher specification control terminals bring ISOBUS capability to the Boss 2000 Alpin. Optional functions such as the parallel lift drawbar and the hydraulic dry forage extension are integrated into the control system. With the top version, the loader wagon can also be operated using a power beyond or load-sensing hydraulic circuit. In this case, all functions can be performed directly from the control terminal.
As the world market leader in loader wagons, Pöttinger once again demonstrates its outstanding expertise in forage harvesting in flat and alpine regions with the Boss 2000 Alpin series.
THE BOSS 2160 LP ALPIN CUTS A FINE FIGURE ON STEEP SLOPES.
BOSS 2160 LP ALPIN, FEATURING A TINE CONVEYOR LOADING UNIT FOR HARVESTING THE BEST QUALITY FORAGE.
JOHN SHEARER LAUNCHES NEW PRECISION SEEDERBAR
JOHN SHEARER’S MK4 UNIVERSAL SEEDER BAR IS BASED ON THE COMPANY’S HISTORY OF BUILDING TOP-END, ROBUST MACHINES DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE RIGORS OF THE AUSTRALIAN FARMING AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.
One look at the Universal seeder bar and you can see the strength that has been engineered into the machine. The main frame includes four rows of 100 mm x 100 mm mounting ranks, of which the front and rear centre section beams are 9 mm for additional strength.
Working widths include 15.2m, 16.8m and 18.2m for a double fold model and 7.9m to 13.8m for a single fold model. Both versions are able to fold suitably when being transported on the road. It also sits on wider wheels and tyres designed to provide better traction in soft conditions.
“The Mk4 seeder bar is like no other machine on the market,” says John Shearer operations manager Franco Perotta.
“The most notable improvement on the Mk4 seeder bar is the all-new, precision tine opener.
“Wielding an impressive 590 kg of breakout force, the opener has been designed to suit any terrain needed for the everyday agricultural worker.”
Using regulated force from the main hydraulic c ram, the opening tine is designed to cultivate deeply to assist with moisture during the initial phase before the fertiliser is applied and covered. This reduces problems
that may be created by the seed coming into direct contact with the fertiliser.
Seed is then placed into the furrow via a seed tube which can be adjusted to place the seed at depths varying between 6 mm and 70 mm before the furrow is closed by a press wheel, which uses a hydraulic ram to apply constant pressure – via independent pressure from the main ram. This also allows packing pressure to be altered on the fly by the operator.
One of the really innovative features of the Mk4 seeder is the unique linkage that
allows the entire assembly to retain the same working angle as it follows the ground contours.
The advanced hydraulic control system isn’t the only innovative highlight of the new Mk4 seeder, with John Shearer’s Active-Pack control system giving the operator control over the press wheel’s packing pressure. Once the desired pressure has been selected, the Active-Pack system adjusts the hydraulic pressure on the ram controlling the press wheel, enabling smooth and even travel across varying terrain.
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RAISING THE BAR
JOHN SHEARER’S MK4 UNIVERSAL SEEDER BAR BUILDS ON A LINEAGE OF ROBUST AND EFFECTIVE SHEARER SEEDING MACHINES - NOW WITH A VARIETY OF IMPROVEMENTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TODAY’S FARMS.
Since 1877 John Shearer has been providing Australia with high quality farm machinery tailor-made for our tough landscape.
And Shearer’s latest machine –the Mk4 seeder bar – is no exception. The heavy-duty machine has been set to top the market with its unique combination of Shearer’s robust equipment structures and a completely new hydraulic tine opener assembly.
Wider wheels and tyres grant better floatation in soft soil and with a maximum front tine breakout pressure of 620kg, the seeder can handle tough soils.
In the Shearer tradition, the four-row universal seeder bar is designed and built for maximum structual strength and service life.
The main frame includes four rows of 100 mm x 100 mm mounting ranks, of which the front and rear centre section beams are 9 mm thick steel tube.
Both single fold, with narrow and standard centre sections, and double fold (standard centre only) versions are available, with both versions able to fold for road transport.
Working widths for the double fold model are, 15.2m, 16.8m,
18.2m and for the single fold widths range from 7.9m (26’) through to 13.8m (46’).
“The Mk4 seeder bar is like no other machine on the market,” says John Shearer’s operations manager Franco Perrotta.
THE LATEST IN TINE OPENER TECHNOLOGY, SHEARER’S PRECISION TINE OPENER OPENS, CULTIVATES AND PACKS SOIL DOWN.
“The most notable improvement on the Mk4 seeder bar is the all-new, precision tine opener. Wielding an impressive 590 kg of breakout force, the opener has been designed to suit any terrain needed for the everyday agricultural worker.”
The process begins with the opening tine cultivating deeply to help roots seek out moisture and increased water infiltration.
Then fertiliser is banded deeply into the open furrow, and then covered by a closer plate, creating a seed bed and preventing seed to fertiliser contact for reduced toxicity.
The seed tube then places the seed above the fertiliser, on the seed bed, with the seeding tine/
THE MK4 SEEDER BAR HAS A 670 KG BREAKOUT FORCE, MEANING IT CAN HANDLE SOME VERY HARD SOILS.
tube regulated independently to achieve the desired seed depth –from 6-70 mm.
The press wheel then closes the furrow, creating seed to soil contact and a small rainfall-harvesting trench. It does this with the assistance of a parallelogram linkage which allows the whole unit to move up and down, following ground contours, while remaining at the same working angle.
The main hydraulic ram will provide regulated force so that the tine opener can bite into the ground normally and still breakout if an obstacle is encountered.
The press wheel hydraulic ram uses independent pressure from the main ram to supply constant pressure as it moves, enabling the operator to change packing pressure on the go as the seeding shank and press wheel swivel up to 30 degrees either side.
In conjunction with the advanced hydraulic control system on the Mk4 seeder bar, another advanced piece of Shearer technology – the ActivePack – allows the operator to set the required packing pressure on the press wheel.
Active-Pack will maintain the desired pressure constantly by varying the hydraulic pressure on the press wheel ram as conditions change across the paddock, ensuring smooth movement regardless of potential terrain extremities.
For the latest on the Mk4 seeder bar and Active-Pack technology, keep up to date at johnshearer.com.au.
JOHN SHEARER’S NEW 4 ROW UNIVERSAL SEEDER BAR IS AVAILABLE IN SIZES UP TO 18.3M, BUT CAN ALSO FOLD FOR ROAD TRANSPORT.
TERRIA: MORE APPLICATIONS AND EVEN HIGHER EFFICIENCY
FOLLOWING THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM PACKAGE FEATURING FERTILISER BOOTS, MORE EQUIPMENT OPTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL THE MODELS IN THE TERRIA RANGE OF PÖTTINGER, THE TRAILED STUBBLE CULTIVATORS WITH THREE OR FOUR ROWS.
FLEXIBLE TEGOSEM HOPPER AND TRACTION CONTROL
For even more applications and higher efficiency, the stubble cultivators are now available with the proven Tegosem flexible hopper for sowing seed and applying micro-granules. This makes it easy to combine tillage and drilling a cover crop, or applying fertiliser in a single pass.
With the Traction Control system, the weight of the stubble cultivator is shifted to the rear axle of the tractor. Less wheel slip is the result, allowing the tractor to deliver power to the ground more efficiently.
Good for the soil
Working efficiently is becoming increasingly important in the field to take full advantage of planting time frames in addition to meeting deadlines for sowing cover crops after harvest.
The Terria with the flexible Tegosem hopper and a capacity of 500 litres makes this possible. By establishing ground cover rapidly and extensively, unproductive water evaporation is prevented. Likewise, excess nitrogen in the soil is absorbed
by the plants and retained on site. Improving and stabilising the soil structure with organisms increases water infiltration while reducing the risk of erosion. By carrying out both tasks in a single pass, the flexible hopper saves time and costs. Reducing the number of passes conserves the soil and any harmful compaction is avoided.
Simple and precise
The flexible Tegosem hopper from Pöttinger is equipped with an adaptable metering shaft. This is electrically controlled depending on the driving speed, and it switches off automatically at the headland. Before starting work, the system is optimised by means of a calibration test. A hydraulic fan ensures reliable transport of the material to the distribution plates.
To ensure a uniform spread of material close to the ground and to be able to vary the application point, the angle of the distribution plates can be adjusted by twisting the shaft.
The aim is to deposit the seed material in front of the rear roller or at the rear roller for optimum germination conditions. A clear and intuitive control terminal is
available for operating the flexible Tegosem hopper. This is used to optimise the settings according to the operating conditions. For increased convenience, the flexible Tegosem hopper is equipped with additional features, including a level sensor.
Delivering full pulling power
Increased wheel slip not only damages the structure of the soil, it also reduces cost effectiveness by increasing fuel consumption.
In order to use the power of the tractor as efficiently as possible, the drawbar can be equipped with the Traction Control hydraulic pulling power booster.
This system transfers weight from the stubble cultivator to the rear axle of the tractor. The pres-
sure in the drawbar cylinder can be adapted for different working depths. A weight of up to 1,400 kg can be transferred this way. Ultimately, the system reduces operating costs and increases the efficiency of the machine.
High yield levelling
Producing a level working pattern is essential for the follow-up tasks and uniform seed emergence. To further improve levelling in locations with light soil types, Terria models with tandem rear rollers can now be equipped with an optional levelling board instead of the concave discs. This creates even and uniform working results and positively influences the tilth.
Moves more
Terria trailed stubble cultivators with 3 or 4 rows and a working width of four to six metres (Terria 4030, 5030, 6030, 4040, 5040, 6040) can handle a wide range of tillage applications. Especially the option of the flexible Tegosem hopper increases versatility even further and enables tasks to be combined into a single pass. In addition, the Traction Control system uses the weight of the stubble cultivator to optimise the tractor’s power to the ground and helps to increase efficiency.
The SCORPION has a powerful, continuously variable drivetrain, outstanding manoeuvrability and many automatic functions, to help you carry out loading operations safely, conveniently, and above all, quickly.
f Lift height up to 8.79 m and lifting capacity up to 6 t
f Efficient and powerful ground drive systems up to 40 km/h
f Deutz high-torque 4-cylinder high-performance engines up to 156 hp
f SMART ROADING with optimised engine control and reduced fuel consumption
f Load-sensing system with pump capacity of up to 200 L/min
f SMART LOADING bundles and a suite of machine optimisation systems for precise control
f Ergonomic, spacious cab has controls placed intuitively and perfect all-round visibility
