Issue 227 | April/May 2024 - NZ Rural Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

FEATURE

What’s new in Fertiliser Technology and Spreaders

FEATURE

What’s new in Spraying Technology

EQUIPMENT

Kuhn unveils new folding power harrows

YOUR NOZZLE-BY-NOZZLE ADVANTAGE

Take your spraying program to the next level of accuracy and performance with RightSpot™ precision technology from Ag Leader. Suitable for retrofitting to most self-propelled or trailed sprayers, RightSpot utilises blended pulse technology to maintain consistent droplet size and coverage at all operating speeds. With independent control of up to 144 nozzles, automatic turn compensation and automatic reticulation, priming and flushing, RightSpot significantly reduces input costs and the potential for spray drift. Contact your local Ag Leader dealer and find out how RightSpot can optimise the efficacy of your spraying program.

INTHIS ISSUE....

02 FROM THE EDITOR: First the bad news

INDUSTRY NEWS

03 Kiwi and Irish researchers take up methane emissions challenge

04 Subsoiler-direct drill combo the next big thing

06 Use layers of deterrence to stop rural crime

08 Trials confirm Pudama spot fertilising potential

09 Award honours top Kiwi agrichemical applicators

10 Bio-stimulants breathe new life into old mill

12 Fertmark extends scope to cover bio stimulants, other new products

14 Compaction, subsoilers and how to use them

16 Norwood welcomes Landini to its stable

17 Contractor sweating the details in lead up to world ploughing champs

18 Tabula links arms with Topcon

18 Another free conference for rural contractors

19 Pilot scheme to recycle 10,000 cow collars

20 Generation soft bait the real deal in rodent control

TECHNOLOGY

22 Freshfilter proves itself to veteran spray contractor

24 Automatic top link adjustment for smarter fert applications

25 Ag Leader upgrade costs fraction of new or second-hand sprayer

27 Electrical weeding could zap dependence on agrichemicals

28 Topcon universal load cells give muck spreader next level a ccuracy

PROFILES

30 New business with a long history

34 Custom-built mulchers do the hard yards

40 Injection of youth takes spray business forward

46 Across the Ditch: Sam monk - an amaizing life

FEATURES

50 What’s new in spray technology

66 What’s new in fertiliser technology and spreaders

EQUIPMENT

84 Meet the Boss – Valtra S6 Series high horsepower tractors born to work

86 Life better with high capacity Pegasus sprayer on the job

89 Contractor’s Veenhuis slurry tanker both faster and smarter

90 Case IH set to launch biggest Axial-Flows yet

91 Kuhn unveils new folding power harrows

92 Cutting-edge Kverneland gear keeps arable farm ticking over

95 Latest Deere S7 combines gobble more grain, less fuel

96 Years of accurate, low-cost drilling with Allen P-D Series

PAUL TITUS, EDITOR

FIRST THE BAD NEWS

KIA ORA. THE NEWS IN THE AGRICULTURAL WORLD WAS A BIT GRIM AS WE WERE FINALISING THIS ISSUE. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE SOME UPLIFTING STORIES TO GET YOU OVER THE HUMP.

First the bad news: Sluggish international demand and Australia’s high red meat export levels were putting real pressure on Kiwi farmers while dry weather was wreaking havoc in several places around the country.

If you live in Canterbury, like I do, the atmosphere was even sadder with the Crusaders off to their worst start in Super Rugby history. If you look further afield it is always possible to find much grimmer news, such as the brutal wars afflicting Gaza and Ukraine. As ever, we thank our lucky stars that we live in Aotearoa.

Now the good news: I am always pleased to get away from my desk to visit with farmers and contractors, especially those who think outside the box. In March I had the chance to visit with Arthur Grigg at Surrey Hills Station, in the foothills of the Canterbury high country.

Arthur and his father Paul are using no-till to develop their hill country paddocks. Always looking for an edge, they direct drill their paddocks with a mix of oat-ryegrass as well as kale and fodder beet.

The Griggs recently upgraded their direct drill and tractor. To get a return on that investment, they came up with the idea of using them to do a better version of strip tillage.

Rather than pair their direct drill with a strip tiller, which does what it says on the box – cultivates strips out of pasture or ex-cropped ground – they run it in tandem with a subsoiler. The subsoiler removes compaction and leaves friable soil for the drill to work in without break-

ing up the soil surface.

Now Arthur is going contracting with their ‘strip no-till’ set up. They reckon it is the ideal way to restore and reseed winter grazed paddocks in a single pass.

We also have a story on Agrihub Solutions, which is converting the old paper mill in Mataura to produce soil bio-stimulants from fish and seaweed. And we catch up with Mark Dillon, who is heading off to the World Ploughing Champs in Estonia.

So as the 2023-2024 season winds down, here are a few jokes to relax with.

A cheese factory exploded in France. Da brie was everywhere.

***

What do you call a hippie's wife? Mississippi.

***

What did the full glass say to the empty glass? You look drunk.

***

A teenager brought her new boyfriend home to meet her parents. Unfortunately they were taken aback by his haircut, his tattoos and his piercings.

Later, the girl’s mum said to her daughter, “Dear, he doesn’t seem to be a very nice boy.”

“Oh, please, Mum!” daughter retorted. “If he wasn’t nice, would he be doing 500 hours of community service?”

***

A man finally got the courage to speak his mind to his wife. “Your mother has been living with us for five years. Isn’t it time she got a place of her own?” he asked.

“My mother?” replied his wife. “I thought she was your mother.”

AgriMedia Ltd, Ashcroft House Tancreds Road PO Box 37151, Halswell, Christchurch 8245 ph 03 329 6555 fax 03 329 6550 www.agrimedia.co.nz

Publishers of Rural Contractor & Large Scale Farmer, AgriBusiness, AgriVet, NZ Cropping, Australian AG Contractor & Large Scale Farmer, NZ Novachem Agrichemical Manual.

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SCALE FARMER - No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily that of the publisher and suggest independent advice be sought before acting on information or suggestions contained herein.

CONTRIBUTIONS - Editorial and photographic contributions are welcomed and should be sent directly to AgriMedia Ltd. Editing of submissions is at the sole discretion of the editor and will accept no responsibility for unsolicited material.

EDITOR

Paul Titus

87 Stanbury Avenue, Christchurch ph (03) 381 6912 mob 021 655 092

email titus@agrimedia.co.nz

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Paula Forde

mob 027 229 0362

email paula@agrimedia.co.nz

CIRCULATION

email admin@agrimedia.co.nz

PRODUCTION, LAYOUT & DESIGN

Hannah Kincaid email art@agrimedia.co.nz

CONTRIBUTORS

Joanna Ibell, David Hill, Jim Lindsay, Brendon Burns, Bill Ritchie, Paul Collins, Mark Hamilton-Manns, Andrew Sing.

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KIWI AND IRISH RESEARCHERS TAKE UP METHANE EMISSIONS CHALLENGE

RESEARCHERS IN NEW ZEALAND AND IRELAND ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND METHANE EMISSIONS FROM PASTURE-BASED FARM SYSTEMS.

The four-year programme will see researchers, students, professors and database experts from DairyNZ and several Irish institutes and universities attempt to quantify methane emissions from dairy cows.

DairyNZ principal scientist Dr Jane Kay says they aim to determine the effect that different variables have on cows’ response to methane-reducing technologies. These variables include stages of lactation, pasture species, animal management and seasonal growth.

Jane says the joint programme

strengthens DairyNZ’s connection with Ireland. Scientists will work with Kiwi farmers, research organisations and commercial companies to develop viable tools to reduce on-farm emissions.

DairyNZ was awarded funding in 2023 for this work, as part of a pilot joint research initiative between New Zealand and Ireland.

The programme will develop a methane database for pasturebased systems to ensure emissions and mitigations are accurately accounted for at a farm and national level in both countries. Aotearoa and Ireland face national and market targets to reduce methane.

DairyNZ says Kiwi farmers are among the world’s most emissions-efficient. Consumer and dairy suppliers are pushing dairy farmers to continue reducing emissions, which will help

the New Zealand dairy industry remain competitive.

Jane says a priority of the research is to help farmers reduce emissions and remain profitable.

Strategies to reduce emissions from cows include early life intervention, which involves feeding a natural product to young calves to reduce methane emissions over its lifetime.

“This is an attractive mechanism because it is cost-effective and occurs well before milk harvesting,” Jane says.

Research on methane mitigation technologies will be done at Lye Farm, one of DairyNZ’s two Waikato research farms. The farm provides a setting where scientists can do trials under relevant conditions.

Farmers involved in the project will provide their thoughts and advice on how the strategies can be used on-farm.

CROPS LOVE KVERNELAND

DAIRYNZ’S JANE KAY SAYS A PRIORITY OF THE RESEARCH IS TO HELP FARMERS REDUCE EMISSIONS BUT ALSO REMAIN PROFITABLE.

The Irish institutes taking part in the research are the Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), University College Cork, and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation.

SUBSOILER-DIRECT DRILL COMBO THE NEXT BIG THING

A CANTERBURY FARMERCONTRACTOR’S EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE MORE EFFECTIVE NO TILLAGE ON HIS FAMILY’S PROPERTY HAS LED HIM TO DEVELOP WHAT HE ARGUES IS AN IMPROVED VERSION OF STRIP TILLAGE.

Last year Arthur Grigg upgraded to a new 4.5m Novag direct drill. At the same time he took on a new 460-hp Fendt 1046 Vario to pull the power hungry Novag on his hill country paddocks.

Once he could see what the drill and tractor could achieve, Arthur wanted to get the machines working outside the farm gate to bring in some extra income contracting.

Noting the growing interest in strip till, he was curious to see whether he could create the same concept less the ‘tillage’ by using his direct drill in tandem with a set of low disturbance subsoilers.

Because it has 10 ripper legs on 500 mm spacings, his subsoiler provides the benefits of strip tillage – loosening the soil and alleviating compaction in front of the drill – without the moisture loss and removal of organic matter that strip till causes.

But first some background. Surrey Hills Station has been in the Grigg family for more than 90 years. Today the third generation of the family (Paul Grigg and his wife Sara) and the fourth generation (Arthur and his wife Kirsten) run the farm.

The 1240-ha property sits just south of Mt Somers and consists of 300 ha on the flats, 500 ha of developed hill country and 400 ha of native grasses. Today the farm carries 3300 ewes and 400 breeding cows. All of the capital stocks’ progeny are finished on the property and the Griggs also buy in store lambs and finish additional R2 cattle off winter crop.

Arthur says 30 years ago Paul started on a process of improving the hill country blocks. Once he subdivided them, he began the process of cultivating and regrassing about 40 ha each year.

While turning the soil over was a necessary step to start developing these native blocks,

the problems associated with stirring up what was essentially virgin ground was a challenge. Thistle pressures and also the potential for erosion given the high winds the Canterbury foothills are prone to limited the speed of development.

In 2012 Arthur returned home to work on the farm and this started a new phase. Paul was keen to go down the path of no tillage so in 2013 they purchased a 3m Cross-Slot direct drill to speed up the development of the farm.

He says while the engine room of the farm is in the flats, they have put a lot of effort in developing the hill country because the returns on investment there are greater in terms of increasing carrying capacity.

That work is paying off, and after years of notill, the rolling hill country paddocks are more productive. They have more friable topsoil as the native turfs have been removed, so they hold on better in dry conditions.

“The Cross-Slot was a great tool and it did its job very well,” Arthur says. “We increased the carrying capacity of our stock by 50 percent.

“We believe that by further lifting the productivity of our hill country we can increase this by another 30 percent. We are also reducing the number of ewes we run and increasing

A HILL COUNTRY CROP OF OATS AND RYEGRASS DIRECT DRILLED TOGETHER IN AUTUMN TO PROVIDE FORAGE OATS OVER WINTER AND RYEGRASS IN SPRING.

the trading component of the business.”

NOVAG ADVANTAGE

To achieve this, Arthur and Paul decided to upgrade the drill to a 4.5m Novag direct drill, which features similar openers and coulters as the Cross-Slot. At the same time, they replaced their articulated John Deere 9R tractor with the rigid-frame Fendt 1046.

“The 9R was a straight draft tractor. The attachments we could use with it were limited because it had no front and rear linkages. Also an articulated tractor is not ideal on the hills.

ARTHUR GRIGG BELIEVES THAT PAIRING HIS HIGH-PERFORMANCE NOVAG DIRECT DRILL WITH A SUBSOILER IS THE IDEAL WAY TO RESTORE AND REPLANT WINTER GRAZING PADDOCKS IN ONE PASS.

“So we decided to take advantage of a very strong second hand market and move the pivot on to provide ourselves with more options going forward,” Arthur says.

“The Fendt has a lot of weight in the rear end and the Vario transmission is great. On the flats VarioDrive automatically directs the torque to the tyres where it is needed, so there is limited slipping and it puts incredible power to the ground. In the hills, we lock it into four-wheel drive.

“It is comfortable and quiet to drive and it is 30 percent more fuel efficient than our previous tractor. Another reason we got the Fendt is that a good tractor attracts a good operator when it comes to taking on staff.”

Arthur says all of the big tractor’s power is needed to work the Novag drill in the hills. The drill is built heavy to provide the downforce needed to penetrate hard soils, and its coulters are set perpendicular to the ground (whereas they are set at a slight angle on most other competitor direct drills).

It takes more power to drive the Novag’s vertical coulters into the soil, but they create a better tilth for seed and have no issue with trash flow in paddocks with high residues.

“The French company that builds Novag drills has taken on feedback from its customers, and our new drill gives us some real advantages,” he says.

“It is user friendly. The monitor is very intuitive and all traditional monitors are integrated into one unit. Metering, calibration, downforce adjustment, and blockage monitoring are all accessible in the same place.

“It has the same Accord metering system as the Cross-Slot, and it is easy to use the hoppers in different combinations. It has big bins for fert and seed and two auxiliary bins for small seeds or slug bait. You can broadcast the small seeds or granules or put them down the shoot with the seed.”

Paul and Arthur use the Novag drill to sow all of their forage crops – ryegrass, oats, kale, and fodder beet.

It has 24 coulters in two rows of 12. To drill fodder beet they simply swap out the seed rollers on the two auxiliary bins to a specific beet roller. These bins have 12 outlets feeding the back toolbar of 12 coulters, which are on 375 mm row spacings.

Whilst it is definitely not a precision planter, Arthur says it would be fair to categorise this metering as ‘semi precision’. Arthur says fodder beet is a great compensator and despite the fact that the plant placement is not perfectly uniform, it does a great job in growing into space.

Their aim is to achieve low cost production as they use no-till to build up the health of their soil.

“We don’t follow the fodder beet bible, which is to fully cultivate to prepare a seedbed, precision plant and then apply six or more sprays. At this stage it costs us around $1700/ha to establish fodder beet, which is about half of the standard cost. Our system conservatively gives us yields of 20-26

THE GRIGGS’ FENDT 1046 VARIO CAN DELIVER 460 HP TO PULL THE 4.5M NOVAG DRILL AND 10-LEG RYETEC SUBSOILER.

tonnes, even on the hills,” Arthur says.

CONTRACTING

Once they worked out how to get the most of the Novag drill on their own property, Arthur turned his attention to how it could be used to provide services to other farmers.

“We were looking for a gap in the market to do some contracting. There is a big demand from dairy farmers to restore and drill paddocks coming out of winter grazing, and I could see there is a growing appetite for strip tillage.

“I thought that the Novag could offer something better. We talked with Grant Reith and Harry Burgess at New Zealand Tractors and we decided to go with a Ryetec subsoiler to do one pass ripping and drilling.

“The Ryetec’s low disturbance ripper legs can subsoil down to depths of 250-300 mm to address compaction. We run it with a packer roller, which evens out any hoof marks and smearing from the ripper legs.

“It leaves smooth, friable, ripped ground for the drill, so we are effectively getting the benefits of strip till in a genuine no-till pass.”

Arthur says, has taken a bit of trial and error to get the system right. At first he ran it with Ryetec’s roller rings which are designed for cultivated ground but they left ridges on the soil surface. They then switched to Ryetec’s

pasture roller, which does exactly what he wants it to do.

With the Fendt 1046 Arthur can work the ripper-direct drill combination even in heavy clay soils. A pass with the Novag and Ryetec subsoiler in tandem has huge power requirements. When the soil is not overly compacted the subsoiler can be left off.

But it means he can direct drill winter forage crops in spring or summer and then restore the compacted paddocks post winter grazing and plant a crop in a single pass.

Arthur says the concept is primarily to conserve and look after soil structure, with soil health front of mind.

“In a simple forage cropping scenario, I see no logic in full tillage as a precursor to intensive winter grazing. Nowadays we are seeing a huge push towards achieving more sustainable farming practices and soil health must be farmers' primary concern.”

At this point Arthur is doing all of the work with the Novag and Ryetec subsoiler himself as a side hustle to farming, but when the contracting business is well established he intends to take on an employee to do some of that work.

For more information on Surrey Hills Contracting and its unique subsoiling and direct drilling service, call Arthur Grigg on 027 320 8336.

THE GRIGG FAMILY USES THEIR FENDT 1046 VARIO AND 4.5M NOVAG DIRECT DRILL TO SOW RYEGRASS, OATS, KALE, AND FODDER BEET IN THEIR HILL COUNTRY PADDOCKS.

USE LAYERS OF DETERRENCE TO STOP RURAL CRIME

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS AND WORK IN AGRICULTURE FACE A UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES, FROM THE WEATHER TO GLOBAL MARKET CONDITIONS TO ON-FARM SAFETY. AT TIMES RURAL PROPERTY OWNERS – MOST RECENTLY IN NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND AND HAWKE’S BAY – ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF ISOLATION DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS OR EARTHQUAKES.

Rural security company Farmgate Security Limited says another growing threat is rural crime.

While rural crime has long been an issue that farmers and rural property owners have had to deal with, a recent survey sponsored by Federated Farmers finds that 67 percent of those surveyed had been or suspected they had been a victim of rural crime in the last two years. This is up 16 percent on two years ago.

Farmgate staff talk to hundreds of rural property owners every month and they say many communities are facing an epidemic of rural crime. This includes the theft of diesel, stock and tools. Farm bikes are the biggest items lost, but also alarming is the fact that many people think they had lost something but are not sure.

Some property owners are dealing with home invasions, threatening behaviour from neighbours, dogs poisoned while stock is loaded into trucks at night, trespassing vehicles, and even gang activity.

This, says Farmgate managing

director Andrew Sing, highlights the need for rural properties to have cameras at their entrances to track all people and vehicles entering and leaving. It is also good to have cameras overlooking any key assets elsewhere on the property.

But the problem is bigger than individual property owners. Because the police presence in many rural communities has dropped, rural people and their communities feel increasingly vulnerable, and they are looking for help.

“We are now working with whole rural communities who are joining together to deal with lawlessness and antisocial behaviour. This includes havoc caused by boy racers on the outskirts of many towns and cities,” Andrew says.

“After Cyclone Gabrielle there was looting and strangers entering properties around the rural Hawke’s Bay community of Puketapu. Later boy racers used some of these rural roads and intersections as places to gather and do burnouts.

“Some residents contacted Farmgate and we worked with them to install an observation camera and a high quality license plate recognition camera at entry points and exit points to the community and at various intersections.

“We installed the cameras where the residents of Puketapu wanted them. Recently the cameras were intentionally damaged but we have now mounted them higher to prevent further tampering. We sent the police images of the cars and their license plates that were there on the night the damage took place.”

Andrew says Farmgate is a purpose-driven company. They are partnering with Puketapu and other communities to install cameras because they know they work and because they care.

THEFTS OR WORSE ON RURAL PROPERTIES IS A GROWING PROBLEM, BUT WORKING WITH NEIGHBOURS AND DEPLOYING TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS REMOTE CAMERAS CAN HELP COMBAT CRIME.

FARMGATE SECURITY CAN EQUIP ITS CAMERAS AND OTHER SECURITY DEVICES WITH SOLAR PANELS, SO THEY CAN BE DEPLOYED ANYWHERE.

FARMGATE TOOLS

Farmgate has security products that others may not supply, and it has the capability to supply all of them with solar panels, so they can be deployed anywhere.

This is particularly important for farmers and rural property owners because often their valuable equipment, tools or diesel tanks are located where mains power is not readily available.

The message from Farmgate is to put up as many deterrents to enter your property as you can. If you stop unwanted visitors, it could reduce the statistics.

“Along with cameras, this should include basic steps such as shutting gates and having good communication with your neighbours. A sign stating that cameras are recording may be enough to deter people from entering a property. Where possible installing barrier arms and, of course, cameras should also help,” Andrew says.

“We suggest a two-fold approach. The first is FarmCam cameras that can be set up at entry ways and other key places around the property. These can

KAITAIA Kaitaia Tractors 09 408 0670

WHANGAREI Piako Tractors Northland 09 438 1319

SILVERDALE Brandt NZ 09 427 9137

PUKEKOHE Brandt NZ 09 237 0043

MORRINSVILLE Piako Tractors 07 889 7055

MATAMATA Matamata Tractors & Machinery (07) 888 6292

HAMILTON Brandt NZ 07 847 0425

CAMBRIDGE Brandt NZ 07 827 5184

ROTORUA Piako Tractors Ltd 07 345 8560

TAUPO Taupo Tractors & Machinery 07 378 4533

STRATFORD FieldTorque Taranaki 06 765 8643

HASTINGS Stevenson and Taylor 0800 4273 2273

WAIPUKURAU Stevenson and Taylor 06 858 6041

DANNEVIRKE Lancaster Tractors 06 374 7731

PALMERSTON NORTH Transag Centre 06 354 7164

MASTERTON Brandt NZ 06 377 3009

NELSON Drummond & Etheridge 03 543 8041

BLENHEIM Drummond & Etheridge 03 579 1111

KAIKOURA Drummond & Etheridge 03 319 7119

GREYMOUTH Drummond & Etheridge 03 768 5116

CHRISTCHURCH Drummond & Etheridge 03 349 4883

ASHBURTON Drummond & Etheridge 03 307 9911

TIMARU Drummond & Etheridge 03 687 4005

OAMARU Drummond & Etheridge 03 437 1111

MOSGIEL JJ Limited 03 489 8199

GORE JJ Limited 03 208 9370

INVERCARGILL JJ Limited 03 211 0013

TRIALS CONFIRM PUDAMA SPOT

FERTILISING POTENTIAL

AT LAST YEAR’S AGRITECHNICA SHOW IN GERMANY, KVERNELAND PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF A SERIES OF TRIALS IT HAS RUN IN COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT EUROPE TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS PUDAMA SPOT FERTILISER SYSTEM FOR ROW CROPS.

Kverneland says the results of the trials confirm that in many cases Pudama can reduce fertiliser applications by 25 percent without any loss in yield compared to a standard fertiliser application.

Rather than banding fertiliser when precision planting maize beet or other crops, Pudama precisely places a deposit of starter fertiliser below the seed just where it is needed. A targeted deposit of fertiliser gives the maize seedling’s roots better access to the nutrients the growing plant needs.

It also reduces the amount of starter fertiliser placed between maize rows. This significantly reduces nitrate and phosphate discharge into water systems. When a planter places a band of starter fertiliser beneath the row of seed, it cannot all be completely absorbed by the plant so it is prone to leeching or runoff.

Kverneland did a limited release of Pudama in Europe during the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2023. It then conducted several trials across Europe, with different crops, soil conditions and weather patterns.

Those trials aimed to evaluate the advantages Pudama has when growing row crops. The tri-

be bullet cameras, which are ideal for entryways and farm tracks, or observation cameras for the house, shed, diesel tanks, vats or other high value assets.

“Second is license plate cameras that can read and record images of vehicles and their license plate, day or night. These cameras have already successfully identified vehicles of interest to

als were done in collaboration with agronomic institutes, agricultural universities, seed companies, and fertiliser companies.

Even though Europe went on to have a very dry summer, most of the trials showed that Pudama did deliver the positive results Kverneland anticipated.

In half the trials it achieved the same or greater absolute yields, and in a large majority of the trials Pudama’s relative yield per unit of fertiliser was the same or higher than standard planters with continuous application of fert.

In the early stages of the crops’ development (from pre-emergence to 10 leaves), plants sown with the Pudama spot fertiliser system performed better than standard planters that laid out a band of fertiliser.

How does Pudama work? During planting it sends a defined quantity of fertiliser to the fertiliser coulter. From there a burst of air shoots the fertiliser as a deposit into the soil. A sensor connects the fertiliser coulter and seeding unit which synchronises the placement of the seed and fertiliser.

How often the air valve opens and closes to deliver the fertiliser deposit depends on the driv-

KVERNELAND DISTRIBUTORS IN EIGHT EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE CONDUCTED TRIALS ON PUDAMA WITH THE HELP OF LOCAL EXPERTS.

ing speed of the tractor and the programmed distance between seeds in the furrow.

Pudama can work at speeds up to 15 kph when used with Kverneland’s pressurised Optima SX sowing unit. At this rate it can apply up to 25 fertiliser deposits per second.

Using a combination of the Pudama and the Optima TF Profi with SX sowing units, farmers and contractors can save a lot of money by reducing fertiliser, labour and transport costs.

At the moment, this technology already had success during numerous exhibitions in many countries, confirmed by lots of awards.

Pudama has impressed the European agricultural industry.

PUDAMA PRECISELY PLACES A DEPOSIT OF STARTER FERTILISER BELOW THE SEED, JUST WHERE IT IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE GROWING SEEDLING.

It has won innovation and environmental awards in the Netherlands, France, England, Belgium and Spain.

Kverneland is now set to release it in more countries, including New Zealand, in spring 2024. It will also make Pudama available on more models.

In addition of the Optima TF Profi (trailed frame), Pudama will be available this year with limited series on Optima F 6m (6m folding unit).

the police and they have followed up on them.

“They also link to the police’s stolen vehicle database. This means, when a Farmgate camera detects a stolen vehicle it provides an immediate notification.”

With its latest technology Farmgate can install cameras hundreds of metres away from the Internet source (us-

ually the house).

“This is an absolute game changer for rural people,”

Andrew says. “What once cost thousands of dollars for equipment, aerials, cabling and installation can be done DIY for a fraction of the price.”

The bottom line is that rural security is now more affordable. Combined with Farmgate’s ability

to deploy solar powered options for its products and 4G cameras for locations where there is no internet, there are rural security tools that can help most rural property owners.

For more information about the options Farmgate provides visit the website farmgate.co.nz or contact the Farmgate team on 07-595-0344.

AWARD HONOURS

TOP KIWI AGRICHEMICAL APPLICATORS

RURAL CONTRACTORS NZ AND NUFARM HAVE JOINED FORCES TO COME UP WITH A NEW AWARD THAT SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THE MOST CONSCIENTIOUS PEOPLE IN THE AGRICHEMICAL SECTOR.

The purpose of the Nufarm RCNZ Agri-Chemical Applicator of the Year award is to recognise an individual who demonstrates excellence in chemical application and innovation.

Nufarm NZ country manager Gavin Kerr says there has never been a better time to promote innovative industry leaders.

“We particularly want to highlight those individuals who promote innovation in the sustainable use of crop protection.

We fully back every product we provide and we are very focused on how our products are applied sustainability. The recent release of our Grassmanship application has been a great example of this.

“We are looking forward to recognising industry leaders within the contractors’ industry in partnership with Rural Contractors NZ.”

Rural Contractors NZ CEO

Andrew Olsen says agrichemicals are the most highly regulated sector of the agricultural industry.

“It gets plenty of attention from government agencies and the public, so it is timely that our partnership with Nufarm has extended to include a robust recognition program. The intent is to give our members the opportunity to put forward their brightest and best. Through a rigorous judging format, we will award the highest

• Multi-functional stubble cultivators, work effectively near the surface and at depth.

• DSD technology automatically changes the angle of the discs as they penetrate the soil.

• Hydraulic weight transfer system ensures uniform tillage.

• Use independently or in combination with other trailing equipment.

level of expertise, compliance and innovation.”

The award winner will receive a trophy and a $5000 development fund to support further education and development related to the crop protection industry.

The award is open to employees of contractors who are full members of Rural Contractors NZ and hold a current Registered Chemical Applicator qualification. Nominated employees must have no more than five years’ experience and must hold a relevant agri-chemical qualification or be working towards one.

An on-line application is used to enter the competition. Applications close Friday 19 April at 5pm.

Shortlisted applicants will be announced Monday 30 April.

Shortlisted applicants will have to meet an experienced judging panel in an on-line meeting format to discuss their application.

The winner will be announced at the RCNZ awards dinner at the conference in Masterton on 19 June.

For more information contact Andrew Olsen on office@ruralcontractors.org.nz or 027 255 2549.

• Contour XL is equipped with bigger, more effective, 610mm discs. Frame is raised to ensure optimum soil flow.

• Available in both trailed and three-point linkage options with working widths from 2.5-8m.

• 5.5m Disc Roller in stock POA

• Efficiently loosens the soil and breaks up hard layers without consolidating or bringing large clods to the surface.

• Varying options of tine type and staggered placement to effectively cultivate even the hardest soil.

• Can be used independently or in combination with other trailing equipment to make optimal use of your tractor and reduce number of passes.

• Use with a Disc Roller to rip and incorporate stubble into a well-drained and structural seedbed, or with a seed drill to cultivate and sow in one pass.

• Two types of stone protection available – hydraulic and quickpush.

• Working depth of up to 400 mm and working width options from 3 – 6m in rigid or hydraulic folding.

• 5m Combi Tiller MKII in stock POA

NUFARM’S GAVIN KERR (LEFT) AND RCNZ CEO ANDREW OLSEN

HEVA DISC ROLLER CONTOUR SERIES

BIO-STIMULANTS BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO OLD MILL

A NEW JOINT VENTURE HAS BEEN SET UP TO TURN THE FORMER PAPER MILL IN THE SOUTHLAND TOWN OF MATAURA INTO A PLANT TO PRODUCE BIO-STIMULANTS FROM SEAWEED AND AQUACULTURE BY-PRODUCTS.

New Zealand Seaweeds already produce the liquid soil additive KoFert and bee health supplement Kobee from seaweed. Now it is joining forces with a Southland group that produces hydrolysed extracts from by-products of the aquaculture industry.

They have formed AgriHub Solutions to convert the old paper mill into a factory and distribution hub for their bio-stimulants.

AgriHub Solutions sales and technical manager Hamish McCallum says the company’s range will include both seaweed and fish biostimulants as well as blends of the two.

“Seaweed and fish bio-stimulants are complementary products that can optimise the ratio of fungi and bacteria in soil. New Zealand’s soil health has suffered due to the high use of synthetic fertiliser over the past 50 years.

“Our bio-stimulants encourage the growth of fungi and bacteria in the soil. The benefits are better animal health and a reduction in the amount of nitrogen needed to produce pasture. Farmers using our products grow

pasture and winter crops such as kale using a quarter of the traditional amount of nitrogen.

“They can use less or no insecticides because the bio-stimulants are applied as a foliar spray and they have oils that suffocate insect eggs and aphids. They also combine with sugars in the plant to form compounds that are unpalatable to insects.”

Hamish says an analysis of KoFert shows it has the best suite of amino acids that he has seen. It also contains trace elements and minerals that are readily absorbed by plants.

One of AgriHub’s goals is to educate dairy farmers about the benefits of using bio-stimulants in conjunction with the existing nutrients in their effluent systems. This can provide a more efficient delivery system of these nutrients.

“Applying a bio-stimulant with fertiliser gives farmers a tool to keep well under nitrogen caps without breaking the bank. And at a cost of about $60/ha at the recommended application rate, it is an affordable option,” Hamish says.

Kath Coopey is the original developer of the seaweed bio-stimulant now sold as KoFert. Kath was working for New Zealand Manuka, which had a sideline producing agar from native seaweed.

She says the agar was made by processing kelp gathered from beaches, mainly along the coast of Wairarapa. When the company looked to diversify, she decided to see what

FERMENTATION TANKS TO MAKE BIO-STIMULANTS ARRIVE AT THE FORMER PAPER MILL IN MATAURA.

AGRIHUB SOLUTIONS WILL PRODUCE KOFERT SEAWEED BIO-STIMULANT AND ANOTHER BIO-STIMULANT FROM BY-PRODUCTS OF THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY.

AGRIHUB SAYS KOFERT SEAWEEDBASED SOIL ADDITIVE DELIVERS PLANTS ALL THE MAJOR ELEMENTS THEY REQUIRE AS WELL AS TRACE MINERALS AND GROWTH STIMULATORS SUCH AS GIBBERELLINS.

could be made from the other seaweeds that were present.

“Seaweed is eaten by many people around the world and its use as a fertiliser is also well known. We use a natural process to extract the amino acids, so they are readily available to the plant.

“The whole process is sustainable and permitted by the Ministry of Fisheries. Because we use a variety of seaweeds, our bio-stimulant provides everything plants need.”

Kath says it includes all of the major elements – nitrogen, potassium, calcium and phosphorous – as well as trace minerals like copper, zinc and manganese. It also has gibberellins and other plant growth stimulators.

“Nothing is in huge concentrations and it is not a chemical, so the soil and the plants are not getting huge dollops of things they can’t handle.

“Some seaweed stimulants sold in New Zealand are made from imported seaweeds that have been processed in a way that takes the goodness out of them. Ours is made entirely from New Zealand seaweed. Even though it is sold in a liquid that can be diluted and applied through a sprayer, it is a living thing that can form lumps so it has to be filtered,” she says.

NZ Seaweed is a subsidiary of Pastoral Improvements, which develops and markets pasture seeds throughout the country and to international customers

Along with producing and distributing seaweed and fish bio-stimulants, AgriHub solutions will distribute the full range of Pastoral Improvements’ seeds and seed mixes.

Hamish says AgriHub is working on some exciting opportunities with complimentary products to their unique bio-stimulants so… watch this space.

2024 PRE-SEASON

SCAN

FERTMARK EXTENDS SCOPE TO COVER BIO STIMULANTS, OTHER NEW PRODUCTS

THE WORLD OF FERTILISER IS A LOT MORE COMPLEX TODAY THAN IT WAS BACK IN 1992 WHEN FARMERS FORMED THE FERTILISER QUALITY COUNCIL (FQC). SO HOW DO FARMERS AND CONTRACTORS ENSURE THAT THE COMPLEX RANGE OF NUTRIENTS AVAILABLE TODAY ARE THE REAL DEAL?

FQC’s certification programme, Fertmark, was originally established by farmers to ensure fertiliser nutrients were independently verified as true to label, performance claims were true and chemical contaminants were managed.

Later Spreadmark was used to promote and oversee accurate nutrient placement.

Quality assurance specialist Peter Wood, who audits Fertmark and Spreadmark through the company QCNZ, is a staunch advocate.

“You would be a fool not to use Fertmark certified products and apply them with a Spreadmark certified contractor,” Peter says.

While Fertmark’s mandate has not changed, the menu for fertiliser nutrients has. This change has been driven by the need for more efficient products that farmers can use to produce more with less.

Peter says with the price of fertiliser now it is essential that we are getting what we pay for.

The options marketed to farmers today

AN IMPORTANT ROLE OF FERTMARK IS STILL TO CERTIFY THE ACCURACY OF SPREADERS THROUGH ITS SPREADMARK PROGRAMME.

include products with different physical and chemical properties. Innovations range from nutrient inhibitors to prevent nitrogen from leaching, to stimulants that enhance the efficiency of the plant’s nutrient uptake, to a diversification in the physicality of the products.

Where once the granule dominated the market place, now liquids (both slurries and fluidised fertilisers), prills, precision blends and polymer coatings are becoming commonplace in the dairy, cropping and horticultural industries. They can help improve environmental impact, animal and human health, and productivity.

FQC chairman Anders Crofoot says the challenge is to ensure farmers are not buying lemons.

“Fertmark is extending its coverage to include bio stimulants and soil conditioners to protect farmers and growers from misrepresentation. The extension of the Fertmark code is essential to give farmers confidence in the products they are buying,” Anders says.

To make Fertmark fit for purpose, FQC has formed a Fertiliser Agronomic Group that will review agronomic and scientific trials. It will determine how Fertmark could be applied to a wider range of products beyond fertiliser, such as soil conditioners and plant bio stimulants.

Fertmark’s fertiliser certification programme is also being extended to work with other agricultural quality assurance programmes. This should increase confidence in the ‘control’ that Fertmark provides.

The range of products and how they are defined in legislation has evolved and so too must Fertmark.

“Without Fertmark farmers and growers will be vulnerable to snake oil salesmen and unsubstantiated claims,” Anders says.

FQC EXECUTIVE OFFICER TYLER LANGFORD.

new fqc director

The Fertiliser Quality Council believes its new director Tyler Langford will be a strong advocate for farmers.

FQC chairman Anders Crofoot says Tyler has experience making legislation workable for farmers

“She has a strong background in farming and refining legislation and has hit the ground running. She is able to negotiate the finer detail of legislation up the pipeline, which is just the strength we need," Anders says.

For the past five years Tyler worked for the Federated Farmers’ Dairy Council.

"For every piece of compliance farmers are made to fill out, that is another committee meeting or school event they can’t support. I am looking forward to maximising the opportunities within FQC’s Fertmark and Spreadmark quality assurance programmes,” Tyler says.

Advocating for farmers to ensure that rural communities not only survive but thrive is very personal to Tyler.

"I have the blessing of dairy farming in the Golden Bay with my husband Wayne and three teenage boys. I am hugely passionate about the strength and resilience of our rural community. I actively spend time in conservation groups, catchment groups, rugby clubs and serving as the chair of our local recreation park board.”

Tyler says she is now getting familiar with the work that FQC does and opportunities on the horizon. This includes updating the Spreadmark code.

UNEQUALLED SPREADING PRECISION

COMPACTION, SUBSOILERS AND HOW TO USE THEM

By Paul Collins and Bill Ritchie, Carrfields Ltd

CARRFIELDS HAS ADDED THE GRANGE RANGE OF SOILLOOSENING EQUIPMENT TO ITS PORTFOLIO OF CROP AND PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT TOOLS.

British farmer and engineer Rhun Jones established Grange Machinery specifically to produce conditioning tools to manage sub-surface soil damage. His company has quickly grown to become one of the UK's leading machinery manufacturers, wellknown for its innovation.

Sub-surface soil damage, by its very nature, is difficult to see and its effects are often poorly understood or only identified when it is too late. Usually, this is later in the season when cropped soil or grassland is lying very wet.

Also, as larger equipment and heavier tractors have been progressively employed over the past 30 years, sub-surface damage from soil compaction has been hidden from view.

The type of tyres used on farm machinery, operating pressures, the timing of field operations, weather, and of course soil type, all have a significant effect on subsurface soil damage.

With the use of some basic technology and a bit of physical exercise it is not hard to identify and then rectify or prevent compaction.

When compaction or drainage issues are suspected, it is important to identify whether you have micro or macro drainage issues. The first step is to pick up a very simple and often neglected tool – the spade. Dig some holes and look at your soil composition.

The Carrfields team can help

with visual soil assessment and can use a slightly more sophisticated tool, a penetrometer, to help identify any compaction layers.

When it comes to micro-drainage, soil structure is the key. Look for a nice crumb structure throughout the profile.

Macro-drainage combines two elements: 1) Letting water infiltrate into the lower soil profile, and 2) Moving water away from the lower soil profile.

If the upper soil profile is well structured but infiltration to the lower profile is hindered by a compacted layer, then ponding will occur. Subsoiling may alleviate the problem, but first, the spade (or penetrometer) must be used to identify if there is a compacted layer and, if so, at what depth.

This is critical. Don’t be tempted to run the subsoiler too deep. In some heavy soils, this may make the problem worse by causing upward compaction if the ground is too wet.

The idea of upward compaction may sound strange because this type of damage appears to be at odds with the effect of weight from tractors or heavy machinery. Subsoiling will only be effective if the deep sub-surface is porous (e.g., with gravel or sand) and the soil above it is dry enough to crack or fissure to allow root growth and water movement.

If your upper soil profile is well structured and there is no compaction layer, but your subsoil is not porous (e.g., if it is clay), then subsoiling will only ‘increase the size of the sponge’.

In this case, subsoiling might improve short-term the amount of water the soil will absorb, but it will still become waterlogged after high rainfall. In this case, you can move excess soil moisture away with macro-drainage, either sub-surface (mole drains, tile/pipe) or surface drainage.

Timing is crucial. Subsoiling and mole ploughing differ in their optimal timing.

Subsoiling should be done when the upper surface layers are dry enough to create cracks radiating out from the point and wing of the subsoiler leg.

THE FIRST STEP TO DEAL WITH DRAINAGE PROBLEMS IS TO GET OUT THE SPADE (OR PENETROMETER) TO CHECK SOIL COMPOSITION AND ANY COMPACTION LAYERS.

On the other hand, mole ploughing should ideally be done in damp subsoil clay that then gets baked to a long-term mole channel in the following dry conditions.

Late spring will normally provide the best conditions for mole ploughing whereas there is more time flexibility with subsoiling.

Of course, the efficacy of subsoil macro-drainage relies on micro-drainage (good soil structure) to work. Both must go hand-in-hand.

If our future weather patterns are going to be more variable, then managing our soils to retain

SOME GRANGE SUBSOILERS ARE DESIGNED TO BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH A DRILL WHILE OTHERS ARE DESIGNED TO BE USED ON THEIR OWN OR WITH AN AIR OR DISC SEEDER.

NORWOOD WELCOMES LANDINI TO ITS STABLE

NORWOOD AND ARGO TRACTORS

ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT, GIVING NORWOOD THE EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MARKET.

The new agreement comes into effect in June. It will see Norwood take over all import and wholesale activities for Argo Tractors.

Norwood CEO Aaron Smith says his company is excited to enter a partnership with Argo Tractors.

“They have a strong track record, manufacturing 22,000 tractors globally every year, and they have technology and sustainability front of mind,” Aaron says.

Initial the agreement is only for Argo’s Landini tractors. Its McCormick range will be placed ‘on hold’ while the new partnership is established.

Argo Tractors general manager for Oceania Kim Findlay says they are delighted to collaborate with Norwood to develop a new chapter for Landini in New Zealand.

“Argo Tractors has undergone extensive development. We have increased the amount of high-tech and high range machines and attracted global recognition,” Kim says.

“Norwood will provide an exceptional supply chain channel with their experience, expertise and country-wide structure. This will ensure the Landini brand and its customers are in great hands for years to come.”

Landini has a 140-year legacy in machinery. They manufacture a range of products, from agricultural to speciality tractors for all food producing segments, whether on the farm, the orchard, or the vineyard.

Norwood says the new Landini tractors it will bring to Aotearoa include the Landini Rex 4-120 GT RoboShift Dynamic, which won the Specialty Tractor of the Year award at

moisture more effectively in dry conditions and remove it in wet conditions will have a major impact on the resilience of our farming systems.

GRANGE RANGE

Grange Machinery is made by and for farmers. The company takes its name from the Jones family’s farm at Sproatley Grange in East Yorkshire.

It offers a range of soil-loosening tools that can be used on their

Agritechnica 2024. It will also offer the new high horsepower Landini Series 7 and Series 8 ranges.

Aaron says Norwood’s goal is to provide current Landini and McCormick owners more support through the existing Argo dealer network, and to seek out extra market opportunities

“It is important to us that all Argo customers feel supported. They will have support and access to aftersales service for their tractors with the additional depth of extra dealerships and the largest agricultural parts warehouse in the country,” Aaron says.

Over the past decade Landini has had significant growth and Norwood is looking to replicate that success here. It will give affected dealers all the support they can through the transition.

Kim also extends his thanks to Agtek, which has represented the brand as import-

own or in combination with other tillage or seeding machines.

The most effective way to use them is to identify and address the problem when the soil is dry and friable. This often aligns when seeding or preparing a seedbed, and therefore it can be combined with a drill or cultivator as a one-pass system. Grange machines are designed to loosen soil only at the depth specified whilst minimising surface disturbance. This makes

THE LANDINI REX 4-120 GT ROBOSHIFT DYNAMIC WON THE SPECIALITY TRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD AT AGRITECHNICA 2024.

er, distributor and dealer in the Bay of Plenty for more than 12 years.

Agtek managing director Gayne Carroll says he has worked with the Landini brand in New Zealand for nearly 30 years, first when the brand was introduced by Motor Holdings, then at Power Farming, and finally at Agtek.

Gayne says in the horticultural sector the brand has a reputation for no nonsense operation and productivity.

“We would like to say a sincere thank you to the independent, locally-owned dealers who have supported the brand over the years,” he says.

them well suited for use in combination with min-till and no-till systems.

The Grange Close Coupled Toolbar (CCT) and Low Disturbance Toolbar (LDT) are ideally suited to complement a min-till or no-till drill. More traditional subsoiling options are the Grange Low Disturbance Loosener (LDL) and Grassland Loosener (GLL) which are designed to operate as independent tools to renovate soil that has been damaged, for

example, by winter pugging from livestock.

The LDL and GLL can be fitted with a pneumatic or spinning disc seed applicator, and with a smooth or toothed packer roller. Both machines are the ideal tools for restoring grassland or establishing a cover crop in stubble.

So if you think compaction is an issue on your farm, it is time to get out the spade. Then, if the conditions are right, reach for your Grange subsoiler.

MARK DILLON, HIS TWO-FURROW KVERNELAND PLOUGH AND HIS MASSEY FERGUSON 362 ARE ALL GETTING READY TO TRAVEL TO ESTONIA.

CEAT TYRES IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF MARK DILLON’S APPEARANCE AT THE WORLD PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AUGUST.

CONTRACTOR SWEATING THE DETAILS IN LEAD UP TO WORLD PLOUGHING CHAMPS

AS THE BEATLES SANG – ‘I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS’. THOSE LYRICS WOULD STRIKE A CHORD WITH SOUTHLAND CONTRACTOR MARK DILLON, WHO IS PREPARING TO GO TO ESTONIA TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND IN THE 69TH WORLD PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIP.

The opportunity Mark has to take part in the event is, of course, the result of his own hard work and dedication, but he is also grateful for the support he has received from both friends and sponsors.

Along with help from his local club, the Waimea Plain Ploughing Association, he will have a new set of tyres for his tractor from CEAT Tyres and financial sponsorships from AGCO, JJs, Ardia Crop Protection and Diesel Performance Solutions.

Mark won the conventional title in the 2023

New Zealand National Ploughing Championships, which entitles him to take part in the World Champs. They take place 16-17 August near the city of Tartu, Estonia. Veteran Bob Mehrtens will represent New Zealand in the reversible plough category.

Because Mark is a large farmer and contractor on top of being a consistent top finisher in New Zealand national ploughing competitions, he is always a busy guy. The first half of 2024 has been even busier than normal, however.

To give himself the best chance of winning the world title, he is shipping not only his twofurrow Kverneland conventional plough to Estonia but also his ploughing tractor, a 1993 Massey Ferguson 362.

“We have had the tractor to the panel beaters. They took all the windows out, cut out all the rust and gave her a new paint job. A mate and I took apart the engine, gave everything a complete clean and put in a new starter motor and alternator.

“She is as good the day she came out of the factory and she has all new CEAT radial tyres which are 40 mm wider than what we usually run,” Mark says.

Mark is no stranger to high level ploughing competitions. He has been ploughing competitively for 23 years and for the past 10 years he has finished in the top three in the NZ nationals.

This is the second time he has taken part in the World Ploughing Championships. He competed in the 2014 Championships in France.

“We are competing in the New Zealand National Championships in Waikato in midApril and then the tractor and plough go straight to Tauranga to get on a ship for Estonia. My wife Sonia and I will arrive in Estonia in July and I will buy ground to practice on.

“The soils are mix of river loam and silt loam, and the proposed ploughing depth is 18-22 cm. That is fairly deep so we will want to get used to ploughing at that depth.”

From truck to motorbike sprayers, we can build & supply all your spray unit needs, big or small. Stainless steel tanks.

We are dealers of BA Pumps, Croplands & TopCon.

TABULA LINKS ARMS WITH TOPCON

TABULA AND TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS ARE COLLABORATING TO INTEGRATE THEIR TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WILL CREATE A COMBINED APPLICATION FOR GROUND-BASED FERTILISER AND SPRAY WORK.

Both Tabula and Topcon bring proven technology to the table and sat they are committed to driving great outcomes for agricultural businesses.

Tabula’s job management, health and safety, compliance and reporting systems will be able to work with Topcon’s accurate placement and auto steering technology for spraying and spreading equipment.

By integrating their products, the two companies say farmers and contractors can get the right tool for the right job.

Tabula CEO John Enlow says his company is very pleased to be able to work more closely with Topcon.

“We are always looking for ways to provide additional support to farmers and contractors.

This collaboration is a natural next step and fit for our businesses.

“Our strategy of building relationships with highly regarded partners, such as with Topcon, demonstrates our commitment to the farming sector,” John says.

Topcon director of sales ANZ Phillip Hubbard says the relationship brings together complementary technology.

“It is great to come together to provide something that we know will really make a difference to farmers and contractors. Together our companies have an offering that suits all operators from small to large.

“We know that both New Zealand and Australian ground application customers are very inter-

ested in Topcon’s field-proven auto steering and product control capabilities.

“Our collaboration will deliver real benefits for landowners and contractors and we are excited to initially launch this in New Zealand and Australia,” Phillip says.

ANOTHER FREE CONFERENCE FOR RURAL CONTRACTORS

RURAL CONTRACTORS WILL GATHER IN MASTERTON IN JUNE FOR THEIR CONFERENCE AND ONCE AGAIN IT WILL BE FREE FOR THEM TO ATTEND.

RCNZ CEO Andrew Olsen says the RCNZ Board has confirmed that the organisation will again provide free registration to members. RCNZ members and life members are entitled to free registration for up to four people.

The Wairarapa conference from 18-20 June will also again feature a revised programme similar to that introduced at last year’s conference in Invercargill.

“We’re excited about the changed content and being able to again offer the conference free to full members. The Board and I took a good look at the feedback from the Invercargill event which

accommodated more offsite workshops and activities to balance sponsored and business components.

“We are looking forward to welcoming first-time conference attendees and welcoming back our conference faithful. My message to members and industry is don’t miss this opportunity to join us, catch up with old mates, learn some stuff and make new connections.”

The event will take place at Copthorne Solway Park Hotel, kicking off at lunchtime on Tuesday June 18.

“Minister Todd McClay has been booked to open the conference. Todd has attended our last two conferences. Now he is Agriculture and Trade Minister so it will be great to have his insights.”

On the first day of the conference there will be off-site work-

TABULA JOB MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING SYSTEMS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE WITH TOPCON AUTO STEERING AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGY FOR SPRAYERS AND SPREADERS.

CAN THE WAIRARAPA MATCH BLUFF OYSTERS AND HOKONUI MOONSHINE? SOUTHLAND CONTRACTOR BRIAN HUGHES WAS AMONG THOSE SAMPLING THE BEST OF HIS REGION AT LAST YEAR’S CONFERENCE IN INVERCARGILL.

shops for both the agrichemical and cultivation sections of RCNZ as well as a Good Yarn mental health workshop.

The format will be similar on Wednesday June 19 before the industry’s awards dinner.

A final morning on Thursday

June 20 will include speakers on health and safety, ACC, immigration and employment issues, before a lunchtime wrap-up.

All the details and registration forms are available on the RCNZ website – ruralcontractors.org. nz.

PILOT SCHEME TO RECYCLE 10,000

COW COLLARS

The pilot project will recycle 10,000 SenseHub cow collars (previously known as Allflex collars) that have reached the end of their battery life. It will provide a template for recycling all types of e-waste off farms as digital, data-driven farming becomes common place.

Cow collars are increasingly used by Kiwi farmers to manage their animals’ wellbeing, track their productivity and control their movements. About 17 per

collars is a natural progression for us as an industry leader.

“It is core to our business and we want to help our customers meet their sustainability goals so that we are all making a difference.”

Agrecovery chief executive Tony Wilson says farmers use an increasing amount of electronic componentry on-farm. This ranges from collars to cell phones, EID readers, sensors in their yards and milking sheds, batter

GENERATION SOFT BAIT THE REAL DEAL IN RODENT CONTROL

THE REALITIES OF RODENT CONTROL AREN’T PRETTY OR TIDY, AND THAT IS WHY GENERATION SOFT BAIT WASN’T JUST TESTED ON LAB RATS. IT WAS TESTED ON WILD RATS.

UPL NZ Upper North Island regional manager Pieter Van Der Westhuizen says this means the bait is going to deliver where it counts – in rural sheds and around buildings.

“The testing process was very rigorous and you can definitely see that with Generation’s performance in real life situations.”

Pieter says Generation soft bait contains vegetable oil and crushed grain that gets rats’ attention faster and the soft bait’s paper ensures the tempting aroma disperses widely.

“That draws in even the shyest feeders. Scientists took into consideration all aspects of wild rat behaviour including the feeding ‘pecking order’. Rats are neophobic – they mistrust anything new – so, the bait’s attrac-

tiveness is vital.

“Because the effects of Generation Soft Bait are delayed a bit, once the dominant rats have fed, other rats gain in confidence and follow their lead.”

Pieter says he owns dogs, cats, aviaries and chickens, and he has hand-on-heart confidence in using Generation Soft Bait.

“Generation Soft Bait contains Bittrex a bittering agent which reduces the risk of consumption by non-target animals, like cats and dogs. Quite reasonably, that’s something that worries people about using rat bait.”

Generation Soft Bait is also very easy to deploy by skewering the plasticine-like bait on the metal rod, or wire, within the Generation bait station. “It’s quick, clean, and really easy to use.”

The smallest non-dispersible bait on the market, Generation Soft Bait kills effectively and in a single feed.

The bait’s active is the most advanced anticoagulant on the market, difethialone 25

separate recycling. The componentry is then sent to where it can be recycled and used in new products.

Agrecovery will collect the collars at a North Island and a South Island site, and MSD Animal Health will collect collars from their customers as they come up for renewal. By taking part in the scheme farmers can demonstrate they can meet environmental initiatives such as Fonterra’s Co-operative Difference scheme. This pays farmers a premium to achieve targets around milk quality, sustainability, animal welfare, and health and safety.

Pauline says by collaborating with Agrecovery MSD Animal Health will know which farm the collars have come from, and how many collars they have recycled. Dairy farmers can then use this information to meet their own sustainability goals.

A compulsory stewardship programme for animal health products comes into effect in September 2024 under the Waste Minimisation Act. Under the scheme Agrecovery is an accredited provider. There is not a compulsory scheme for e-waste yet, however. The Ministry for the Environment is expected to consult on regulations to support e-waste

ppm, which rodents can’t detect. There is no known genetic resistance among rodent populations in the lab or wild.

A feed of bait of 2-3 gm kills a rat while 0.30.4 gm kills a mouse. To put that in perspective, a rat’s average intake of food is around 20 gm/day while a mouse consumes around 3 gm/day.

Rats can produce litters up to 12 pups every two or three months, and Pieter says getting ahead of their astonishing ability to multiply is the best way to protect property, grain, and feed.

“Using Generation Soft Bait proactively is the best strategy. It will save money down the track.”

Pieter warns rodents cause more damage than we are aware of, including fires in vehicles and buildings due to chewed electrical wires. That is on top of damage to buildings and the loss and contamination of feedstuffs.

Among the most serious mammalian pests known to man, the rodents are destructive, dirty, and disease-carrying.

New Zealand has four species of introduced rodents – the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), the ship rat (Rattus rattus), the Polynesian rat (kiore), and the house mouse. The ship rat is the most common, and the smaller of the three rats.

Remember – all poisons should be handled in accordance with the label and best practice, and stored out of reach or children, cats, and dogs, and ideally in a locked cabinet. Bait stations must be used with Generation Soft Bait.

Generation Soft Bait and bait stations are available exclusively from PGG Wrightson.

GENERATION SOFT BAIT FROM UPL DELIVERS THE MOST ADVANCED ANTI-COAGULANT ON THE MARKET IN A PACKAGE THAT RODENTS CANNOT RESIST.

product stewardship in 2024-2025.

“Whilegovernment regulates these stewardship schemes, we also know it is the right thing to do and our consumers are demanding it. E-waste isn’t yet included in the product stewardship scheme, but we wanted to get ahead of the game with this pilot,” Pauline says.

MSD Animal Health supplies innovative, high quality veterinary products. In New Zealand and around the world it supports research and development for animal health products used by veterinarians, farmers and pet owners.

INDENT FOR SPRING

KVERNELAND QUALIDISC

COMPACT DISC HARROW

• Compact and sturdy

• Excellent penetration

• Simple adjustment

• Long lasting discs

• Perfect cutting angle

• Maintenance-free bearings

New stock arriving June, order now for Spring.

KVERNELAND TURBO T UNIVERSAL CULTIVATOR

• Operate at high forward speeds whilst maintaining a consistent working depth

• A great choice for a wide field of seasons and applications.

FRESHFILTER PROVES ITSELF TO VETERAN SPRAY CONTRACTOR

THE FRESHFILTER POSITIVE AIR PRESSURE SYSTEM IS IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS FOR SPRAY CONTRACTORS AND ANYONE WHO WORKS IN DUSTY OR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS.

Developed in the Netherlands, Freshfilter can be fitted to any vehicle with a closed cab.

Southland spray contractor David Kean has been trialling a Freshfilter system in one of his Land Cruiser spray units. He says it certainly has impressed him and he is definitely going to purchase it.

David speaks from experience. His father started the business Farmers Dipping Ltd back in 1966 and he joined the company in 1992. Now the third generation of the family is on board – for the past six years, his two sons have also worked in the business.

On top of running a successful business, David was on Rural Contractors NZ’s board of directors for more than 20 years, and he served four years as its president. “I enjoyed every minute of it and met some bloody good guys,” he says.

Christchurch-based company Landlogic distributes the Freshfilter range in New Zealand, and last year Landlogic South Island sales representative Graham Booth asked David to trial one of their cab filters. He happily agreed.

“You don’t turn down cutting-edge technology which is going to better the working environment for our drivers,” David says.

Farmers Dipping runs 12 spray trucks, including six Landcruiser units. They are custom built in Hasting by AgTech.

When they ordered a new Landcruiser sprayer last June, a Freshfilter M10 system was included. It is mounted on the roof and connects to one air intake, while all other vents are blocked off.

It is powered by either 12 or 24 volts from the vehicle and it pushes filtered air into the cab via the outlet behind the passenger’s seat.

David says the two main things he wanted to achieve from the Freshfilter were to eliminate any spray residues from entering the cab and to keep dust out. It has achieved both.

“There is no chemical smell in the cab and no dust. It is such a winner. The cab still looks as clean as the day it came out of the showroom. That is huge to me and great for the driver.”

Graham had been a spray truck operator in a family owned business (Booth Ag) in Otautau for over 20 years. He could immediately see the advantages Freshfilter offers, and he thought David would be a great one to trial it.

“I knew the feedback would be honest either good or bad. It is another tool to improve your staff’s work environment and factoring it into your setup is a real investment in your staff’s health and wellbeing.

“Freshfilter has done the testing overseas

SOUTHLAND’S DAVID KEAN SAYS THE FRESHFILTER PREVENTED BOTH DUST AND SPRAY RESIDUES FROM ENTERING THE CAB OF HIS LAND CRUISER SPRAY TRUCK.

and they work, but to put my name to it I needed proof for myself. In my mind, if the cab stays clean from dust and doesn’t smell, then it must stay clean from fumes and residues, and it does.”

When the Freshfilter system is on 100 percent it will produce a maximum pressure of 440 kilopascals (kPa). During trials they found this was overkill, so the unit on David’s Landcruiser is at 50 kPa.

FRESHFILTER RANGE

Freshfilter provides three different models to cover all needs. David has the FF M10 mounted on a roof rack. It is only 205 mm high, so it is ideal for vehicle roofs. It is the most popular model for tractors, trucks and skid steers.

Another model is the FF Tube, which is the smallest option for when space is an issue such as in compact excavators. The third option is the FF Multibox which comes in various sizes for larger vehicles such as big excavators, wheel loaders and dumpers.

Graham says Freshfilter can go on any vehicle so long as it has space for the outside unit and the cab can be sealed off adequately.

MOUNTED ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRESHFILTER M10 KEEPS THE CAB PRESSURISED AND IT WARNS THE OPERATOR IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE AIR QUALITY OR IF PRESSURE DROPS.

FILTERS IN THE FRESHFILTER CAN BLOCK HARMFUL PARTICULATES SUCH AS QUARTZ DUST AND ASBESTOS AS WELL AS GASEOUS OR LIQUID PARTICLES.

He can see a broad range of applications in New Zealand across a wide variety of industries including chemical, fertiliser, civil, roading, demolition, quarries and many more.

“I am really excited to be able to offer this product. As an ex-employer, having a tool that benefits your employee’s health and wellbeing as much as this system does is a no-brainer. It is an investment in both your staff and business.”

Freshfilter keeps the cab pressurised, but it is not the same as air-conditioning. Graham says the operator does not have to change any other settings other than to put the airconditioning setting to recirculation.

A monitor on the dashboard gives updates on the condition of the air in the cab. It sounds an alarm if the pressure drops, for example if a window is open.

M10 units have layers of filters 120-mm thick. The filters are paper or carbon with different ratings depending on what you are trying to filter out.

Landlogic recommends that every six months operators change the pre-filters, which trap dust particles greater than 4 microns, and the main filters, which trap harmful particulates such as quartz dust and

asbestos. The carbon filters, which trap gaseous or liquid particles, should be changed every 13 weeks.

The unit can filter at 120 m3/hour and the monitor alerts the driver when the filter is full or blocked.

David intends to install Freshfilter units in all his new builds in the future.

“The driver feels at the end of the day as fresh as when he started. It is a game-changer, sitting in a fresh, beautiful-smelling vehicle.”

He also likes that it can be turned off when

not needed. “Some drivers like to drive home with the window open.”

Improving work conditions also makes it easy to keep drivers. “Honestly, when you have good gear and leading technology, we don’t even have to advertise for staff.”

He compares it to the upsurge in GPS. Initially some embraced it whilst some could not see why they needed it, but now most have auto-steer.

“We thought we didn’t need Freshfilter, but the guys are so much fresher at the end of the day.”

AUTOMATIC TOP LINK ADJUSTMENT FOR SMARTER FERT APPLICATIONS

VALTRA UNLIMITED HAS UNVEILED THE NEW CONCEPT SMART TOP LINK TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF FERTILISER APPLICATIONS.

Valtra NZ product marketing manager Mark Hamilton-Manns says Valtra is constantly innovating to bring tailored technology to farmers and contractors, and this is another unique product offering.

Smart Top Link improves the spreading accuracy of mounted fertiliser spreaders by automatically adjusting the top link’s length to ensure the spreader is correctly calibrated throughout application.

“Traditionally, to ensure the correct performance of a fertiliser spreader, the operator has to adjust the top link’s length to ensure the spreader is level. As a result of extensive field trials, the Valtra team found that the weight change in the spreader during the spreading cycle causes an angle change of around 3°,” Mark says.

“This may not sound much but it has the ability to significantly impact the accuracy and reliability of fertiliser placement.

“Today farmers, growers and environmental regulators are demanding accurate delivery

and calibration of fertiliser spreaders, and the Valtra Smart Top Link offers both agronomic and financial benefits.”

With the changing angles on the top link, the spreader is calibrated properly for only about 20 percent of the spreading cycle. Such poor consistency in spread pattern results in a loss of yield and over application in certain areas.

A study on a Danish farm found this to have a negative average effect of $35/ha. The Valtra Smart Top Link adjusts the top link in real time, to ensure the spreader remains level and fertiliser is applied accurately. This reduces the negative effect by an average of $26/ha.

Available as a Valtra Unlimited feature from the beginning of 2024, the system works via the SmartTouch display to keep a mounted fertiliser box spreader level during work.

Two radar sensors are supplied with Smart Top Link. The sensors are fitted to the front

SMART TOP LINK USES RADAR SENSORS TO MEASURE THE DISTANCE TO THE GROUND AND THEN ADJUST THE LENGTH OF THE TOP LINK ACCORDINGLY.

and rear of the fertiliser spreader to measure the distance to the ground. The data they provide is used to control the length of the top link.

Using the same data the system also displays the height above ground. The Smart Top Link can be used with most mounted fertiliser spreaders regardless of manufacturer.

The Smart Top Link is now available via Valtra Unlimited on new N and T Series tractor orders.

“To satisfy the needs of our customers an aftermarket version of the product will be released later in the year,” Mark says.

AG LEADER UPGRADE COSTS FRACTION OF NEW OR SECOND-HAND SPRAYER

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FARMERS STEPHEN AND ALBIE BOOKHAM HAVE UPGRADED THEIR 20-YEAROLD SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYER INTO A STATEOF-THE-ART PRECISION SPRAYER FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST OF A NEW MACHINE.

Their RoGator 1064 sprayer is one of the first self-propelled sprayers in Australia to be retrofitted with a RightSpot precision spraying system from Ag Leader.

RightSpot uses pulse width modulation (PWM) technology to ensure boom pressure remains constant regardless of operating speed. This ensures consistent droplet size, minimises spray drift and ensures the correct application of chemicals.

By comparison, boom pressure in a conventional flow-based sprayer is determined by ground speed. Any reduction in speed produces larger droplet sizes and potentially reduces the efficacy of the product being sprayed, while any increase in speed will produce smaller droplets that are more prone to spray drift.

Stephen and Albie run a largescale cropping operation near Wongan Hills, WA. Over the past six years, the brothers have doubled the size of their cropping program to about 4000 ha of canola, wheat, barley and export hay.

This expansion has put pressure on every machine in their fleet, none more so than their ageing sprayer.

“Last January, the spraying system on the RoGator threw in the towel,” Stephen says. “It was finished. Nothing worked, the board had completely crashed and the wiring had short-circuited. We had no choice but to buy a new sprayer or try to rebuild the old one.

“We’d just bought a new combine harvester, so we weren’t really in the market for a new sprayer. We were interested in getting a pulse width modulation system because we have lots of

STEPHEN BOOKHAM SAYS HE LIKES RIGHTSPOT’S AUTOSWATH SYSTEM, WHICH SHUTS DOWN NOZZLES AS THE BOOM PASSES OVER ALREADYCOVERED SECTIONS, BOUNDARIES OR HEADLANDS.

undulating country, irregularshaped paddocks and trees.

“With flow-based spraying systems, you have to maintain speed to maintain pressure, and that’s how accidents involving boom tips happen.”

A chance conversation with Doug Jeans, a precision ag specialist based in Perth, provided the way forward.

“Doug told us about RightSpot. It sounded exactly like what we wanted, so we got a quote,” Stephen says.

“We were quite surprised to find out we could get all the latest spraying technology for a fraction of the cost of a new or even a used sprayer.”

The system was installed in time for the 2023 sowing season and Stephen says they are happy with its performance.

“RightSpot is not just about being able to go faster but rather doing a better job at whatever speed you are travelling. We usually spray at about 27 kph but

we know we can slow down if we have to without affecting the spray pattern.

“We have checked the spray pattern using blotting paper and the coverage is perfect whether you are doing 3 to 30 kph.”

Stephen particularly likes the AutoSwath feature, which eliminates over- or under-application.

It automatically shuts down each nozzle as the boom passes over previously-applied sections, boundaries or headlands.

Likewise, automatic turn compensation adjusts the application rate of each nozzle to ensure a consistent rate is applied right across the boom during turns.

He also likes the high visibility of the InCommand 1200 universal display, which provides onscreen monitoring of operating speed, boom pressure, droplet

RIGHTSPOT USES PULSE WIDTH MODULATION TO ENSURE BOOM PRESSURE REMAINS CONSTANT REGARDLESS OF OPERATING SPEED.

size, nozzle status and any diagnostic alerts.

InCommand displays have DisplayCast wireless connectivity, which automatically syncs and shares guidance lines, application and yield maps, operating data and satellite imagery with other connected machines and remote devices.

Application and yield maps can be transferred to Ag Leader’s SMS software and then combined with other farm data to generate prescription maps or crop plans.

SKY DX20

The Sulky brand you know and trust, now with a new look. Find simplicity in the simplest detail with the Sulky DX20.

A hopper capacity from 900 to 1500 litres, and working widths of between 9 and 18 metres, the double cone hopper with steeply slanted walls guarantees a very regular fertiliser flow, even on slopes and when the hopper is nearly empty

Plus, with a seven-year paint warranty you know the ECONOV will go the distance.

ELECTRICAL WEEDING COULD ZAP DEPENDENCE ON AGRICHEMICALS

THE HEAD OF A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN LINCOLN UNIVERSITY AND THE NZ ORGANIC MOVEMENT SAYS ELECTRICAL WEED MANAGEMENT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A REAL ALTERNATIVE TO HERBICIDES.

Dr Charles (Merf) Merfield is head of the BHU Future Farming Centre. Merf says herbicides are on an ever downward spiral due to evolved resistance, lack of new chemistry, legislative headwinds and consumer resistance.

While the industry desperately needs new weed management tools to replace them, few nonchemical approaches have the same simplicity of use, efficacy and flexibility of herbicides. Electrical weed management may hold the key, however.

First conceived and patented 140 years ago, electrical weeders had something of a heyday in the 1980s before the then new-fangled glyphosate killed them off. With the increasing headwinds facing glyphosate and other herbicides, electrical weeding is well and truly back from the dead.

Some of the biggest names in both the machinery and chemical sectors of the industry are now buying into electrical weeding companies, which indicates the potential of the technology. These include Case IH, John Deere, and Nufarm.

Today’s electrical weeders are vastly more advanced than those from the 1980s, Merf says, with sophisticated computer control systems that further improve the technology’s effectiveness. So, there is a lot to understand about individual weeders and the role of plant morphology.

To help farmers, growers and scientists understand electrical weed management the BHU Future Farming Centre (FFC) has just published A Comprehensive Guide to Electrical Weed Management. The guide is free to download as a PDF from the BHU website.

SOME OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY ARE INVESTING IN NEXT GENERATION ELECTRICAL WEEDERS.

Merf is a world leading expert on thermal weed management, which includes electrical weed management, and he is the author of the guide.

“Electrical weeding is proving to be a game changing technology that will provide alternatives to herbicides. Depending on the application method, it can be used to take out weeds that are taller than the crop, especially those that have resistance and otherwise escaped herbicide control,” Merf says.

“Most importantly it can be a direct replacement for glyphosate to eliminate all vegetation in a paddock thus allowing nonchemical, organic no-till direct drilling. Electrical weed control is also being used on robotic weeders to individually kill weedlings in vegetable crops, entirely replacing herbicides.

“Many people think electrical weeding is going to be really energy intensive, which would rule it out in a climate change world. But that’s not correct. Electrical weed management uses less energy than boom applied herbicides if we take into account the energy embodied in the herbicide as well as the diesel burnt in the tractor applying it to the paddocks.”

Further technological advances

would make it the least energy hungry form of weed management of all.

To download the guide to electric weed management, go to the BHU Future Farming Centre homepage: bhu.org.nz/futurefarming-centre and select the FFC Bulletin tab. Then scroll down and select the FCC Bulletin 2024 V1.

DR CHARLES MERFIELD HAS WRITTEN A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO ELECTRICAL WEED MANAGEMENT.

For further information contact Charles Merfield on 021 0231 8901 or charles.merfield@bhu. org.nz.

TOPCON UNIVERSAL LOAD CELLS GIVE MUCK SPREADER NEXT LEVEL ACCURACY

WHEN CANTERBURY SPREADING CONTRACTOR

THOMAS O’KEEFFE BOUGHT HIS SECOND HISPEC XL 1250 MANURE SPREADER LAST YEAR, HE WANTED TO FIT WEIGH SCALES TO IMPROVE ITS ACCURACY AND GIVE

HIM THE ABILITY TO DO PROOF OF PLACEMENT AND VARIABLE RATE SPREADING.

Thomas’s company is Central Injection Agri. He says when he went to buy his new HiSpec, he could have had it with factoryfitted weigh scales but his local dealer, Cochranes, said they could get one retrofitted so he could start work with the new machine sooner. Getting the weigh scales fitted here also meant that if anything went wrong with them, the company that installed them could deal with it.

Cochrane’s preferred supplier of weigh scales is Ashburtonbased Advanced GPS Ag, New

ALTHOUGH DIGISTAR LOAD CELLS ARE FROM TOPCON, THEY INTEGRATE WITH THE TRACTOR’S TRIMBLE GPS SYSTEM THROUGH THE ISOBUS MONITOR.

Zealand’s authorised distributor of Topcon GPS and precision farming equipment.

To install the weigh scales on the new spreader the only potential issue they faced was that Thomas actually uses Trimble GPS, not Topcon.

No dramas. Advanced GPS Ag was able to install TopconDigiStar weigh scales and integrate them with the ISOBUS Trimble monitor in Thomas’s tractor, so he could use it with his Trimble navigation system.

Thomas says the DigiStar weigh

scales give him 100 percent of what he wanted from them.

“If a farmer tells me he has a 7.2 ha paddock and he wants it covered with manure at a rate of 10,000 kg/ha, I can do the job and then look him eyeball-toeyeball and say, ‘That is what we have done and here’s the proof’.”

Advanced GPS Ag managing director Tony Houston says Topcon-DigiStar produces a range of load cells. The bar-type weigh scales he installs on muck spreaders, fertiliser spreaders and feed out wagons fit between an axle and the chassis or between the bin and the subframe it is mounted on.

“The weigh scales work with a Topcon SMI controller that links to an ISOBUS monitor. This gives spreader operators the ability to specify an application rate, and then depending as the working changes, the spreader adjusts the discharge rate to maintain the target application rate,” Tony says.

“We can use the same controller to connect to any type of GPS system, including John Deere. We can retrofit them to existing machines or we can install them with new builds.

“For example, we installed four DigiStar load cells on a big 20-tonne spreader. All four cells feedback to the single controller and it interfaces with the spreader’s monitor.

“Their performance has been consistently outstanding. They are very sensitive. If you push down on a DigiStar weigh scale with one finger, it has the ability

THOMAS O’KEEFFE SAYS THE DIGISTAR WEIGH SCALES INSTALLED ON HIS HISPEC MUCH SPREADER ARE ACCURATE WITH ANY PRODUCT – FROM COMPOST THROUGH TO WET MANURE.

to measure that weight. They can record weights down to 10 kg.”

Advanced GPS Ag has installed Topcon-DigiStar weigh scales on big 18-tonne feed out wagons.

Tony says they can then accurately tell the operator how much they are feeding out to different herds, or they can use the system to get very precise amounts of different ingredients in a feed mix.

Thomas says the DigiStar weigh scales are accurate with any product – from light, hardto-spread compost through to heavy, wet manure.

“I already ran an older model HiSpec 1250 muck spreader, which has been great to use. HiSpec spreaders have a horizontal bar with flails that break up the material before it hits the spinning disc,” he says.

“They can spread anything, including bales of rotten hay and silage, and they give a uniform spread pattern at widths from 12m to 24m. The frame on my older HiSpec would not take weigh scales, so we decided to get a new one because we wanted to stick with the same spreading technology.”

With weigh scales, Thomas gets that same HiSpec performance with incredible accuracy.

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+8% ELARGED CAB +18% FOOTPRINT

MORE POWER

new business WITH A LONG HISTORY

ANDREW HARRIS AIMS FOR QUALITY. THE HARRIS FAMILY OWN HARRIS CONTRACTING IN ASHBURTON, WHICH PRODUCES FINECHOP SILAGE, BIG SQUARE BALES OF GRASS, HAY AND STRAW, AND ROUND BALES OF SILAGE.

Andrew also coordinates sales of standing grass. “We don’t make a margin off the sale. We pair like-minded buyers and sellers and do the processing.”

His parents Warren and Suzanne Harris are directors in the company, but their main involvement is growing grass and maize that Andrew sells.

“They are phenomenal grass growers. They aim for quality not quantity. They get four to five smaller cuts, but the quality is very high.”

The business model that Andrew and his wife Nicole use for Harris Contracting also focuses on quality. For example, silage with 9 megajoules of metabolic energy per kg of dry matter would receive a good payment, but 12 ME/kgDM gets a premium price.

This ensures that people get what they pay for. One farmer’s milking quality grass is not the same as another’s. But this works only if you can reliably and

THE HARRIS FAMILY (FROM LEFT) NICOLE, LEO, JED AND ANDREW.

quickly test the ME of each crop.

Feed testing is done through Canterbury Feed Assessment.

CFA is owned by Rory and Michelle Boleyn, who are friends of Andrew and Nicole. “They are great. We get results within 48 hours.”

Andrew says this model makes everything fairer and transparent. Those who want to focus on quality are rewarded for it with a premium price.

“Growers who want to focus on bulk are matched with buyers

TWO OF HARRIS CONTRACTING’S THREE SQUARE BALERS ARE CLAAS QUADRANT 5300 ROTOCUTS.

who want a cheaper product. No one needs to change, but you get what you pay for.

“I also look at the type of grass. The best hay is made from old fashioned grasses and red clover. Flashy ryegrasses don’t make good hay.”

Like every contractor thriving

photo of myself on a David Brown tractor when I was about six years old.

“I loved it. When the baling contractors were on the farm, I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

The next adventure was a year in America harvesting grain in a John Deere combine. He started in Arizona and worked up to the Dakotas.

in this time of price increases, Andrew and Nicole are focused on being as efficient as possible.

Andrew says Nicole is “the Minister of Finance”. She runs the office and ensures any new idea or potential purchase is backed up with figures and reality.

She was a dairy farmer in Ashburton and understands how clients feel.

Andrew grew up in in Lowcliffe (coastal Canterbury) on his parents’ sheep and cropping farm.

“I was driving the tractor from the day I could walk. I have a

He left school at 15 to work for Michael Butler a nearby contractor. “I didn’t want to go back to school after a taste for contracting and machinery.”

Michael encouraged him and instead of being left on the rake all season, he got to drive the baler and learn so much more.

After two seasons, Michael’s family sold their farm and Michael moved north to the Waikato. Andrew worked on another neighbour’s cropping farm and contracting business, baling, chopping and harvesting.

When he returned home, his parents had converted the farm to dairy.

“After two years on the dairy farm, my father and I came to the understanding that I was not suited to animal farming and I should follow my passion for machinery.”

His next move was to Carrfields Contracting. Andrew worked his way up to operations manager over four years.

The big change that created Harris Contracting was initiated by the Carr family.

“At the end of last season they

HARRIS CONTRACTING WAS FORMED IN 2023 WHEN THE HARRIS FAMILY TOOK OVER CARR CONTRACTING.

discussed with me buying the business. No one in the Carr family wanted to run it and luckily they saw me as a young fellow with an opportunity to build something as an owner-operator.

“They have been super supportive and behind us every step of the way. We can’t thank them enough for this opportunity.”

Andrew and Nicole took the new project on as a team. Andrew does ridiculous hours during the season and Nicole deals with contracts, employment and the zillion other details

ANDREW HARRIS RECKONS JCB AGRI WHEEL LOADERS ARE THE BEST MACHINE THERE IS FOR BUILDING SILAGE STACKS.

harris

contracting

maintains good ties with other contractors

Andrew Harris and his team work between the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers, and they serve farmers from the sea to the mountains.

Keeping to that area helps maintain good relations with other contractors. The relationships go beyond not annoying each other, because sometimes they work together.

For example, Andrew is good friends with Pat-

required to run a business.

THE ANNUAL CYCLE

The season slowly begins in September with silage and maize planting.

It picks up by October and the seasonal staff arrive. “Then it’s humming.” By November they have 24 people on the payroll.

It can slow down in December if it dries out, although this season, there was a lot of rain and excellent growth at the end of 2023. By January hay and straw is underway and maize harvest is in April.

They keep work flowing midMay to the end of June with earlage. This is maize silage without stalk or leaves.

“The chopped cobs are ground to meal for cows. You put it in a stack like normal silage or bag it

rick Nagle of Methven-based Nagle Contracting, and they work together when they can.

“It is a good way to deal with a pinch point which may not last that long, without buying more gear or employing more staff.”

A group of local contractors also pooled together for a fundraiser for one of Patrick’s drivers who passed away on Christmas Eve.

in a silage bag. Earlage is 65 percent DM. We add inoculant and it ensiles into beautiful smelling stuff.

“It is just hard to get right because the harvesting window before it dries down too much is small. You harvest it quickly and can’t stop.”

Harris Contracting has a contract with a cattle feedlot that grows 600 ha of maize.

“It is a big part of our season and a good contract to have. It is all about relationships and being efficient. We know how they like it done.

“We cut 400 ha for normal silage and the rest is kept for earlage. The standing plant is left to die back. The grain gets a black cap which seals it.

“Then we put the combine front on the chopper and strip the

cobs off and the whole plant is mulched as residue.”

Andrew says earlage is popular in the United States. The feed value is like barley grain, but slightly cheaper.

THE STAFF

Over winter all the seasonal staff have gone. Two of the permanent staff – Calum Whyte and Jake Garrett – plus Andrew service the machinery while other full-timers drive trucks delivering feed.

There is little downtime for Andrew and Nicole. “I go hunting for a week in winter with my Dad and brother. That’s my holiday,” Andrew says.

Jake worked for Carrfields a decade ago and left to start his own contracting business in Nelson. “It’s great to have him back

HARRIS CONTRACTING DOES BIG SQUARE BALES OF SILAGE, HAY AND GRASS.

on the team. He brings a great deal of knowledge with him.”

Calum Whyte worked for Carrfields for nine years and stayed with Andrew when he took over. Calum runs the baled silage part of the business leaving Andrew to focus on chop.

Kurt Jaunay, Shevin Davis and Matthew Scammel are the other permanents. There’s also Tom Pearce who has been a seasonal baler driver for 10 years.

Even with four permanents, that still leaves 20 seasonal staff to find. For so many businesses that is a difficult task, however Andrew says it has always been easy.

“People wanted to work for Carrfields. The amount of people who contact us for work is phenomenal. We have never struggled to find staff.”

Some are return university students, there are a few Irish and Scottish imports, and lots of young people apply.

“All the main drivers are local boys who have been here at least four years.

“It costs more in winter to keep the four full-timers, but worth it when we roll into silage season and don’t have to train. Lots of farmers like to see the same guys on the baler year after year.”

Getting the overseas workers organised is one of Nicole’s jobs. She finds accommodation, helps them set up a bank account and does all the inductions.

THE MACHINERY

In an area with a lot of John Deere tractors, Andrew bucks the trend and has Claas. “The backup from Claas Ashburton is just phenomenal.”

The tractor fleet includes five 800 Series and two 600 Series Arions. “They can all do everything and it is easy for staff swapping tractors because they have identical layouts.”

They are all within the range of 150-270 hp and have front linkage and front PTOs as well as variable transmissions. Andrew likes the transmission for the square balers. “It helps make an even bale.”

Seven tractors does not sound a lot for 24 staff, however Andrew and Nicole have found it more efficient to hire four more Class tractors from Jake.

“We can’t cashflow more tractors. This way we don’t store

them over winter and only pay when we are using them.”

Andrew likes to keep the tractors within warranty and trades in every five years or 5000 hours. They also have two trucks, two forage harvesters and two loaders which accounts for the extra staff.

The forage harvesters are Claas Jaguars – a 2018 Jaguar 870 and a 2021 Jaguar 960.

The 960 is the main maize machine. It has a 36-knife drum and a shredlage processor, which is used for the feedlot. When it has finished the maize, they change the head and it goes into grass.

The 870 is the main grass machine and is better in stony ground.

“The knives knock back in when they hit a stone and then you loosen four bolts and pull them back out. The 960 is not as forgiving. The knives explode when they hit a rock. That’s the danger of forage harvesters in mid-Canterbury,” Andrew says.

Nearly all the work is maize or grass, with a small amount of cereal silage.

“Barley wholecrop is not as popular as it used to be. The maize varieties now are fast maturing and can yield so much while being in the ground a short time. It is better value.”

Andrew and Nicole have ordered a new Jaguar 960 to arrive January 2025 and will trade in the old one. Replacing like with like is a good sign of a happy customer.

“You can’t beat Claas Harvest Centre. They have every single part on the shelf, so there’s no downtime. They know their product well and are open to customer feedback. They are always out there testing gear.”

Claas Harvest Centre also provided Harris Contracting with two JCB Agri stack loaders. The latest is a new 457.

A 16-ROW, 12M VÄDERSTAD TEMPO IS USED TO PLANT MAIZE.

“It’s the third in the country and the biggest loader JCB makes. It’s over 21-tonne with a buck rake, and we mainly use it for the feedlot.

“JCB makes the best loader for agri work. It has the weight and ground clearance. The agri booms have rams on both sides, so they don’t block your vision and are better for patting sides on the stacks.

“It also helps that they have a 50 kph road speed. We do a lot of road work. We often travel 60-80 km for a job.”

Harris Contracting uses two Bergmann silage wagons with capacity of 42m3 and 39m3. One is theirs and the other belongs to Jake.

“They have their place for people who like long chop. It lowers cost and handles foreign objects better than the forage harvesters.”

Andrew and Nicole would like to grow the chopping side of the business to get better use of their gear. The two choppers are out every day when cutting maize, but not as often with grass.

They plant maize with a 16-row, 12m Väderstad Tempo precision planter. They work it at 12 kph and it also puts compound fertiliser by the seed.

“It has good depth wheels and the adjustment is easy. Everything starts with drilling. You need a good driver and then you can’t go wrong.”

Not surprisingly Andrew uses

Claas mowers. He has three sets of triples.

“Claas are probably the best contractors’ mower on the market. They handle the abuse we give them in mid-Canterbury and they last. It is not easy mowing stones and pivot ruts. Even with farmers rolling their paddocks, it is a constant battle with rocks.”

Two four-rotor swathers and a two-rotor version do the raking. No need to say what brand they are. The two-rotor is used in front of the round baler and can be used with the square baler in very heavy crops.

Three balers do the big squares – two Claas Quadrant 5300 Rotocuts and the newest toy, a Case IH 436 HD.

“It was a big change going away from Claas. It was driven by bale weight. The Case makes bales that are up to 100 kg heavier.

“Also 436’s bales of straw are much more efficient for transport. When we get 48 to 50 on

a truck and trailer it is up to full weight.”

A McHale Fusion 3+ does the balage. Andrew says a good driver can make 400 bales a day with it. The wrapping is fast and the bale weights are good.

Harris Contracting mostly makes silage for dairy farmers. They also work for cropping farmers who grow maize for the feedlot and they have sheep and beef clients.

Harris Contracting is a new business with a long history. Andrew and Nicole are working big hours to create a great product and they are focused on quality.

“It’s a way of life. If you didn’t love it, you wouldn’t do it,” he says.

HARRIS CONTRACTING IS EQUIPPED TO APPLY SERIOUS HORSEPOWER AND MANPOWER TO A JOB WHEN REQUIRED.

HARRIS CONTRACTING HAS FIVE CLAAS TRACTORS AND IT LEASES IN SEVERAL MORE AT THE PEAK OF THE SEASON.

custom-built mulchers

DO THE HARD YARDS

ANTON MATTHEWS WAS LUCKY TO BE BORN TO A FARMING FAMILY BECAUSE IT MEANT THERE WERE PLENTY OF WAYS TO CHANNEL HIS BOUNDLESS ENERGY AND CURIOSITY.

Today he focuses his efforts on his two grandsons, his Taurangabased contracting business, Bay Mulching Ltd, and a 25-acre avocado block he is developing north of Kaitaia.

Anton actually started life in Northland, first in Kaitaia and then in Dargaville, when his father Frank bought Aranga Station, a 1100-acre beef farm.

His dad had a tractor accident when Anton was eight, and the family had to change gears. They bought a motel in Napier and stayed there for the next 10 years.

In 1980 Frank retired and the family moved to Tauranga. Anton was then at the end of sixth form. He had always assumed he would be a farmer, but when it came time to leave school, his father pointed out that he could never afford to buy a farm and he was better off getting a trade.

Anton did a fitter and turner apprenticeship in Tauranga

ANTON MATTHEWS WITH HIS GRANDSONS COVE AND OAKLEY.

starting on $1 an hour. At the same time he was building a 44-foot Bruce Roberts 43 yacht. He then spent a year working in Australia and another two years in Papua New Guinea, welding in the copper mines.

He returned with money in the bank and the space for another adventure. So, at 26, he sailed his yacht to Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia and Brisbane. That was in 1989, well before GPS was avail-

ANTON MATTHEWS USES HIS CUSTOM-BUILT 400 HP MULCHER TO CLEAN UP SKID SITES AND PULVERISE GREEN WASTE AND FORESTRY RESIDUE.

able, and he did his navigation with a sextant.

ANTON’S MULCHER

In 1990 he was back in Tauranga

THE AUSTRALIAN MULCHING CONTRACTOR WHO BOUGHT THE MEGA 930 CAN USE IT TO GRIND THROUGH 1 HA OF BLUE GUM STUMPS PER HOUR.

working in engineering shops, mainly fixing orchard gear. Most of the tractors were around 100-hp and they had over-sized orchard mulchers on the back.

“They were in the shop all the time being repaired because they were not up to it. I could see an opportunity to build bigger and stronger mulchers,” Anton says.

His first innovation was the position of the mulcher. “I couldn’t see the point driving over top, so I built a front-mounted mulcher on 280 hp. It had nearly three times the power.”

He used that mulcher to start his contracting business in 1990. While the mulcher was a big step up from any other mulcher available at the time, it had its drawbacks.

So in 1994, Anton took the head off it and put it on his new toy, the Mega 400, which has a 400-hp Cummins engine.

over the years bay mulching has held onto many of its clients.

Anton Matthews says he gets a lot of repeat work.

“It is easier to keep clients than find new ones. We tend to undersell and over-supply.”

He is still trying out new ideas and modifying gear to best fit the work.

“All my business life other people have looked at what we do and then said, ‘That’s a good idea’. They will try to make one but it is harder than it seems. There is a lot more to it than what you can see.

“The quickest way to learn is with your cheque book: if you have to pay for your stuff ups, you learn real quick.”

“For its first three years, the Mega 400 was on tyres. But I found we lost too much time with the weather, so I put it on a 12-tonne digger frame.”

He still uses that mulcher today, and it is on 31,000 hours. He says it is like grandad’s axe –with three new handles and two new heads.

A key feature of the Mega 400 is its two different heads – a grinder for dealing to anything under the ground, and a mulcher for taking care of the above-ground stuff.

The grinder is 1m wide and has a drum 1.5m in diameter. It grinds 0.5m below ground. It is used on

to remove shelter belts. It takes 15-mintes to change to the mulcher head, which is 1.8m-wide and has a 0.8m swing. It mulches down to ground level and can handle material up to 400 mm in diameter.

It still has the same 14-litre Cummins engine as when it was built. “It was the engine of choice

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(topographic, soil type or pest maps) combined with boom mounted cameras to reduce chemical usage.

ANTON MATTHEWS COULDN’T FIND WORK FOR HIS 900-HP MEGA 930 MULCHER IN NEW ZEALAND, SO HE SOLD IT TO AN AUSTRALIAN TREE MULCHING CONTRACTOR.

30 years ago, but it is now getting hard to find parts. It is a simple engine and still economical to run.”

With the Mega 400 Anton can clear 1 ha of land per day or 100m of shelter belt per hour. The shelter belts are taken down to ground level in the first pass and

on the second they are ground to a tilth half a metre below ground and 2m wide.

“Then you just add nitrogen and grow grass. It is stumps to arable land in a day.”

Anton says the best thing about this mulcher is it deals with a problem. It doesn’t make another problem, as does creating a burn pile for farmers to deal with.

Developing his mulchers and contracting business was not a straight-forward path.

“It’s been evolution. In the beginning I was lucky to get half a day mulching work at a time. So I used to do engineering for

BAY MULCHING’S 20-TONNE KOBELCO DIGGER WORKING WITH ITS MORBARK 2036 MOUNTAIN GOAT SELF-PROPELLED TREE CHIPPER.

six months, and then go mulching for six months. I did that until I had enough contracting work to support myself.

“That was a different era. I built my own machinery, because you couldn’t buy it. Not like now, when you can just buy a 400-hp tractor and a heavy-duty mulcher. They can get straight to work, but they can also go broke servicing the debt.”

Since then Anton has built machines as needed to do the work in front of him. In 2005 he built a very big mulcher that he used for a decade and then sold to an Australian contractor.

That is the Mega 930. It weighs 35-tonnes and is self-propelled on tracks. Initially Anton built the Mega 930 as a tow-behind mulcher with its own V12 Caterpillar (900-hp) engine. It was towed behind a 250-hp tractor.

The Mega 930 started out with a 930-hp engine but Anton later replaced it with a 1050-hp V12 Cummins engine for the work in Australia. He says it is the biggest mulcher in the Southern Hemisphere.

In Australia, it clears land for mines and can munch through 500m3 per hour. It ambles on top of piles and gobbles below it, so

there is no double-handling and no need to lift branches. With big trees it has a second pass to grind down anything that escaped the first time.

Anton originally built the Mega 930 to deal with forestry waste in the Central North Island. When working around Taupo, it could chew up tree piles that were 8m-10m wide at the base tapering up 3m-4m at the top.

“It chewed up 85 linear metres of those piles per hour. We also got some work cleaning up skid sites at the end of production.

“We have mulched in gullies and it works perfectly, but the forestry companies won’t pay for it.”

Forestry contractors work on minimal pay and cannot afford to clean up and push slash into gullies. The forestry companies who can afford to clean up will not do so, he says.

“I saw the Gisborne Council 15 years ago when the first lot of slash came down and it was a waste of time.”

It initially seemed a goer as Anton could chip the mulch for $2 per m3 . However the council wanted to know the hourly rate and that was $750. They got stuck on that figure even though it still worked out at $2 per m3

Another of Anton’s ideas is to build a wood-powered site in Gisborne where all slash could be processed into environmentallyfriendly power.

“They do it in Australia and the States. You could give an extra $10 per m3 to forestry contractors to chip it and load into a bin

LIAM MATTHEWS IN HIS HAPPY PLACE, OPERATING HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT.

on a truck. They already have the gear and it would add value to the product.”

He kept finding himself in dead ends trying to find work for the Mega 930 in New Zealand, which is why it ended up in Australia.

In 2016, he took it to Australia where he was contracting with a partner for 18 months. He then sold that mulcher to his partner. At the same time another contractor wanted him to build him one. Anton was not up for that, but he did sell him the Mega 930, kitted out with all the safety equipment needed to work around mine sites.

Another machine Anton built was a mulcher, grinder and tree chipper all in one, built on a digger. That was for a big contract which then fell through. A local contractor bought the machine.

BAY MULCHING TODAY

Now Bay Mulching uses the Mega 400 to grind stumps and mulch all around the Central North Island and Northland.

“Our speciality is taking cutover pines back to grass. If there is enough work, we will go anywhere, including the South Island. If the job is big enough, we absorb the mileage.”

Rob moves the gear with an eight-wheeler FLB Freightliner, towing his ute on an a-frame. He is self-contained with fuel and tools and either stays on the job

CHALLENGING TIMES

or drives home in the ute.

Bay Mulching also offers a complete tree removal service. They have a 20-tonne zero-swing Kobelco digger with tree grabs and shears, meaning they can safely remove trees from tricky spots, such as near buildings or power lines.

“We do the whole lot – shift and chip, grind stumps and any land clearance.”

Their Morbark 2036 Mountain Goat self-propelled tree chipper can chew up branches and trees up to 20-inches in diameter and looks like a robotic toddler enthusiastically stuffing trees into its mouth with one hand.

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“We have developed a lot of skid sites. We grind down the stumps and then work on top of the green waste, There is no mud or run-off. You don’t get environmental issues. When it rains the mulch moulds into the soil.”

Anton promotes mulching over digging and burning because mulch improves the soil, but the downsides are that vegetation has to be removed and mulching takes plenty of fuel. For example, the Mega 930 burns 130 litres of diesel an hour.

Bay Mulching’s clients include forestry companies, dairy farms, subdivisions, avocado growers and kiwifruit orchards.

ANTON MATTHEWS BUILT HIS FIRST MULCHER IN 1990. IT HAD A 280-HP ENGINE AND THE MULCHER IN FRONT RATHER THAN AT THE REAR.

“We have pulled some kiwifruit blocks out twice, first when the arse dropped out of the industry and then during PSA. That was a lot of heartache,” Anton says.

Nowadays Anton prefers to spend whatever spare time he has on his avocado orchard, not building machines for others. But that could change.

He has one staff member, Rob Hyde, and they have been working together for 17 years.

“Rob is a very handy mechanic. He came to do industrial painting for me and never left. He turns up for work every day and customers love him.”

Nowadays Rob does the mulching and chipping and Anton does the big maintenance, chases the work and is getting the avocado orchard going.

Anton and his partner Janine Henderson’s son Liam worked for Bay Mulching for three years and he still rents a flat on Anton’s Tauranga property.

“When work dropped off, Liam wanted to move on. He is a very accomplished digger operator and heavy equipment fitter, so a very handy person.”

MULCHING TRENDS

The world of mulching has changed over the 30 years of Bay Mulching. Anton used to have lots of small jobs, and now it has become fewer but bigger jobs. That is efficient, but only if there is enough work.

“It’s a lot harder out there now. With the higher interest rates, people are spending as little as possible. Also prices for avocados are less than what it costs to grow them.

“A sad outcome of the downturn in prices is that smaller blocks are being mulched. The blocks that are not economic, are worth more as lifestyle blocks.”

Anton says dairy clients are

LIAM AND JANINE MATTHEWS WITH 1500 TREES READY TO PLANT WHEN THE FAMILY DEVELOPED THEIR AVOCADO ORCHARD IN NORTHLAND.

BOTTOM RIGHT: WHEN ANTON MATTHEWS FIRST BUILT HIS HUGE MEGA 900 MULCHER, IT WAS TOWED BEHIND A TRACTOR AND HAD ITS OWN V12 CATERPILLAR 900-HP ENGINE.

slowly coming back as prices improve, but overall it is hard being in the rural sector. Some of the problem is increased compliance costs.

“Granddad had a sheep station in the 1950s in the Wairarapa. He paid for it in two years with the wool cheque. It was a pound a pound because of the Korean War.”

As Anton gets older he is getting smarter about the risks Bay Mulching takes on.

“Steep ground is more expensive and I want Rob working again tomorrow. If he thinks a job is dicey, then we don’t do it.”

Developing the avocado block in Northland started about three years ago, when Anton and Janine bought the land and planted shelter belts. Two years ago they planted 9 ha of avocados.

“At the time avocados made as much money as kiwifruit with less work. It’s changed, but it may come back.”

He says it is still a nice lifestyle, “mowing and buggering around with trees, after years of mulching them down”.

Because he has a small block, Anton cannot compete on scale, so he is aiming for quality. He's working towards growing organic fruit with organic fertiliser and using ozonised water as a foliar spray.

“With ozone I can spray with the doors open. Ozone has been trialled in Katikati and it is working well for us so far. It seems to be keeping pests at bay on our block. We have had no bugs since October.”

WITH ITS MEGA 400 MULCHER, BAY MULCHING CAN CLEAR 1 HA OF LAND PER DAY OR 100 METRES OF SHELTER STUMPS PER HOUR.

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LYNX GUIDANCE INTERFACE

NORTH ISLAND

injection of youth

TAKES SPRAY BUSINESS FORWARD

AMBITIOUS YOUNG CONTRACTOR STUART DAVIES HAS TAKEN OVER THE REINS OF LONG-STANDING HAWKE'S BAY SPRAY CONTRACTING BUSINESS FOGARTY SPRAYING LTD. HE INTENDS TO BUILD ON ITS SUCCESS WHILE ADDING FRESH IDEAS AND NEW EQUIPMENT.

Stu bought the Waipukuraubased boom spray operation from Paddy Fogarty last year. Paddy is a second generation spray contractor, and he had a 50-year career in the industry before he sold the business.

Today Fogarty Spraying runs a fleet of five spray units, three are truck mounted and two are selfpropelled.

They use them to look after vegetable, arable and dairy farmers throughout Central Hawke's Bay. Looking to the future Stu recently added a spray drone to the business.

Brought up in Wales, Stu has been building up experience in the ag industry in both the UK and New Zealand since he was 16 years old.

“I did two years at agricultural college in Wales. I earned my diploma in agriculture and also got an agricultural engineering qualification and spraying certification.

“After that I worked on a big mixed arable and sheep farm in Herefordshire. I did a lot of spraying for them plus baling and cultivation work. I started out in a

self-propelled Kellands Agribuggy, which was a good machine to learn on. Later I moved on to a big Sands 3000 and then a Sands Horizon.

“At that time I was basically self-employed, so when I was not working on the farm, I had my own shearing run.”

Because his father is Welsh and his mother is a Kiwi, Stu always had one eye on New Zealand. In 2010, when he was 21, he headed Down Under to spend the Northern Hemisphere winter

THE MERCEDES SPRAY TRUCK IS ON SINGLE WHEELS AND IT IS USED ON CEREALS, BEANS, AND PASTURE.

ALTHOUGH STUART DAVIES WAS YOUNG WHEN HE TOOK OVER FOGARTY CONTRACTING LAST YEAR, IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF A DECADE OF HARD WORK IN THE UK AND AOTEAROA.

shearing sheep in the sun.

Over the next nine years, he went on to do five seasons shearing here while he was living in the UK. His main base was in Hawke's Bay, but he also spent

a lot of time in the Clutha district and Canterbury. He reckons in those five seasons, he sheared about 20,000 sheep, about 10,000 of them in the North Island and 10,000 in the South Island.

When the shearing tailed off, he signed on to work for spray contractors. He has had stints with a number of Canterbury contractors, including silage contractor Gareth Dalley and spray contractors Gary Harrison, Philip Vanderweg and Haden Batty.

“Because I have New Zealand citizenship, I never had to worry about getting work visas or that kind of thing. I kept the money that I earned in New Zealand here, and I had a real passion to move here.

“Once I had built up enough capital I was ready to make the move. In 2019 I had an interview and got a position with Paddy Fogarty. I was looking for a good steady job so that I could get a mortgage and build a foundation to buy or start my own business.”

While Stu was preparing to shift his life to the Antipodes, the world changed. Covid hit, New Zealand closed its doors to the outside world, and he was stranded in the UK. Because he

is a New Zealand citizen he was eligible to return, however. Once he got a spot in managed isolation, he made his move.

“I arrived in August 2020.I think a lot of people were wondering how Paddy could get a Welshman to come in and work for him when the whole country was in lockdown. At first I stayed in a cottage in Waipukurau, and in November I bought a home,” Stu says.

“Then I got to work. I went all out for Paddy because I was looking at the possibility of buying into his business. I wanted to prove to him that I could handle the work and the responsibility.

“I had plenty of spraying experience by that time. Once Paddy

THIS PAST SEASON THE BATEMAN 4000 DID 2000 HOURS, WHICH INCLUDED A LOT OF WORK FOR VEGETABLE GROWERS AND CROPPING FARMERS.

saw what I could do, he knew he could send me anywhere and I could do the job without any babysitting. I had already done shearing throughout Central Hawke's Bay, so many people already knew me when I showed up with a spray truck instead of a hand piece.

“I really enjoyed working with Paddy. He is a straight shooter. We both came from nothing but we are ambitious and happy to

work hard to build something.”

Stu took ownership of Fogarty Spraying in October 2023.

SELF-PROPELLED AND TRUCKS

In 2021 Stu and Paddy were making plans for Stu to buy the business, and they decided it was time to add another selfpropelled sprayer to the operation. Stu was familiar with the reputation of Bateman sprayers from his time in the UK and Can-

terbury so, with his input, Paddy agreed to buy a new one from the New Zealand distributor, Molloy Agriculture.

“Paddy had enough faith in me to spend half a million dollars on the sprayer I preferred because I was planning on taking over the business. Bateman led the way with a lot of technology that is now on other sprayers,” Stu says.

“Batemans have always had adjustable axles, for example,

TO SUPPORT THEIR XAG P100 PRO AGRICULTURAL DRONE, STUART AND RUSSELL DAVIES HAVE PURPOSE-BUILT A TRAILER WITH A MIXING TANK, WATER TANKS AND GENERATORS TO RECHARGE BATTERIES.

it did 2000 hours in the same timeframe. We have a seasonal driver on it and it is doing a lot of work for vegetable growers. It is good on speciality crops and cereals.”

and they are now a standard feature. Having the ability to change wheel widths is great for us because we can go from 1.8m widths for onions and carrots to 2.15m for doing squash or post emergent sprays in maize.”

The Bateman 4000 has a 4000-litre tank and 28m boom. The boom is the working width needed to do squash, onions and carrots. While it is not as wide as some booms, it is big enough to do a wide spectrum of crops including cereals and peas.

Stu says, when they bought the Bateman, they made the decision to invest in high flotation tyres rather than a boom height control system.

“We have it on Michelin FloatxBib flotation tyres. They put the sprayer in a whole different league. It can go places that you could not get to otherwise. The Bateman will float over ground much better than our spray trucks and it is better than a tractor for weight distribution.

“The first season we had it, it did 670 hours. This past season

Fogarty Spraying also runs three truck-mounted spray units – two Isuzu 450s and a Mercedes-Benz Atego. All of them were built by Matt Gordon of Hawke's Bay company Agtech.

Both of the Isuzus NP450s are on dual rear wheels. One of the Isuzus is a 2015 model, and it has a 2000-litre Hardi tank with an 18m boom. The other is a 2019 model, and it has a 3200-litre Hardi tank and 18m Landquip alloy boom.

The Mercedes is on all single wheels and it is used mainly for cropping work. It is used on cereals, beans, and pasture and it does a lot of spraying out with Roundup. Stu says it is a very reliable, lightweight truck with a good 190-hp engine.

Recently he added another selfpropelled sprayer to the business. It is a second-hand Bateman RB35 that dates to 2013.

WITH A FLEET OF BATEMAN SELF-PROPELLEDS AND SPRAY TRUCKS, STUART DAVIES AND HIS TEAM LOOK AFTER FARMERS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY.

BORN IN WALES, STUART DAVIES DID FIVE SEASONS SHEARING IN NEW ZEALAND BEFORE HE MADE THE PERMANENT MOVE DOWN UNDER.

“We bought this Bateman through TradeMe from a Canterbury cropping farmer. He also bought it second-hand, from Molloy Agriculture, so it has done a bit of work but it is a good machine and it was affordable.

“Paddy always ran two or three self-propelled machines. I want-

always have a backup on hand and we can be reliable to our larger clients.”

Stu says he gets good back-up support from David Molloy from Molloy Agriculture for his Batemans when it comes to service, parts and advice. In fact, David came up from the South Island in person to deliver the new Bateman to Fogarty Spraying in November 2021.

CLIENTELE

Fogarty Spraying looks after clients in a 50 km radius from their base at Waipukurau. Stu

Tikokino, out to the coast around Porangahau, occasionally as far south as Dannevirke, and west into the foothills of the Ruahine Range.

Their clientele includes some large mixed farming operations, corporate dairy farms, hill country farms, smaller farms and even some orchards and vineyards.

“We work for a big operation that grows a lot of crops in hill country for fattening stock and a number of other large farmers. We support a lot of dairy farmers and do a vast area of cereals. We are also happy to do smaller jobs

FOGARTY SPRAYING’S BATEMAN 4000 HAS A 4000-LITRE TANK AND 28M BOOM, WHICH IS IDEAL FOR DOING VEGETABLE CROPS AS WELL AS CEREALS AND PEAS.

ing out 15-20 ha or doing their weed control,” Stu says.

Fogarty Spraying is a general spraying business that handles all types of work. They apply a full range of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and growth regulators.

BY ADDING A SPRAY DRONE TO HIS BUSINESS STUART DAVIES IS FILLING A NICHE NO-ONE ELSE WAS IN AND HE IS PROVIDING A SERVICE HE HOPES WILL ATTRACT NEW CLIENTS.

fogarty spraying’s xag drone offers some real advantages

It is cost effective for the farmer because there is no crop damage with machines going in and out of the paddock. And with lower water rates you get a faster wilt when spraying out.

“We have sprayed insecticide on a kale crop, and once again there was no damage to the crop. Another job we have done is spraying roof tops

ships with all major suppliers, including PGG Wrightsons, Farmlands and H&T. He also works closely with Nufarm and uses their consignment system.

He has one full-time employee, Craig Minto and he brings in one seasonal employee for the busy part of the year. Next season he reckons he has enough work that he will add another seasonal driver.

SPRAY DRONE

The latest addition to Fogarty Spraying’s arsenal is an XAG P100 Pro agricultural drone, which is a foldable four rotor machine with the capacity to carry 50 litres (50 kg) of chemicals.

Stu has set up a Hilux ute with additional suspension and a purpose-built mixing trailer to supply the drone. The trailer carries a 450-litre mixing tank with agitation and a 2000-litre water tank. It also carries generators to

and poly tunnels with anti mould sprays,” Stu Davies says.

The XAG P100 Pro can also handle granular products and it can spread urea, slug bait or grass seed. It comes with three different sets of augers so it can apply products at rates as low as 500 gm/ ha and as high as 250 kg/ha.

recharge the drone’s batteries so they can constantly swap in fresh batteries when they refill with chemicals.

“After the 2023 cyclone it was impossible to get trucks into hill country. It was a struggle to get around and not safe for drivers. Our original thought was to get a tractor and mounted sprayer unit,” Stu says.

“When we thought about it, we decided that a drone would allow us to fill a niche that no-one else was in and give us a way to expand the business by providing a different service that could attract new clients.

“In many situations, a drone is a better option than a helicopter.

For a farmer who has, say, a 5 ha job to do, a drone is more expensive than a truck, but it is cheaper than a helicopter and it still delivers the benefit of less damage because you are not driving on it.”

The drone operator is Stu’s brother Russell. Over the past six months they have built the support vehicle for the drone, got all necessary licences to operate it, had training and built up experience.

Russell has his PhD in physiology from the University of Bath and now he is a full-time drone operator. He has had training on all of the software, and he is the one to line up work, assess each job, and consider the risks, chemicals and weather conditions.

Stu says Russell has taken on some big jobs using the drone. He has completed 300 ha of spraying, so it has done some decent ground.

So far they have used it to desiccate pastures and for broadacre spraying. They have done up to 25 ha at a time on crops such as barley. They have also spot sprayed gorse and blackberry

STUART DAVIES (LEFT) HAS RECRUITED HIS BROTHER RUSSELL TO OPERATE HIS NEW SPRAYING AND FERT SPREADING DRONE.

and taken out ragwort in hill country that would otherwise be impossible to get to.

“We have advertised the service on Facebook and we have picked up some jobs that way. It will take time to build up the service but we don’t want to grow super-fast because we want to be able to deliver a consistent service to our clients,” Stu says.

THE BUSINESS DOES SPRAYING FOR SOME LARGE HAWKE’S BAY FARMING OPERATIONS, DAIRY FARMS, HILL COUNTRY FARMS AND EVEN SOME ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS.

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AN AMAIZING LIFE sam monk -

SAM MONK ENJOYS A CHALLENGE AND ISN’T AFRAID OF HARD WORK. HE ALSO LIKES TO LET OPPORTUNITIES TAKE HIM WHERE THEY WILL AND, IF THEY LOOK PROMISING, HE’S HAPPY TO GIVE THEM A GO.

This open-mindedness now sees Sam with multiple business interests including dairy farming, running one of the biggest silage contracting operations in Victoria, to owning a share in a local pub – at just 28 years old.

And if that weren’t enough, he also has three young childrenMatilda (7), five-year-old Ellie, and Charlie (2) to wrangle into line at times.

While there’s no denying he’s been remarkably successful,

Sam credits his parents for not only having his back as he set out on his own by acting as guarantors, but also instilling in him a strong work ethic.

with Sam the third generation farming the original 200-acre dairy farm his grandparents owned in Cobden, 200 km west of Melbourne, in south western Victoria.

His father, Rod, had increased the original dairy farm to 515 acres, running it by himself, while his mother, Clare, became a very successful primary school principal at Warrnambool West Primary School.

MONK AG SERVICES IS NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST OPERATIONS OF ITS TYPE IN

“Dad is one of the hardest workers I know, while Mum has just recently been awarded Outstanding Primary Principal of the Year at the 2023 Victorian Education Excellence awards,” he says. Sam loved the lifestyle growing

“My drive for success is derived from my parents work ethic and commitment to their work,” he says.

Dairy farming has long been a part of the Monk family tradition,

AT 28 YEARS OLD, SAM HAS BUILT UP A RANGE OF BUSINESS INTERESTS, AS WELL AS PLAYING DAD TO MATILDA (7), FIVE-YEAROLD ELLIE, AND CHARLIE (2).

VICTORIA.

up on the family dairy farm in this lush part of the country.

Along with a high annual rainfall, Cobden sits on the southern border of the Lakes and Craters Country - the fourth largest volcanic plain in the world. This has seen the area covered in rich volcanic ash from past eruptions, making it a highly productive agricultural area.

There are also dozens of lakes dotted across the area formed from extinct volcanos. Dams on some of these lakes see irrigation companies supplying water to surrounding agricultural operators.

While still at school, Sam appreciated not having to find part-time work elsewhere as there was always paid work for him on the farm - milking for his father.

Things started happening quickly for Sam when he started thinking about a career.

Along with farming, Sam also enjoyed working with machinery so, when his parents insisted he have an apprenticeship lined up before he could leave school, he began a diesel mechanic apprenticeship with Swayne McCabe in Warrnambool.

But he also wanted to eventually become his own boss. So, at around the same time, he used the wages he had earned from milking to raise the finance he needed to buy a John Deere 467 silage special baler - with his parents acting as guarantors. Hooked up to the farm tractor, Sam’s silage contracting operation also got under way.

The hands-on mechanical experience was of real interest and very useful. While his two brothers and sister headed off to do their own thing, Sam stayed on the farm with his parents, building his contracting business. Three years later he was

contracting full time and working on the farm when work was a bit slow.

It didn’t take long to realise that there weren’t enough hours in the day to do everything by himself and in those early days he really appreciated having good mates who would come and help out with driving.

But as the business expanded

the workload got too much and Sam quickly realised he needed more staff.

An advertisement for a tractor driver on the Gumtree website, which connects jobseekers in the UK with jobs in Australia, saw Sam taking on a young Irish driver, Nigel Sheridan, from West Ireland, County West Meath. Nigel had been backpacking

SAM HAS A RANGE OF MOWERS IN HIS FLEET, ABLE TO TACKLE A WIDE RANGE OF JOBS.

around Australia at the time with a friend, when he spotted the ad and applied. His friend then also came to work for Sam.

That was the start of also hiring

WHEAT, GRASS AND MAIZE ALL GO THROUGH THE COMPANY’S HARVESTERS.

AROUND 90 PERCENT OF THE COBDEN AREA’S MAIZE IS GROWN UNDER IRRIGATION.

JCB LOADERS, FITTED WITH BUCKRAKES, ARE USED ON THE SILAGE STACKS.

MONK AG SERVICES SPILLING OVER INTO NSW AND SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

international skilled workers or travellers, mostly from Ireland, England and New Zealand. Along with skilled locals, they have become an essential element of the business, says Sam.

Nigel still works for the company, having settled in the area and started a family.

He is now an integral component within the business, Sam says, essentially in charge of a

Claas forage harvester and its crew throughout the year.

With the contracting business taking on a life of its own, there wasn’t a lot of spare time for dairy farming anymore, but Sam saw it as too good a business opportunity to move away from.

While there is dairy farming in every state, Victoria is the dairy industry capital for the country with nearly 65 percent of the milk produced annually coming off its farms.

There has been a reduction in milk production overall in the country over the last couple of decades, but the dairy industry

JCB EQUIPMENT MAKES UP A LARGE PART OF SAM’S FLEET….AND IS POPULAR WITH HIS KIDS TOO.

remains strong in Victoria. Sam is confident the numbers will continue to stack up long term, when compared to returns for dry stock farming. It’s also an industry he knows and understands well.

This confidence saw him invest in a 556-acre dairy farm when it came up for sale next door to his parent’s farm four years ago, with Sam putting a manager in place to run it. Another farm joined the fold a couple of years later and then a third.

But it was the fourth farm to join the fold last year that was the most important and held a

special place for Sam - his parent’s farm. The farm he had grown up on and which he knew and loved every inch of, became his own – ensuring it stayed in the family.

Now managed as a single farm, the four properties cover 2700 acres and carry 1000 Holstein cows, along with another 1000 head of stock, including young animals connected to the dairy operation.

There have been quite a few improvements recently including a new feed pad and barn complete with flood wash. A new calving barn has gone up, centre

pivot irrigation been installed, along with concreted silage pads, extensive fencing, and water and track work throughout the property.

While they may have handed over the reins of the farm to their son, Rod and Clare are still very much part of Sam and his children’s life. Still living on the farm, they have their own plot of land with a house, with Rod still very hands-on in some operations on the farm, and now having more time to spend on his pet project - a small herd of Hereford and Angus beef animals.

While the scope of the contracting work has increased and now also covers everything from cultivation and tillage to effluent and compost spreading, to spraying, silage is still the mainstay of the business including on 2000 acres of leased cropping farmland.

“We’ll do anything that will go through a forage harvester,” says Sam.

That includes a lot of wheat, grass and maize silage.

The success of the silage operation is also connected to the dairy industry as the majority of grass and maize silage is used as feed on the farms he contracts on, while the wheat is generally sold.

While there may be a drought currently underway in other parts of the country, around the Cobden area it’s been one of their best springs, says Sam.

The reliable rainfall sees good pasture growth for grazing and also for dryland grass silage. Around 90 percent of the maize is grown under irrigation with water coming from the nearby lakes, along with some ground water irrigation.

THE COMPANY’S CONTRACTING OPERATIONS CATERS TO ALL SIZES OF CUSTOMER FROM SMALL FARMS TO LARGE OPERATIONS.

Contracting covers all farm sizes with clients ranging from small family-run dairy farms to corporate entities.

Strip tilling has become more popular in recent years, often for moisture conservation in drier areas particularly on dryland soils. Although this is a high rainfall area, Sam still uses strip till for pre-preparation with their corn planting program. Overall he finds there is around a 50/50 split between strip till and full cultivation with their work these days.

Contracting is looking good for the future, Sam says, although it has become a lot more intense even in the short time he has been in it.

“People expect a higher quality product now.”

This has seen him keeping up with satellite tech, including with NRI sensors for silage, and precision planting on the corn. He expects this type of tech and more automation to continue increasing into the future.

This attention to tech innovation may well have contributed

to the success of Monk Ag Services spilling over into NSW and Southern Australia as it continues to grow.

Business opportunities connected to the contracting side of things continue to emerge with earth works a new enterprise.

The very latest business foray may well be appreciated by his staff most of all.

Sam and his family have now ventured out into a completely new business area which may prove particularly enjoyable. They have taken on a half share - with their operations manager taking the other half - of the lease on the pub in town.

And while there are likely to be some good fringe benefits, once again Sam will be too busy to be very hands-on with the business, instead having managers running it.

From the hard-earned baler and the family tractor, Sam’s business Monk Ag Services has transformed into one of the biggest contracting businesses in the state with around 100 full-time staff with another 50

part-timers and casual staff, and an eye-watering array of machinery and equipment. The business continues to expand into both NSW and South Australia.

Sam is looking forward to what else the future may hold.

He acknowledges his family has helped in his journey so far, and encourages others looking at getting involved in farming or agricultural contracting at a young age not to be discouraged by their youth.

“Age doesn’t matter – if you’re prepared to have a go.”

Be open to new opportunities when they present themselves, but also be prepared to put in the hours needed to be successful, he says.

“I worked day or night and never said no to a job, so I worked long hours.”

SAM HAS EXPANDED HIS FARMING-BASED BUSINESSES INTO A RANGE OF APPLICATIONS ACROSS THE AGRICULTURAL SPECTRUM.

what’s new in.... SPRAY TECHNOLOGY

AS SPRAY TECHNOLOGY GETS MORE SOPHISTICATED, IT GIVES FARMERS AND CONTRACTORS THE ABILITY TO APPLY CHEMICALS ACCURATELY AND MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR CLIENTS, REGULATORS AND THE PUBLIC. HERE ARE SOME OF THE LEADING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN NEW ZEALAND FOR SPRAYING CROP PROTECTION AND LIQUID FERTILISERS.

MEGA

At this year’s Southern Field Days in Southland, Hardi introduced its new Mega linkage sprayer to New Zealand. With its cutting-edge features and unwavering reliability, Mega promises to redefine efficiency and productivity for farmers across the country.

Time is of the essence in agriculture, and Mega's extended capacity translates into increased productivity and reduced downtime. This allows farmers and contractors to maximise their output while minimising disruptions.

Mega's appeal goes beyond its impressive capacity, however. It is also about ease of operation. Recognising the diverse skill sets within the farming community, Hardi has engineered Mega with user-friendliness in mind.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a novice operator, Mega's intuitive controls and straightforward interface ensure a seamless experience

from start to finish. The simplicity lets farmers focus on what they do best – nurturing their crops.

Perhaps Mega's most compelling feature is its AirRide suspension system. Designed to mitigate shock loads on the machine, AirRide ensures a smoother ride and contributes to a more stable boom, which means more precise and consistent application of pesticides.

Beyond its performance benefits, AirRide enhances comfort for the driver. This reduces fatigue during long hours in the field and promotes overall wellbeing.

Mega's arrival underscores Hardi's unwavering dedication to serving the needs of its customers. By listening to feedback and staying attuned to industry trends, Hardi has consistently delivered products that empower farmers to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

Hardi is renowned for its dependable and time-tested

trailed sprayers like the Commander, Navigator, and Grassland. With robust boom options as wide as 54.5m and a tank capacity of 10,000 litres, Hardi can supply a sprayer that meets your needs.

At the core of these sprayers are Hardi’s unparalleled nozzles – ActivAir and H-Select. These nozzles are the product of years of research and development, aimed at maximising precision and efficiency in pesticide application.

H-Select nozzle control coordinates up to four different nozzles to continually maintain the required target rate across the boom and speed range.

An autonomous controller monitors each boom section’s speed against the set spray rate. It then selects nozzle heads rapidly and precisely to achieve consistent spray delivery during every stage of spray operations. This includes during starting, headland turns, and adjustments to follow the paddock shape or avoid obstacles. ActivAir is a game-changer. It

HARDI

GILCHRIST BROTHERS LTD

Canterbury sprayer manufacturers Gilchrist Brothers Ltd (GBL) has been steadily expanding the range of trucks it can fit with its custom-built auto-steering systems as well as the GPS services they can be integrated with.

By now most spraying contractors are aware of the benefits that auto-steering can bring to their businesses – greater accuracy, much fewer overlaps and missed areas, reduced chemical use, better protection of the environment, and a smaller carbon footprint.

In 2020 GBL introduced the first auto-steering system certified by Waka Kotahi-NZTA for use in New Zealand. With this certification, the spray truck can legally be driven on public roads despite the changes GBL makes to the truck’s driving and safety systems.

The Gilchrist brothers are Andrew and Peter. They have run a contracting business from their base near Rangiora since 2005. They later built their own spray truck and eventually they started building them for other contractors. Today they build spray trucks for contractors throughout Aotearoa.

Initially their specialty was building spray units on Toyota Land Cruisers; the first autosteer unit they designed was specifically for use in Land Cruisers.

GBL technicians replaced the original steering wheel with a Topcon electro-magnetic steer-

ing unit. It was integrated with a Topcon X25 controller and antenna, so the steering wheel and the GPS system talk to each other.

It took several years of clever engineering and design changes to get that auto-steering system to the point where it achieved NZTA certification.

Today nearly all of the spray trucks GBL builds are fitted with auto-steering, and they have designed systems for the full range of larger, 12-15 tonne trucks that spray contractors typically use – Isuzu, Iveco, Hino, and Mercedes Benz.

For the past several years, GBL built all of its auto-steer units using Topcon components and integrated them with Topcon GPS.

Recently, however, they added self-steering to two spray trucks for cartage, spreading and spraying contractor Philip Wareing Ltd. Those units are integrated with Trimble GFX-750 monitors and Trimble GPS.

The benefits can be significant. Peter Gilchrist says they estimate in hilly country the accuracy self-steering provides reduces passes by up to 25 percent while on flat ground it improves efficiency by 8-10 percent.

With auto-steer it is easier to train new drivers and it means contractors can deliver a consistent performance even when different operators are driving the sprayer.

Bill Parsons runs one of GBL’s

Land Cruisers with auto-steering in his business Kaikoura Ag Spraying. Bill has used the spray rig for two seasons. He says the auto-steering is easy to use and he cannot fault it.

“I use auto-steer on the flats and in the hills. I don’t have to worry about the steering, so I can concentrate on the sprayer.

“It gives me better accuracy, eliminates human error, and makes our service cheaper to farmers. Chemicals have become an expensive input, so if we can use less it benefits them.

“Gilchrist Brothers integrated our system with Tracmap-Tabula. We can use Tabula to do proof of placement and it sends the area covered straight to Xero so I can use it to prepare invoices. Our whole system is digital now,” Bill says.

Philip Wareing Ltd co-owner Mark Wareing also says the auto-steer system has improved the company’s spraying perfor-

mance. It helps reduce fatigue. It also ensures that all jobs are done as efficiently as possible and are repeatable every time.

Self-steering is also a very useful tool for training new operators because they quickly learn how to maintain straight tramlines and operate the sprayers faster and more efficiently. It also helps reduce any over- or under-spray, Mark says.

When GBL designs an autosteer system for a truck, their engineers retain as many of the original steering system’s safety features as possible. The autosteering does not interfere with manual steering and in most cases the factory-fitted airbags are retained.

GBL can retrofit auto-steer to existing spray trucks. Peter Gilchrist says GBL is having talks about self-steering with some fert spreading contractors and they anticipate interest in that sector will grow.

gives farmers and contractors instant control over their sprayer nozzles using on-board air. With this system, adjustments are quick and precise, which ensures optimal spraying without any dripping.

It's easy to use and helps reduce waste, all while maximising efficiency and environmental friendliness. ActivAir simplifies spraying, making it easier for farmers to get consistent results with minimal effort.

Hardi stands with and for farmers, providing reliable equipment and other innovative tech-

nology to meet the ever-evolving challenges of modern agriculture.

From the introduction of the groundbreaking Mega sprayer,

with its cutting-edge features and user-friendly design, to the proven reliability of trailed sprayers like the Commander, Navigator, and Grassland, Hardi

consistently demonstrates its commitment to serve the needs of farmers.

Visit: the website hardi.co.nz for more information.

KVERNELAND IXTRACK

T4 & T6

Kverneland iXtrack trailed sprayers give contractors and large farmers precise, easy spraying, and with tank sizes from 3400 up to 7600 litres, more time to spend working between refills.

Important features on both the iXtrack T4 and T6 Series is the iXspray user-friendly operating system, Boom Guide automatic boom height control, a choice of priming and cleaning systems, and ISOBUS connection.

T4 models range from 3400 to 4600 litres while T6 models range from 5200 to 7600 litres. Both can be specified with HSA aluminium booms of 27m to 33m or HSS steel booms in widths of 18m to 40m.

A suspended parallelogram provides boom stability when working or during transport. The parallelogram limits vertical movement to minimise height deviations during spraying.

In transport position iXtrack sprayers have a low centre of gravity and the boom folds over the tank and away from the tractor cab to give a transport width of 2.55m.

Both T4 and T6 ranges have a steering axle that boosts stability during work. Track widths can be changed from 1.8m to 2.25m while maintaining a tight turning radius.

ErgoDrive headland management is standard on iXtrack T4 and T6 sprayers. During headland turns, ErgoDrive controls all the necessary actions of the

sprayer, so the operator can focus on driving safely.

For priming and cleaning your iXtrack sprayer you can choose the iXclean system, which primes the spray lines before you start spaying and automatically flushes out the spray lines with a minimum amount of clean water.

Additional sophistication can be ordered with the iXclean Comfort and iXclean Pro systems. iXclean Comfort has a semi-automatic valve control system while iXclean Pro offers full automatic electric valve management and full control of all functions from the cab.

iXtrack T6 sprayers are fully ISOBUS compatible as standard and the operating system is the innovative iXspray system, which guarantees user-friendly operations.

KVERNELAND IXTER A & B

The iXter B is Kverneland’s biggest and most sophisticated mounted sprayer range. It is available with four tank volumes – from 1000 to 1800 litres – and boom widths of 15m to 30m.

Despite its advanced features, the 1800-litre iXter B is a userfriendly sprayer. Thanks to the Easy Hitch system, it is a simple task to mount an iXter sprayer to the tractor.

Kverneland’s smaller iXter A range of mounted sprayer covers tanks sizes from 800 to 1200 litres. iXter A models can be specified with two different boom types - HOSA aluminium spray boom (12-15m) and the HC boom (18-20-21m). Pumps options are 100, 150 or 200 litres/min.

iXter A and B are easy-to-

operate sprayers with the control panel, chemical inductor, hand wash tank and clean cloth locker all on the same side of the sprayer.

They are ISOBUS compatible so you can operate the mounted sprayer with a Kverneland IsoMatch terminal or any other ISOBUS compatible tractor terminal.

As with trailed iXtrack sprayers, it is easy to operate iXter sprayers with iXspray software with intuitive interface.

Centre of gravity for both iXter A and B is close to the tractor, which lowers the demand on the tractor’s lifting capacity.

iXter B sprayers can be used in combination with an iXtra front tank to give a total carrying capacity of nearly 3000 litres.

When using the iXtra you can fill the front and rear tanks with the same mix or different mixes so they can be used as two independent spray tanks.

Also, today’s tractors can carry higher loads on their rear linkages, so it is necessary to have ballast weight on the front of the tractor. With a volume of more than 1100 litres, the Kverneland iXtra front tank can serve as a front-end weight to give your tractor more stability when needed.

iXter mounted sprayers have the same iXclean priming and cleaning options as iXtrack trailed sprayers, i.e., the iXclean Basic, Comfort Pro specifications.

HUSTLER EQUIPMENT

APPLIC8R

When Hustler Equipment designed its latest Applic8r three-point linkage mounted boom sprayers, it sought to bring all the large-scale spec sprayer features and accessories into a compact, sturdy and balanced spraying unit that would handle New Zealand livestock farming conditions.

Hustler designed the Applic8r to tackle hilly terrain and oddly shaped paddocks, and to work on wet ground with minimal soil compaction. It packs powerful features into a compact and manoeuvrable frame.

Its low-profile tank is encased in a galvanized steel frame with a protective skid plate. Standard extension feet ensure safe storage, while a large sump allows for consistent spraying on slopes. The rear-mounted pump is compatible with most tractors, eliminating the need for PTO shaft modifications.

User-friendly features like an 18-litre handwashing tank, integrated toolbox, and spill-proof lid make operation a breeze.

Optional extras include a 100-litre Quick Flush system, 20-litre ErgoMax induction hopper for pre-mixing chemicals, and a storage box to conveniently tuck away chemicals.

Filling can be carried out through the large upper lid or through the Applic8r’s own pump. This can be done from a trough or a stream with its Cou-

pleUp 2-inch suction port. A 280-degree viewable ViziGauge allows you to easily see your tank level from the tractor seat and the ground.

Hustler's innovative MixMax agitation system ensures thorough mixing and is standard on all models.

Boom options include the manual DuraBoom (6m and 8m),

the hydraulic SonicBoom (10m and 12m) and the top-of-the-line EagleTech Boom offering exceptional control thanks to yaw, vertical, and individual suspension.

The Applic8r comes in 680-, 890- and 1150-litre capacities, and there is an option to add a front tank for increased capacity.

Optional guidance system is

SPREAD MORE

AMAZONE

PANTERA

With maximum power output of 306 hp, 7000-litre tank capacity, 48m booms and an operating speed of up to 30 kph, Amazone’s third-generation Pantera 7004 self-propelled sprayer has an unquenchable thirst for work.

First released in 2011, the Pantera platform features adaptive hydro-pneumatic suspension, speed-regulated all-wheel steering, electronic traction control and automatic slope compensation.

Claas Harvest Centre product manager for Amazone, Steve Gorman, says Pantera’s all-new running gear delivers first-rate driving and comfort in all conditions and speeds.

“In combination with the machine’s low centre of gravity, Pantera gives stable, smooth operation even at high speeds or when driving on uneven terrain or poor quality roads,” Steve says.

Twin high-performance, piston diaphragm pumps deliver 610 litres/minute for maximum work

rates. The pump speed can be adjusted from 400 to 540 rpm, so the operator can perfectly match the pump’s capacity to application rates, operating speed and filling.

Amazone’s pressure recirculation system means spray lines are always full, under pressure and ready to spray over the entire working width, Steve says.

Because the mixed spray solution is constantly in circulation, even with the optional section control engaged, there’s less opportunity for unwanted deposits, blockages or segregation in the lines.

The injection port provides suction capacity of about 700 litres/ min for filling. A bowser filling port, which gives filling speeds up to 1000 litres/min using a 75-mm line, is available as an option.

Alternatively, Amazone’s award-winning DirectInject system allows additional product to be directly added to the spray lines upon demand.

The fibreglass-reinforced plastic tank has exceptionally smooth inner and outer walls for easy cleaning. Four high-pressure cleaning nozzles fed from a 500-litre freshwater tank located at the rear of the machine do the cleaning work.

Pantera is equipped with Amazone’s proven Super-L2 and L3 booms, which are available in operating widths from 24m to 48m. When fitted with a 48m boom, the Pantera 7004 can cover 144 ha/hour.

Pantera 7004 has infinitely adjustable track widths from 2m to 2.75m, and, optionally, 2.25m to 3m. Operators can quickly adjust the machine for different row crops and controlled traffic farming systems.

Fitted with 2m diameter wheels, the Pantera has a ground clearance of 1.3m, which is ample for most spraying operations.

UF 02

Amazone has added a number of new features to its popular UF 02 mounted sprayers. They include active boom guidance, quad nozzle pods and an integrated hydraulic pump

UF 02 sprayers offer a compact design and simple operation with tank sizes from 1000 to 2000 litres and boom widths of 12m to 30m. When used in combination with an Amazone FT front tank, you can boost capac-

ity to 3500 litres.

With the latest upgrades, the UF sprayers have the same convenient operation as Amazone UX trailed sprayers.

ContourControl boom guidance system is available on booms wider than 27m. It provides fast and precise boom guidance for optimal application and performance.

The title angle of each boom is controlled by a pre-pressurised hydraulic cylinder equipped with a rapidly-switching valve. It helps to keep each boom parallel to the ground in uneven terrain or faster operating speeds.

UF 02 booms can now fitted with quad nozzle bodies on 25 cm spacings, so the operator can select the right nozzle according to spraying conditions. The boom has independently-controlled hydraulics at each pivot point.

Both the UF 1602 and UF 2002 models are now available with a fully-integrated 300 litre/min hydraulic pump. Pump speed is independent of the tractor’s engine speed, which is useful when spraying in hilly terrain, where the tractor’s engine and PTO speed is constantly changing.

UF 02 units are controlled using the Amazone TwinTerminal or any ISOBUS terminal in the cab. The operator can select the desired pump speed for filling, agitating or spraying.

now offered on most sprayer configurations. An ARAG Bravo control system with three to five sections takes care of flow and pressure requirements.

For GPS-guided spraying, Hustler has reinforced its longstanding partnership with Raven. Its GPS technology is

ISOBUS compatible, while a display for non-ISOBUS tractors is also available.

The guidance system offers smart automatic features. They include rate control to ensure the target application rate is maintained at varying speeds and section control to automati-

cally avoid overlapping on previously covered areas. Variable rate application can be done using prescription maps.

Every Applic8r undergoes rigorous testing and calibration at Hustler Equipment’s factory in Hastings before personalised setup and calibration to

meet individual farmers’ needs. This ensures the sprayer is ready to work efficiently from the moment it arrives, and it is backed by a new five-year ‘no bull’ warranty.

Visit the website hustlerequipment.com/sprayers for more details and pricing.

The all-new Fendt 700 G7 is perfect for those with big plans. It features the latest innovations and technologies, and delivers unrivalled efficiency and performance. The FendtONE workstation, combined with intelligent vario drive and Fendt iD low-speed concept set this tractor apart from every other machine in its category.

Lead from the front with the Fendt 700 G7 Series.

Visit fendt.com/au or contact your local Fendt dealer to find out more.

Leaders drive Fendt.

BA PUMPS & SPRAYERS

LM LINKAGE SPRAYERS

BA Pumps & Sprayers has launched its latest cutting-edge product, the LM Linkage Sprayer with fully hydraulic M-fold boom. This all-new spraying range offers efficiency, safety, and productivity for Kiwi farmers, operating in almost any terrain.

BA Pumps & Sprayers general manager Mark Harris is excited about what the LM range can offer.

"It is not often that you can launch a sprayer that provides such a step change in performance and value. Our company now has 35 years of researching, developing and manufacturing sprayers, and we are proud to have done just that with the introduction of the LM Linkage Sprayer and M Boom Series,” Mark says.

“We believe this innovative sprayer will set a new benchmark for pasture and crop spraying, providing users with a tool to get the job done quicker, easier, and safely.”

The LM Series introduces a host of features designed to enhance the spraying experience for farmers, including:

LM sprayers can be specified with a 900 or 1150 litre tank. The unique T-shaped tank reduces mud and debris collecting on

controls and access areas, and ensures weight is distributed forward for optimal performance.

Chemical loading is made easy and efficient thanks to the builtin waist-height induction hopper. For operator safety there is a built-in flush tank and hand wash tank. The pump and lines are easy to clean, which maintains the integrity of the spraying system.

LM sprayers have Bertolini 75-litre Poly Pumps, which can handle liquid fertiliser.

In-cab electric control allows the operator to switch on and off or make pressure adjustment on the move.

Auto Rate, GPS, and ISOBUS

Ready Upgrades are available for advanced operations, keeping the LM Series at the forefront of precision agriculture.

PADDOCK PAK

Silvan has introduced a major upgrade to its trailed Paddock Pak sprayers in the form of a fully galvanised 18m boom.

In addition to galvanising for protection against corrosion, the self-levelling boom now has hydraulic tilt as standard along with hydraulic fold, hydraulic lift

and parallelogram suspension.

This makes the Paddock Pak wellsuited for use on all types of terrain.

In addition to the boom, Paddock Pak now comes with a range of pump and controller options to suit the requirements of farmers and contractors.

Even a range of different axle

The M boom is available exclusively on LM Series sprayers. It offers full wing lift and hydraulic fold functionality from just two hydraulic remotes.

M booms are 10m or 12m variants, and they can cover up to 18m with an optional factory-fitted fence line kit.

With no operator intervention needed, the boom open and closes hydraulically. Folding is activated from the tractor seat. M folding and full wing lift enable farmers to get the productivity benefits of a 12m boom, even when working in rolling country. Built-in breakaways enhance safety and prevent damage to the equipment by clearing obstacles during spraying. Also the smooth outer shape of the LM minimises fence hook-ups and ensures uninterrupted spraying.

Mark says the LM Linkage Sprayer with M boom can save farmers up to 50 percent on spraying times.

“It is a world-first design, crafted in New Zealand for New Zealand's local conditions. LM sprayers prioritise safety, efficiency, and durability.

“We believe we are offering something unique and we are currently patenting many of the LM’s features, so you won’t find anything else like it.”

Farmers seeking an innovative, efficient and durable sprayer, can check out the LM Linkage Sprayer at the BA Stand at National Fieldays.

For further details contact your local BA Pumps & Sprayers dealer or visit bapumpsandsprayers. co.nz to find out more and watch the LM in action.

and tyre options is available.

Options range from a 2m width track axle with 24-inch lug tyres to an adjustable track option fitted with 44-inch lug tyres for row crop applications or tandem axle for greater stability in rough terrain.

A common feature is the base 2500 and 3000 litre capacity Polytuff impact resistant polyethylene spray tank. The tank has a

calibrated fill sight line mounted on a fully galvanized chassis.

Another feature is the 100-litre capacity fresh water tank mounted forward on the chassis for tank flushing or hand washing.

The standard pump is a PTO drive Silvan self-priming oilbacked diaphragm pump with 132 litres/min capacity at 2000 kPa pressure. Other pump options include a 195 litres/min

SILVAN

M35W WEIGH SCALE MODELS

$1,516 p/month +

Bogballe offers you a world of possibilities with GPS automatic section control and automatic start/stop on headlands with your existing tablet or GPS unit** Stops overspreading & wastage and increases your fertiliser placement accuracy.

$585

KAITAIA Kaitaia Tractors 09 408 0670

WHANGAREI Piako Tractors Northland 09 438 1319

SILVERDALE Brandt NZ 09 427 9137

PUKEKOHE Brandt NZ 09 237 0043

MORRINSVILLE Piako Tractors 07 889 7055

MATAMATA Matamata Tractors & Machinery (07) 888 6292

HAMILTON Brandt NZ 07 847 0425

CAMBRIDGE Brandt NZ 07 827 5184

ROTORUA Piako Tractors Ltd 07 345 8560

TAUPO Taupo Tractors & Machinery 07 378 4533

STRATFORD FieldTorque Taranaki 06 765 8643

HASTINGS Stevenson and Taylor 0800 4273 2273

WAIPUKURAU Stevenson and Taylor 06 858 6041

DANNEVIRKE Lancaster Tractors 06 374 7731

PALMERSTON NORTH Transag Centre 06 354 7164

MASTERTON Brandt NZ 06 377 3009

NELSON Drummond & Etheridge 03 543 8041

BLENHEIM Drummond & Etheridge 03 579 1111

KAIKOURA Drummond & Etheridge 03 319 7119

GREYMOUTH Drummond & Etheridge 03 768 5116

CHRISTCHURCH Drummond & Etheridge 03 349 4883

ASHBURTON Drummond & Etheridge 03 307 9911

TIMARU Drummond & Etheridge 03 687 4005

OAMARU Drummond & Etheridge 03 437 1111

MOSGIEL JJ Limited 03 489 8199

GORE JJ Limited 03 208 9370

INVERCARGILL JJ Limited 03 211 0013

The Agrifac Condor 5 sprayer has proven to be the ‘Rolls Royce of sprayers’ since Bakker Bulbs added it to the fleet of its MidCanterbury operation.

Adin Geeson is the New Zealand manager for Bakker Bulbs, and he says the sprayer was purchased two years ago from Power Farming in Ashburton.

“It is a very good machine, very reliable, very comfortable and very accurate with the spraying,” Adin says. “Agrifac are the Rolls Royce of sprayers and this one has all the features we need.”

Bakker Bulbs is a Dutch-owned company which produces lily bulbs and lily flowers year round for a global market.

Adin first moved to Rakaia in 2000 and now runs the Rakaia operation, which grows about 50 ha of lily bulbs each year. Bakker Bulbs leases and owns around 465 ha in Rakaia. The lily bulbs are grown on a seven year rotation, alongside a general arable operation.

“We employ 60-65 people over the winter to harvest, process and store the bulbs. We store them in cool stores before they are exported around the world.”

To ensure a good crop you need the right equipment and when Adin needed to replace a 10-yearold sprayer, he didn't need much convincing to purchase the Agrifac Condor 5.

“Our operator had driven an Agrifac so he had a bit of experience with them. He liked the machine and having the importer-dealer in Ashburton made the decision an easy one.”

Adin says there are several Agrifac sprayers operating around

Mid-Canterbury and other owners speak very highly of them.

He says the Agrifac Condor 5 is a very comfortable machine to drive and has an extra filling pump. This makes it fast to fill, so it can get back into the paddock quickly. Its 50 kph road speed also helps make refilling faster.

“It has a 5000-litre tank, a 36m Airflow boom and the StrictSpray Plus system for helping with spray drift control in windy conditions. It also has a new radar auto boom height control which is very responsive. It is better than any height control we've used in the past.

“Even in slightly windy conditions the hydraulic fans control drift, so between the drift reduction from the Airflo Plus system and the auto boom control it is easy to operate.”

Lily bulbs can grow up to 1m tall and have quite a strong stem.

The Agrifac’s Airflow Plus spray system helps push the fungicide down into the crop.

Agrifac Condor 5 has individual nozzle control and pulse width modulation nozzle technology.

“The nozzles are on 250 mm spacings. With independent nozzle control, individual nozzles can be turned off individually or in sections and you can determine the size of your sections. So it is about as accurate as you can be for saving chemicals and that saves money.”

Pulse width modulation (PWM) switches nozzles on and off up to 100 times per second, which reduces the amount of fluid leaving the nozzle. PWM maintains the target rate when the boom is moving slowly and also has turn compensation.

With the Topcon RTK steering system to guide the sprayer while using planting maps, Adin

can spray exactly where the bulbs are planted, which again ensures accuracy and reduces the amount of chemical being sprayed.

The Agrifac Condor 5 comes with a number of advanced features, including the StablioPlus chassis which increases stability in the field and ensures a comfortable ride.

EcoTronicPlus gives you all the information you need on one screen while the machine is in operation, while the GreenFlowPlus spraying system gives continuous pressure for a consistent application.

Adin says Power Farming Ashburton is very good to deal with and he has enjoyed working with his dealer Simon Jackson.

“Simon lives and breathes sprayers and all types of machines. They know their machines.”

capacity PTO-drive diaphragm pump or hydraulic drive centrifugal pump with up to 400 litres/ min open flow at 7000 kPa pressure.

While a three section Silvamatic electric controller is standard, a range of automatic rate controllers are available. They include the Bravo 180S automatic spray rate controller, which enables on-the-go rate control based on ground speed.

Another option is a Bravo 180S

with electric-over-hydraulic control of the boom. It keeps all sprayer functions conveniently within one controller.

Operators looking for GPS guidance and automatic section control can step up to the Bravo 400S rate controller. The Bravo 400S has a high resolution 5.7inch display which is ideal for GPS guidance and mapping to provide proof of placement. Like the Bravo 180S, the Bravo 400S also has a version with electric over

hydraulic controls.

For those with ISOBUS compatible tractors, the Paddock Pak can be fitted with the IBX100 ISOBUS sprayer control which integrates with existing tractor terminals for spray rate control, automatic section control, mapping and autosteer.

Additional options available exfactory from Silvan include foam markers, a Silmix chemical induction hopper and hose reels for spot spraying applications.

Silvan New Zealand rural sales manager Ian Davison says Silvan knows that every application is different.

“Our farmer and contractor clients want options to spec their sprayer to their individual operational needs. Silvan’s Paddock Pak has the flexibility to be tailored to each application,” Ian says.

For further information email info@silvanaust.com.au or visit the website silvan.com.au.

BATEMAN

There are sprayers and there is Bateman. Farmers and contractors across the globe rely upon British-made Bateman self-propelled sprayers.

Bateman is a family-run company. It produces all four models of its range entirely in-house at its plant in Devon.

Every detail of a Bateman sprayer is designed around the operator. The design is driven by the need for simplicity to give effortless, efficient spraying during long hours in the field.

The Panoramic 3 cab of a Bateman is an environment created by people who know sprayers. The high-backed, heated and cooled air suspension seat provides comfort, whilst air quality and circulation is distributed by a high-

performance climate control system featuring CAT 4 filtration.

Two carefully positioned pillars in the cab provide excellent visibility and the Ag Leader terminal that can be moved out of view. Substantial insulation and an airtight door reduce noise levels in the cab.

The Bateman drive train now offers a four-speed manual and automatic `E`-Transmission. In road mode it gives cruise control and traction control, boosted hydrostatic braking and dynamic braking using the brake pedal.

The cab sits on a chassis designed for safe weight distribution and minimal compaction.

Unique to Bateman is the positive link two/four-wheel steering. This is a hydro-mechanical system that cleverly changes the

driving mode without the need for electronic sensors or manual adjustment.

All Bateman sprayers have hydraulically adjustable axles.

The spraying system on a Bateman is easy to use and gets the job done every time. The plumbing system delivers high flow rates whilst auto filling provides increased efficiency on the farm and in the field.

Air valves in the spray control system produce faster, more accurate on/off control of the spray line to minimise overlap and increase the effectiveness of chemicals or fertiliser.

Bateman also offers the Capstan AG Pinpoint Ill blended pulse modulation system. Pinpoint Ill controls flow and pressure at the nozzle in conjunction with individual nozzle boundary control. It provides accurate and repeat-

able applications. Speeding up, slowing down, turns, overlaps or any combination of these will not affect the consistency of the Pinpoint IIl system.

Baffled stainless-steel tanks have capacities from 2500 litres on the RB17 model up to 5600 litres on the RB55 model.

Bateman offers two booms, the standard contour version or the variable geometry version. Standard contour booms are available in 18m, 20m and 24m widths and variable geometry booms start at 24m and extend up to 42m.

Both boom versions have a breakaway facility. The variable geometry boom has hydraulic break-back at every fold point, and it automatically returns to position after the sprayer passes an obstacle.

The booms fold behind the cab

Precision. Productivity. Performance.

Pichon provides a variety of slurry tanker systems, featuring capacities from 2,600 to 30,000L and a selection of axle options.

• Auto filler left and right operation

• Fully welded and galvanised inside and out for long life protection

• Rear attachment injection and application options

Fully integrated oiler system for long life of vacuum pump

MOLLOY AGRICULTURE LTD

R700I SERIES

John Deere’s R700i Series offers high-performance trailed sprayers designed to deliver exceptional results. Their advanced technology gives precise and efficient spraying, reduce waste and increase yields.

R700i sprayers are compact but still packed with some of the most advanced sprayer features usually found in John Deere’s bigger sprayers. They have the ability to adapt to different field conditions using sensors to adjust spraying patterns based on crop height and density, wind speed, and soil type.

One of the key features of the R700i Series is TerrainCommand Pro, which ensures the boom is always maintained at the optimum height to deliver the best coverage. It is particularly useful in New Zealand, where terrain conditions can change rapidly.

TerrainCommand Pro ensures farmers achieve effective crop protection without wasting expensive chemicals or risking damage to their crops.

R700i sprayers maintain pressure circulation to ensure highrate, fast-start and full-concentration spraying. Even when spraying stops, the solution continues to circulate to prevent sediment build up and nozzle blockages.

Boom circulation also assists during clean out, because you can rinse the system with clean water, without having to spray.

With their low centre of gravity, balanced weight distribution and superior suspension R700i sprayers are ready to handle narrower, windy roads and laneways. With the booms

securely fastened it can be trailed at 40 kph.

R700i sprayers are available in a number of widths and fold configurations. Double folded booms are available from 18m to 28m, while triple folded booms are available from 24m to 30m, depending on the model.

Models in the range include the 4000-litre R740i and the 3200-litre R732i, both with a pump capacity of 750 litres/minute.

Refilling is fast with the PowrSpray system which can fill up to 4000 litres in less than seven minutes. It has an Active Pause feature, which provides time to add products and clean water.

R900I SERIES

Canterbury arable farmer Brent Austin prefers to do all his own spray work because it means he is constantly keeping an eye on his crops. If he is spraying for pests, for example, he can spot if there is a weed problem in part of a paddock.

Were he to rely on a contractor, he would not have that up-tothe-minute knowledge and he would not always be able to get his spraying done at the optimal time. As he says, he knows he is getting the right product on at the right time and the right rate.

To keep on top of his family’s 430 ha farm, he opted for the biggest John Deere trailed sprayer available, a 6200-litre R962i with a 30m boom.

Brent’s previous sprayer had a 2200-litre tank, and by more than doubling his capacity he has boosted the efficiency of his operation.

“I can now do every paddock on the farm with one tankful. On our biggest day with this sprayer we covered 220 ha and it is not a hard day’s work to do 100 ha.”

In addition to spraying a full range of pesticides, Brent applies liquid fertiliser (particularly urea) with his R962i.

“The biggest advantage this sprayer has given us is its abil-

ity to spray urea at the same rate right out to the end of the boom. We used to find that when we harvested our crops, they were 2 tonnes/ha less at the outer edges of the paddocks. Add that up over several hundred hectares, and it amounts to a lot of money lost due to lost yield because of not enough nitrogen.”

The sprayer’s 30m boom has nine sections with sectional control and auto shut-off. It also has auto height sensing so the boom stays at a constant height. It works off the ground or the crop or both for low crops.

With this section control, Brent sometimes sprays off variable rate maps produced by drone imagery.

He runs the R962i with a 200hp John Deere 7R tractor. He says he could go smaller but the 10-tonne tractor is good to have when transporting the sprayer on the road. The 7R also has good hydraulic oil flow, and the sprayer needs about 100 litres/ min.

to eliminate contamination of the operator’s environment when entering the cab.

Designed and developed entirely in-house, Bateman Boom Levelling (BBL) allows the boom to follow the contours of the ground so you can spray in a range of conditions without changing settings.

Bateman backs up its sprayers with outstanding service support and spare parts. Molloy

Agriculture Ltd, based in Methven, Canterbury, is the Bateman dealer for New Zealand. It is also an Ag Leader service and support agent.

Molloy Agriculture also runs a fleet of Bateman sprayers in its spray contracting business.

For more information on Bateman sprayers, call John McCabe 0275 411 667 (parts or service) or David Molloy (sales) 0274 362 441.

JOHN DEERE

BOOMLOOP

Precision agriculture specialist Ag Leader has introduced an integrated recirculation system into its RightSpot precision spraying platform.

BoomLoop allows spray solution to flow directly from the boom ends back to the spray tank, eliminating dead spots and the potential for the build-up of residues and blockages.

Ag Leader Asia Pacific sales manager Douglas Amos says the new function greatly simplifies boom priming and flushing operations.

“Priming requires experience to ensure the proper amount of solution has reached each nozzle without wasting product,” he says.

“Likewise, flushing the boom at the end of spraying is a timeconsuming process. It requires large volumes of rinse water and a place to safely dispense the solution sprayed from the nozzles or dispensed from the boom’s flush valves.

“With BoomLoop, the boom can be automatically primed

or flushed without spray solution actually leaving the boom. It automatically sequences the section valves across the boom, even when the boom is folded. This means you can prime or flush the boom during transport.”

Doug says the addition of BoomLoop adds to the capability of the RightSpot precision spraying system.

Spraying is already one of the most time-sensitive and timeintensive jobs in cropping. With increasing input costs and tightening environmental regulations, growers need to look at ways to increase the efficacy, accuracy and productivity of their spraying.

One way they can do this is to add nozzle-by-nozzle control to their existing sprayer.

RightSpot utilises ‘pulse width modulation’ (PWM) technology to ensure boom pressure remains constant regardless of operating speed.

“PWM ensures consistent droplet size and the correct application of crop protection

products, as well as significantly reducing the risk of spray drift,” Doug says.

“By comparison, the boom pressure in a conventional flowbased spraying system is determined by ground speed. Any reduction in speed produces a larger droplet size and potentially reduces the efficacy of the product being sprayed.

“Conversely, any increase in speed produces smaller droplets that are more prone to spray drift.”

RightSpot provides independent and automatic control of up to 144 nozzles. Each nozzle is automatically closed as the boom passes over previouslyapplied sections, boundaries or headlands, reducing over-application and input costs.

Likewise, an automatic turn compensation function adjusts the application rate on the inner and outer portions of the boom to ensure a consistent rate is applied right across the boom during turning.

CROPLANDS

PEGASUS 8000

Pegasus trailed sprayers deliver both exceptional productivity and effortless operation. The four models in the Pegasus range extends from the 5000-litre Pegasus 5000 up to the high capacity 8000-litre Pegasus 8000.

All models deliver a smooth ride and solid feel behind the tractor with the virtually unbreakable, super heavy duty chassis.

Pegasus 8000 has a self-levelling boom that is coupled with a hydraulic accumulator suspension system and an air-ride axle system to achieve exceptional boom stability for precise droplet application.

Croplands offers plenty of boom sizes for the Pegasus 8000. Along with the more traditional 33m and 36m booms, there is now the option of a 48m Pommier alloy boom. A 48m boom is convenient for farms that work on 24m tramlines.

Norac automatic boom height control can be specified with the 48m boom. It reduces the possibility of damage to the wings and ensures spray rates remain accurate in uneven or rolling terrain.

Automatic section control eliminates overlaps, while nozzles on the end of the boom direct spray outwards, giving room around fence lines.

The smaller 33m and 36m Pen-

dulum-type, stainless booms have a fully floating self levelling centre section, while yaw dampening provides unrivalled boom stability. These booms have 2m parallelogram lift with hydraulic accumulator suspension, which smooths the boom ride and adds spraying precision.

With the huge capacity of its 8000-litre tank, the Pegasus 8000 spends more time working and less time re-filling.

The tank sits deep in the chassis to lower the centre of gravity to help give a smooth, stable ride across varied terrains. The chassis itself is heavy duty, fully welded and epoxy-powder coated with 6mm thick 350-grade hightensile c-channel beams welded into box sections.

It has load sensing airbag axle suspension – adjustable to a width of 3m – for excellent shock absorption and stability to give Pegasus sprayers longer working life and a very smooth ride.

Large Venturi agitators front and rear, plus boom recirculation ensure excellent agitation and chemical suspension. Clean up is efficient with twin rinsing nozzles that completely clean the tank and a 700-litre fresh water flushing and rinsing tank.

Pegasus 8000 sprayers are ISOBUS compatible, so they are compatible with a range of guidance systems, including Trimble, Topcon and Greenstar.

PROSPR

Croplands and New Zealandbased Robotics Plus have collaborated to bring an autonomous vehicle platform for horticulture crops to the market.

Prospr is a robust autonomous vehicle that can be equipped with a variety of interchangeable tools. It uses a combination of perception systems to sense the environment and guide itself. Multiple Prospr machines can work together to get bigger jobs done. They have an all-electric drive system that gives superior torque and control. An on-board diesel generator produces power over long periods without charging or refuelling. Regenerative braking and high-capacity batteries extend its range, while an intelligent all-wheel-drive system with independent wheel motors gives manoeuvrability, grip, and control.

Robotic Plus and Croplands have worked together to develop the Q Series of spray units exclusively for Prospr. Q4 and Q6

The system can be retrofitted to a wide range of self-propelled and trailed sprayers.

“20 years ago, farmers could

only change the operation of the entire boom,” Doug says. “Ten years ago, they could adjust the operation of each section. Right-

Spot now allows them to control each individual nozzle.

“This technology will appeal to large-scale farmers or contrac-

sprayers have two or three fans per side for vine or tree crops. The Q8 sprayer has eight fans (four per side) and is suited to tree crops.

It manoeuvres using electric steering and independent motors. The vehicle turns on its rear axle with a minimum headland requirement of 7.1m for rowto-row turning.

Croplands is the exclusive distributor of Prospr in New Zealand and Australia.

IMPERADOR

Croplands has introduced a new 4000-litre self-propelled sprayer with an innovative design that provides more stability to the boom so it delivers more chemical to the crop.

The Imperador 4000 is built by Brazilian company Stara. It comes standard with a 36m boom, 1.6m underframe clearance, fourwheel steer and continuous recirculation and tiered booms.

A unique feature Imperador offers is the mounting system for the boom. It sits midway between the front and rear axles, so it is less affected by down movements in uneven ground than booms mounted over the rear or front axle.

Croplands has done extensive testing in Australia and is confident that the Imperador 4000 will stand up to demanding conditions. It can be used effectively in row crops as well as arable operations.

Standard on Imperador sprayers sold in New Zealand and Australia is 1.6m underframe clearance and 3m hydraulically adjustable track widths.

tors who want to improve the performance of their existing spray unit without having to purchase a new sprayer..

CARRFIELDS

HORSCH LEEB

Horsch offers an extensive range of trailed, mounted, and self-propelled sprayers all with innovative features that deliver optimal crop protection.

The highly adaptable dynamic boom control system and nozzle selection control are available across the Leeb range. With this advanced technology, farmers and contractors of all sizes can efficiently manage spray application even in arduous conditions.

Today’s chemical applicators have to apply fungicides, herbicides and pesticides whilst optimising plant coverage, minimising waste and limiting environmental impact.

Application timeliness is often critical, yet weather conditions are often far from optimal. The effect of wind in many areas can be a significant factor in preventing timely application and may compromise application efficacy. It is the job of the nozzle to atomise the active product and produce a droplet size that most effectively and efficiently covers the leaf. The combined effect of

droplet size, distance from the nozzle to the crop, and external influences such as wind may drive compromise in product application.

Horsch Leeb boom control is designed to constantly adapt the profile of the boom to ground contours and therefore maintain the right application height above the crop, irrespective of ground (and therefore crop contours).

This ground hugging ability combined with active nozzle switching control enables the boom (and therefore the nozzles) to operate as low as 30cm above the crop, which virtually eliminates any drift.

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, the Horsch Leeb range includes the CX-mounted, AX, LT, GS, and TD trailed, and PT and VT self-propelled sprayers.

HORSCH LEEB AX

Horsch recently launched the Leeb AX Series in order to meet the needs of those looking for the benefits of Leeb application technology but in a simpler machine

Better in Every Field. Including Yours.

The all-new Continental Farm Tyre range has extra grip to help lower fuel costs and get the job done faster. Then there’s N-Flex resilience for extra damage resistance and a longer lasting, more comfortable ride. All backed by a 10-year manufacturer's warranty.

Technology that’s ahead of its field. So you can stay ahead in yours.

The

275 897

at a slightly lower initial cost.

AX is a trailed sprayer with a tank capacity of 4000 litres

and the options of boom widths from 18m to 30m. The Leeb AX features many of the significant

TALBOT AGRICULTURAL MACHINEREY

SAM HORIZON SPRAYERS

Last year Sands Agricultural Machinery celebrated 50 years since it began producing its SAM sprayer range, and Talbot Agriculture celebrated 25 years since it began working with the British company.

Talbot Agricultural Machinery managing director Jeremy Talbot says SAM sprayers began arriving in New Zealand even before he started importing them.

“SAM sprayers started coming here just over 30 years ago and all of them bar one are still working. The company began with the idea of ‘Simple, safe spraying for everyone’, and this is still at the heart of SAM sprayers,” Jeremy says.

To mark its 50-year milestone, Sands Agricultural Machinery has unveiled a new model, the Infinity, which it designed from the ground up.

The two Infinity models are 5000-litre and 6000-litre. They have a new steel boom (up to 40m wide) that is stronger and lighter than the previous outsourced alloy booms.

A completely new chassis has larger 38 inch wheels and main-

tenance-free neoprene bushes for the axles. Its chassis suspension system has auto cornering stability, auto contour lockout for sloping ground and SAM’s familiar auto levelling chassis control.

The new design has also increased ground clearance to 1.2m, and there is a choice of hydraulic or manually adjustable axles from 72 inches to 120 inches.

New options for four-wheel steer include auto modes at headlands and contour alignment.

With a new larger 40-litre induction hopper, the filling station sits between the wheels on the left hand side. It can be specified with manual or electronic valves for filling, flushing and draining the tank. Three-inch filling valves speed up the filling cycle of the larger tank.

Wash tank capacity has been increased to 500 litres to give multiple complete wash downs in the feild.

A new CVT transmission synchronises with engine output to maintain constant ground speed. There is also an accelerator pedal for road travel.

The new boom has a new six-

sensor auto height and contour controlled system. It guides the boom above and below the centre height for better contour following. Maximum spraying height has been increased to 2.5m.

With the extra weight of the Infinity’s bigger tanks comes a new braking system. It uses the transmission and boosted dynamic brakes with a brake pedal.

Infinity models have the same cab as SAM’s popular Horizon Series machines. Its corner-less design gives operators excellent vision, and it has the latest Stage 4 filtration plus climate control to create a safe, quiet working environment.

Infinity and Horizon both use Canbus technology to give operators more choices from the control panel and multiple options when turning and at headlands. With the addition of the Infinity, SAM now offers sprayers from 3000 to 6000 litres and booms from 18m to 40m. All booms can have single or dual spray lines.

The dual system uses a single recirculating spray line for easy cleaning, but it gives operators up to five nozzle options – either as single or dual operation – on each section of the booms.

SAM customers can choose a rate controller and GPS system that is compatible with their exsting equipment. Controls can be simple mechanical switches or touchpads and screens.

SAM sprayers are built with the principle of 50/50 front rear weight distribution, whether the sprayer is empty or full, to maximise traction and stability. Front-mounted cabs give better visibility and keep the operator away from the spray.

The engine and transmission are also mounted forward to keep them free from spray residue to make servicing safer.

SAM builds as much of its sprayers as possible in-house. This gives better quality control and ensures that parts are always available, even for 50-year old machines.

Coinciding with its anniversary SAM is moving to modern new premises near its existing plant in Norfolk. Talbot Agriculture has also shifted to a new purposebuilt facility near Timaru.

Jeremy says the new premises signal both companies’ commitment to their existing and new customers.

Talbot Agricultural Machinery Ltd offers full in-house sprayer servicing, and a calibration testing scheme. It can service machines on-farm from Invercargill to 90 Mile Beach to ensure that its customers get the best from their machines.

Also, Talbot Agricultural Machinery imports a lot of late model, used SAM sprayers and other machinery. It then upgrades them up as required to meet the demands faced by Kiwi farmers and contractors.

features of its larger stablemates.

HORSCH LEEB LT

The Horsch Leeb LT range of trailed sprayers delivers the best of all worlds for those looking for the latest technology in crop protection management.

The most popular model is

the Leeb LT range which has a 5000-litre tank and is available with 18m to 45m booms. LT sprayers suit a broad range of farmers and contractors.

HORSCH LEEB PT & VT

The Leeb PT self-propelled sprayer is a premium crop pro-

tection machine because it combines the proven boom control system with a large tank capacity, a high powered power train, a luxury cab and a list of options to suit the most demanding operation.

Available with tank capacities of 6000 or 8000 litres and boom

width options from 24m to 48m, the PT range is ideal for professional sprayer operators who cover a wide variety of crops over large areas.

Horsh’s new Leeb VT range offers the features of the PT with the addition of variable track width.

CONTROL SO ADVANCED, EVEN WE’RE AMAZED HOW SIMPLE IT IS TO USE.

GILTRAP FERTILISER SPREADERS NOT ONLY COME STANDARD WITH A WORLD CLASS TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL. PEACE OF MIND COMES STANDARD AS WELL.

With precision spreading rates, spinner speeds and border spreading at your fingertips, you’ve got total control to nail every job perfectly.

KEY FEATURES:

Precision and flexibility to vary spreading rates electronically

Touch screen control for spinner speeds and border spreading

Optional electronic scales to precisely measure the load and amount spread

Checks spreading rates

Provides automatic rate calibration with scales fitted

NEED EVEN MORE CONTROL?

For those wanting more advanced control and measurement we have upgrades to add headland and boundary spreading control, GPS coverage mapping and scales with automatic rate calibration. Also add prescription maps through the USB port for variable rate spreading.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SPREADING

what’s new in.... FERTILISER TECHNOLOGY

AND SPREADERS

WITH HIGHER FERTILISER COSTS AND MORE PRESSURE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, CONTRACTORS AND FARMERS NEED SPREADERS THAT ARE ACCURATE AS WELL AS FAST AND DURABLE. IN THIS FEATURE LEADING MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS TELL US ABOUT THEIR LATEST PRODUCTS

ORCHARD-MD SPREADER

A new Kiwi-made Giltrap vineyard and orchard spreader makes it fast and easy to switch from broadcast spreading fertiliser to banding compost and mulch.

The 2.5m3 Giltrap Orchard-MD

spreader has a wide, low profile which means it can fit comfortably under kiwifruit vines but it is equally at home in vineyards, and fruit and avocado orchards. With its low centre of gravity it is also safer on hillsides.

Giltrap Ag New Zealand sales manager Matt Moodie says the

new orchard spreader’s two critical features are the side banding conveyor belt at the front of the bin and the reversible floor that can direct the contents either to the rear or the front.

“When using the spinners to spread fertiliser as normal, the floor moves to the back.

To band bulk products like compost, mulch, grape marc

GILTRAP AG

or chicken manure, the floor moves to the front.

“Our existing orchard spreader also has a banding conveyor but it is at the rear of the bin. It takes 20-30 minutes to take out the spinners and set up the banding belt. With the new spreader it just takes a minute to reverse the direction of the floor,” Matt says. As well as making it easier to switch from spreading to banding, placing the side conveyor at the front of the machine makes it much easier for the operator to keep tabs on how the banding is going.

The new spreader’s moving floor is 850 mm wide and it is riveted to the robust slat and chain unit that drives it.

Matt says having such a wide floor stops bridging and gives the Orchard-MD spreader its wide, low profile.

“The bin is made of 3-mm stainless steel, which is non-corrosive. At an overall width of just 1.66m, it is still narrow enough to work in virtually any orchard or vineyard.

“Orchard spreaders can be fitted with load cells to increase the accuracy of spreading. We also

offer proof of placement via a GPS system.”

Giltrap orchard spreaders have hydraulically-driven spinners, so there is no ground drive. Hydraulic drive also gives computercontrolled accuracy and the ability to change rates on-the-go using the monitor. They can be specified with ISOBUS.

SLURRY TANKERS

Giltrap Ag produces slurry tankers that have capacities from 5000 to 20,000 litres. They are very popular with dairy farmers in both New Zealand and Australia.

“We manufacture the tanks ourselves and integrate them into the chassis and drawbar. They are fully welded and we pressure test every tank to make sure they are sealed. All tanks have internal baffles to keep the load stable,” Matt says.

“We supply the tanks with our own splash plates but all tankers also have mounting points if you want to use your own dribble bar. All models feature top quality European components including Battioni Pagani vacuum pumps.”

Galvanised quick coupling

POWER HARROWS

FALCO

• 110-220 horsepower

• 4m-5m working widths

• Robust, reliable and light-weight

hose connectors offer easy hook up and decoupling for the suction hoses with minimal hassle or mess.

A popular feature with Giltrap slurry tankers is an auto-fill system that simplifies and speeds up filling the tank. This is a hydraulic arm that folds down to connect onto a base station at the effluent pond, meaning the operator doesn’t need to get out of the tractor to connect hoses.

The larger models in Giltrap’s slurry tanker range are popular in the South Island and in Australia.

The 10,000-litre, 12,000-litre and 15,000-litre models are all on tandem axles and the 20,000-litre model is on triple axles with steering.

Hydraulic suspension is an option on larger models and it is standard on the 20,000-litre model. Each wheel on the triple axles has its own suspension unit.

With the Smart Ag controller connected to the Giltrap slurry tanker, it is straightforward to create GPS coverage maps for proof of placement.

• 400 horsepower

• 5m-7m working widths

• Increased performance reliability and longevity.

Over many years Bergmann muck spreaders have proven themselves in a wide variety of applications.

Bergmann’s TSW muck spreaders can precisely apply high compost, organic sludge, lime and all types of livestock manure over large areas with minimal environmental impact.

As the New Zealand distributor, Webbline Agriculture can offer a complete range of Bergmann spreaders with carrying capacities up to 24 tonnes.

An innovative chassis, robust construction and safe drive technology provide for high performance. All components are subject to strict quality standards for maximum safety, reliability and durability.

Built with a tapered all-steel bin, Bergmann spreaders reduce the build-up of pressure inside the body. This ensures the load is fed evenly through to the spreader unit.

High-strength chains on each side drive the scraper floor. Even power transmission and increased durability give the

operator peace of mind.

The chains are fitted with an automatic tensioning system, which allows them to be adjusted on the scraper floor. This minimises maintenance and delivers product smoothly to the beaters.

At the business end of the spreader, the horizontal beaters range between 1.3m and 1.8m depending on the model. And the rotating spreader discs (up to 1m in diameter) allow for accurate, even spreading at widths up to 25m. The option of a vertical beater is also available.

Bergmann’s low-bed TSW2140 spreader has a single axle fitted with 490/95R50 tyres to provide a large contact area. The lowpressure tyres help prevent soil damage and compaction.

The remainder of the range has tandem axles (or tridem as an option) with wide tyres to reduce pasture damage.

Bergmann spreaders can be fitted with a steering axle or forced steering system for improved manoeuvrability and reduced tyre scrub.

The drawbar height can be

ROLLAND ROLLFORCE

ECO

French company Rolland builds high-quality manure spreaders and trailers for cropping and livestock farmers as well as the construction and earthmoving sectors.

Rolland is a family-owned

company that is the leader in the French market for towed agricultural vehicles. It exports to more than 30 countries around the world, including New Zealand.

There are more than 100 models in the full Rolland range of trailers and spreaders. All steel parts in these machines receive

the ultra-modern treatment of shot blasting, electro coating (cataphoresis), powder coating and double baking. Quality checks are performed at each step in this process.

For famers and contractors, Rolland specialises in spreading organic fertiliser. The strength of its machines is the ability to deliver an accurate and even

adjusted for every tractor, while spring elements built into the system provide better driving comfort and reduced shock transfer during towing.

All Bergmann spreaders can be equipped with different spreading units, depending on the materials to be spread and the methods of distribution.

For further information on Bergmann manure spreaders, call Scott Malcolm on 021 228 4590, contact Webbline on 0800 932 254, or visit the website webbline.co.nz.

spread pattern.

Rolland’s muck spreader range includes compact models, high-volume, wide-body Rollmax models with capacities from 20m3 to 35m3 , and the ecofriendly Rollforce Eco models.

The two Rollforce Eco models are the Rollforce 6118 (18m3) and Rollforce 6620 (20m3). Both are equipped with the TCEi spinning deck.

Rollforce Eco muck spreaders have Eco-Spreading certification, which is issued by the independent body CERTIPAQ. They qualify based on technical tests carried out by France’s National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA).

Eco-Spreading certification confirms that the spreader delivers efficiency and is safer on the environment. This means that it has very high spreading accuracy and gives the operator total control of the dose. It is also gentler on the soil and reduces com-

BERGMANN

FARMGARD

Irish company HiSpec Engineering is a family-run business that has built up a reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality machinery.

HiSpec muck spreaders, slurry tankers and diet feeders are distributed in New Zealand by Giltrap Agrizone in the North Island and Cochranes of Canterbury in the South Island.

Cochranes Import Brand manager Alastair Robertson says HiSpec muck spreaders have the ability to handle a wide variety of manures and other products.

“HiSpec rear discharge spreaders are designed to shred and spread a wide range of products,” Alastair says.

“At the top end of the range is the Xcel 1250, which can handle everything from lime to chicken manure to effluent.

“This horizontal shredding rotor can handle a wider range of manures than other machines thanks to the 22 heavy duty flails that intensively shred the organic material.”

With a capacity of 12 tonnes and the ability to spread out to 24m, the Xcel 1250 can empty its load in less than five minutes.

The flails are situated at the rear of the machine. As they spin, they shred the manure against the Hardox hood. The product is pulverised and delivered to the spreading disc.

Because the manure is intensively processed and spread finely, plants have ready access to the nutrition. This lowers turnaround times for getting stock back onto grazing paddocks.

Alastair says HiSpec’s unique rotor and chain design allows

foreign objects, such as stones or chunks of wood, to pass through much easier than other machines.

The floor chain is hydraulically driven via a motor with over-load protection. Variable flow control allows easy adjustment of speed of delivery of the product to the PTO-driven fail chopper and spreading discs.

Optional features include GPS and weigh cells which allow operators to accurately monitor and record weights and application rates.

Hydraulic braking and LED lighting comes standard and there is an option of airbrakes. Hungry boards can expand the capacity of the Xcel 1250 to handle bulkier products such as mushroom compost etc.

Easy maintenance is another drawcard. It is simple to remove the Excel 1250’s rear lid without tools, and an automatic chain lube system and central greasing are standard.

Another option is side spreaders that use a spinning chain and 220-rpm flail to create a consistent spread up to 8m wide.

SLURRY TANKERS

Intelligent design and superior build quality put the HiSpec range of vacuum tankers in a class of their own.

The HiSpec range has models from 3600 to 20,000+ litres. All HiSpec slurry tankers use a unique low profile spreading system that is easy to control and reduces air pollution. HiSpec tanks are welded to ensure strength and durability. They are shot-blasted prior to painting with durable paint. The standard colour is HiSpec red but tanks can be custom painted in other colours.

Alastair says in the North Island the single-axle SA-S is the most popular model in the HiSpec slurry tanker range. SA-S models have capacities up to 9000 litres.

“HiSpec tankers are made of 6-mm. high-quality British steel and fitted with internal implosion rings for extra strength. The chassis extends the full length of the tank to reduce the number of stress points and spread the weight of the tank.

“All HiSpec slurry tankers use Jurop vacuum pumps. Jurop pumps are fast and powerful and HiSpec has been using them for 20 years.”

The tandem-axle TD-S slurry tanker is ideal for South Island contractors and farmers. TD-S tankers come standard with a sprung drawbar, swivel hitch and commercial bogie tandem axle that give the operator more comfort.

Finally, tri-axle HiSpec tankers have capacities of 22,500 litres and above. Alastair says these too have the build quality needed to handle South Island working conditions and they come in at a great price point against competitors.

paction because it can operate with low-pressure tyres.

Both models have an intuitive colour RollControl monitor that works with the spreader’s continuous dynamic weighing system. The monitor is ISOBUS compatible and it allows operators to extract data from their jobs and use prescription maps, GPS guidance, variable rate control, and automatic

headland management.

Rolland designed its TCEi spinning deck in 1992. It is used on all of its Rollforce and Rollmax models and it is the backbone of its Eco-Spreading certification.

A TCEi spinning deck can accurately spread heavy and light products so it is a very versatile system.

It can spread organic manure in widths from 10m to 24m depend-

ing on the product, and it can provide coverage from 2 tonnes/ ha up to 35 tonnes/ha. It can also be used to windrow organic material in 3m x 2m rows for composting.

In the body of Rollforce Eco muck spreaders, the slat floor feeds the product into two horizontal beaters, which mix it and throw it to the rear hood. From there the product drops onto the

spinning discs, which have three angled paddles that push the manure through the sliding trap.

Rolland’s dynamic weighing system measures the weight of the load in real time using two weigh cells on the drawbar’s axle and two, four or six load cells placed between the body and the running gear. It allows operators to perfectly control the spreading quality.

Amazone’s new ZG-TX trailed combi spreader can spread granular fertilisers up to 54m or lime up to 16m with just a few simple adjustments.

Claas Harvest Centre product manager Steve Gorman says the new ZG-TX Series combines the advantages of Amazone’s proven TS disc spreading system with a newly-developed lime spreading unit.

“Switching from spreading granular fertilisers to lime is extremely simple,” Steve says. “Changing the spreading discs, the splash guard and the delivery system can be completed in less than 30 minutes. The terminal automatically recognises that the spreader has been converted.”

ZG-TX is available in two configurations – Special and Super.

The Special version has a hopper capacity of 6800 or 9000 litres and a maximum loaded weight of 17 tonnes. It can be specified with either a top or lower-mounted drawbar.

The heavy duty Super model has a capacity up to 11,200 litres, a maximum loaded weight of 21 tonnes and a rigid bottomhitch drawbar.

In both versions steep hopper walls ensure that product flows smoothly. Material is conveyed to two spreading discs via a floor belt that rises by five degrees during spreading for optimum load distribution. An optional chain rake guarantees the even

flow of material to the spreading unit.

Whereas conventional spreaders typically use a simple chute to deliver fertiliser onto the spreading discs, the ZG-TX uses an electric double shutter at the delivery point that enables accurate rate adjustment. An optional rate reduction shutter enables the precise application of lime at low rates of less than 1 tonne/ha.

The application rate of each disc can be adjusted independently, allowing 16 part-width section control or perfect headland control if using an ISOBUS terminal.

Amazone’s TS spreading unit also has a border spreading system on the right hand side of the machine. A newly-developed border spread deflector for lime

is also available.

All models can be equipped with AS profile tyres up to 2m diameter and 750 mm wide for even weight distribution.

Maximum drawbar load and reduced axle loads enable safe driving in the field. Axle steering is available as an option.

Dual-circuit pneumatic brakes and LED lights ensure safe transport at speeds up to 40 kph.

Depending on the configuration, the ZG-TX combi can be controlled using Amazone’s EasySet 2 terminal or any ISOBUS terminal, including Amazone’s own AMATRON 4 terminal.

The EasySet 2 terminal is specified in the Special configuration. It guarantees very easy operation with any tractor.

Mastek umbilical systems are a cost effective, efficient and environmentally aware way to spread effluent onto pasture.

Because the Mastek umbilical system allows a controlled and focussed spread, you can tailor your effluent distribution to the needs of your herd and your operation. It also reduces the likelihood of leeching into waterways.

Using a Mastek umbilical goes a long way to reducing wear and tear on farm tracks and pasture because there is no need to repeatedly run over them with a fully-loaded slurry tanker.

Umbilical systems can take a more direct path to where the effluent is needed (even if that is several kilometres away) because they do not have to follow roadways.

When spreading with a Mastek,

the pond’s contents of the pond are agitated with a stirrer before it is pumped through a large, flexible hose to a macerator unit that further liquefies any solids. It then runs through a specialist spreader and dribble bar mounted on the rear of the tractor. The

tractor traverses the paddock as usual, towing the umbilical hose behind.

Mastek spreaders can discharge 200,000 litres/hr and spread a million litres a day. Compare this to a 20,000-litre tanker, which averages three loads an hour, or just 60,000 litres/hr.

The design of the Mastek dribble bar helps it comply with environmental standards. It uses hydraulics to give a consistent, measurable spread across the width of the bar. It automatically records the amount of liquid spread, when it was spread and where, giving you proof of placement should

INTELLIGENT DISC CONTROL (IDC)

Kverneland’s Exacta TL Geospread spreaders provide the advanced technology needed to achieve precise fertiliser applications along paddock boundaries, waterways and roads.

To achieve an accurate spreading pattern along the border of the field, the outside disc’s rpm has to be decreased. This is obviously not ideal if both discs slow down because the section of the field covered by the inside disc will not receive the target rate of fertiliser.

Kverneland’s ExactLine border spreading system solves this problem and maintains yields in the border area by using two different rpm speeds on the left and right spreading discs during border spreading.

Kverneland has two systems to do this. The Geospread system uses the PTO drive to control the spreading width of the outer disc as directed by a section control function.

The second, more advanced system is Geospread iDC. Here iDC means intelligent Disc Control, and it uses a hydraulic driveline with independent disc speeds for the left and right spinners. Many of its functions are controlled automatically from the GPS controller.

When in border control mode, iDC automatically activates the Exactline border spreading plate on the boundary side of the spreader (while the inner disc continues to spread at the full rate).

At this point Geospread iDC automatically sets the outer disc to the pre-set boundary spreading speed. It automatically regulates the disc speed to keep rpm stable and automatically adjusts disc speed during variable rate and multi-rate spreading.

When setting up a Geospread, an operator or farm manager can send the specific disc rpm directly to the spreader via the AutosetApp. Geospread iDC then uses this speed when the ExactLine is lowered. The result is more accurate border spreading in all conditions.

This makes life easier for the spreader operator because it is automatic and reduces the possibility of error.

Kverneland says with a conventional spreader as many as 10-15 percent of operators do not drive in the suggested rpm range during border spreading. The rpm fluctuates depending on the driving style of the operator, and this is especially true when the operator uses the gas pedal rather than the hand throttle.

When the operator of a conventional spreader switches from field spreading to border spreading, they have to set the disc rpm (via tractor engine speed) with an offset to the desired rpm. Because the field-side disc on a conventional spreader drops down to the speed of the borderside disc, there is under dosing and lack of nutrients on the field side of the spreader.

With iDC, the disc speed of the border disc is adjusted automatically and the spreader maintains a consistent performance. iDC automatically adjusts the disc speed depending on the selected product and spreading table.

At the same time, the field side spinner retains its original speed, so there is no under dosing on the field side of the spreader.

iDC uses an automatic control of the advised disc speed independent from the tractor rpm. This gives a better spreading pattern and more equal distribu-

tion in the field.

It is easy to connect iDC. No PTO shaft is needed so there is no risk of a wrong connection or not shortened PTO shaft.

It is easy for the operator to activate iDC at the press of a button. And there is less maintenance because there are fewer grease points and no PTO shaft with overload clutch.

Potential benefits include an increase in yield of 2-5 percent in the border area, which can pay back to the cost of adding iDC to your Geospread spreader in the first year of use.

The TL Geospread iDC spreader is ISOBUS compatible and can be operated with Kverneland IsoMatch Tellus terminal or any ISOBUS tractor terminal.

regulators require it.

Mastek dribble bars also minimise odour and wind drift. They ensure a more efficient uptake of nitrogen by placing the effluent directly on the ground, rather than spraying it into the air.

A fully laden 16,000-litre tank-

er and tractor weigh about 32 tonnes, whereas a tractor and Mastek spreader carrying reels of hose weighs about 12 tonnes. When more than one tanker is working on a site, there are safety issues as tractors have to pass on narrow tracks.

The lighter weight of a tractor and umbilical hose considerably lessens soil compaction, which reduces water runoff and increases crop yield. Gateways can be damaged by tankers coming and going, whereas an umbilical system goes through

the gate only twice – once in and once out.

For further information on Mastek effluent systems, call Scott Malcolm on 021 228 4590, contact Webbline on 0800 932 254 or visit the website webbline. co.nz.

Bogballe is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fertiliser spreaders. By focusing on its single product line, Bogballe ensures customers they are investing in the best spreading technology backed by a true specialist in their field.

Bogballe has been producing its well-known blue fertiliser spreaders at their factory in Denmark for more than 70 years and today they export to a worldwide market. Their 65 highly-skilled employees produce all the parts at the factory so they can provide higher quality control.

Farmers now have to meet new environmental standards regarding soil nitrogen levels and water quality. Bogballe has incorporated technology into its spreaders to help reduce excess nitrogen application on fields and into waterways.

All Bogballe spreaders are fitted standard with a simple border control mechanism that changes the spread pattern to place fertiliser only up to the border. This allows the operator to drive with confidence along

fence lines without fertiliser being spread outside the field.

Also Bogballe offers a range of electronic controllers with section control and variable rate functions. They can all be integrated with most GPS systems.

With this technology, the spreader controls the placement of the fertiliser by adjusting the amount or shutting the spreader off automatically when driving over previously spread areas. It also provides automatic off/on when driving into and out of the headlands.

These controllers help monitor and measure the amount of fertiliser spread in the field with proof of placement.

Weigh scales have revolutionised fertiliser spreaders. Bogballe was the first to integrate a weighing system into its spreaders more than 30 years ago and they have helped perfect the technique.

Weigh scales continuously measure the actual fertiliser in the spreader's hopper and adjusts the flow rate as it leaves the hopper in relation to any

PREMIUMLINE

SLURRY TANKER

UNRIVALLED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

changes in ground speed to maintain the target quantity (kg/ha). This system provides more accuracy and is easier to operate because it is fully automatic, including the calibration of the fertiliser.

Lastly, Bogballe spreaders use the ‘in-centre’ spreading principle whereby the spreading discs are turning into the centre. Each disc spreads fertiliser a full 180 degrees, so they overlap each other and create a double overlap.

This gives a highly accurate spreading pattern and precise placement of fertiliser on the ground. Most other fertiliser spreader systems use an

‘off-centre’ spreading system in which each disc turns away from the other. With off-centre spreading, each disc spreads 90-110 degrees with no overlap.

These features help farmers and contractors better manage their fertiliser inputs and can contribute to a 10-15 percent reduction in the amount of fertiliser applied. This lowers environmental impacts and increases farm profits, so it is win-win.

Bogballe spreaders are imported, sold and serviced in New Zealand by 27 authorised Origin Ag dealers. Call 07 823 7582 or visit the website originagroup. co.nz for more information.

DECREASE YOUR TIME IN THE FIELD

> UP TO 36M WIDE VOGELSANG DRIBBLE BAR

> CENTRIFUGAL DISCHARGE PUMP

> HUGE OUTPUT - UP TO 9,000L PER MINUTE!

> FULLY AUTOMATIC DOSAGE

> PROOF OF PLACEMENT

MAKE ONE YOURS TODAY!

AXIS

Kuhn’s Axis range includes models with capacities from 1000 to 4200 litres. The biggest is the Axis 50.2 H-EMC W, an ISOBUS machine with a maximum spreading width of 50m and a maximum load capacity of 4200 kg.

Axis spreaders have CDA distribution, which gives accurate spreading in all conditions and continuous regulation with a weighing system.

Kuhn’s CDA can quickly adapt to different products and working widths by modifying the fertiliser drop point. Its metering outlets sit close to the centre of the disc and ensure a constant supply to the vanes and, therefore, even spreading.

an even spread whenever the spreading rate alters.

Axis spreaders can be specified with three different systems for controlling the outlet – the K, D and C systems.

With this system, Axis spreaders prevent the ‘dose’ effect, which occurs when operators change the application rate causing a change in the distribution pattern. Axis spreaders maintain

The Axis K version uses two single-acting hydraulic cylinders, one to open and close each metering outlet. With this system each hydraulic circuit can be isolated in case of an internal leak in the tractor’s hydraulic

valve.

The Axis D version uses a double-acting cylinder for each metering outlet, so even if a valve has internal leaks, there is no risk of the outlets opening.

Finally, the Axis C version uses electric rather than hydraulic cylinders, one for each outlet. This allows the operator to control opening and closing of the outlets from the monitor in the cab.

All models in the Axis range

can be specified with the advanced electronic mass control (EMC) system, which automatically regulates the flow of fertiliser to the left and right spinner during spreading. EMC constantly monitors the flow to each side of the spreader, similar to a weighing device.

Sensors measure the driving torque on each disc every second and adjust the fertiliser flow automatically independently. This means the fertiliser flow is automatically adjusted independently for the left and right discs, and if there is a blockage, only the outlet that is affected will be adjusted.

With EMC, the flow to each disc is unaffected by slopes or vibrations and you get better fuel efficiency thanks to the reduced engine speed. No calibration test is required – just programme the dose and start spreading.

The application rate range is very wide – from 20 to 500 kg/ min – and you can use GPS to accurately achieve a precise application rate.

Wetlands, rivers and streams provide essential water supplies for stock and farm operations — and support our native wildlife. However, these habitats are also havens for introduced predators. And their impact on native species can be devastating. Our toolbox will guide you through how to manage pests in these unique spaces.

MANURE SPREADERS

If you are searching for a simple, robust and low maintenance manure spreader, you can’t look past the ADS models from German brand, Fliegl Agrartechnik.

Fliegl ADS spreaders have a V-shaped, fully galvanised steel body with a unique horizontal push-off system that consistently unloads clean material.

The push-off wall and a section of the floor move in sync towards the rear of the trailer and comes to a stop at the end of the body. Strong polyurethane sealing strips around the moving sections of the floor and wall ensure that the material is cleanly offloaded into the spreader beaters.

Without chains to tension and with fewer moving parts, Fliegl’s ADS spreaders are a reliable workhorse for spreading manure, compost and other organic waste quickly and efficiently.

For 2024, Fliegl’s New Zealand distributor, Power Farming, is stocking the ADS100 and ADS120 spreaders.

The ADS100 has a hydraulically-braked single axle, hydraulic drawbar suspension, a 9m3 trough with a capacity of 10 tonnes, a 1.5m Profi V2n spreading unit, and 23.1-26/16 tyres.

ADS120 spreaders also have a hydraulically-braked single axle and hydraulic drawbar suspension. The 14m3 trough can carry 13 tonnes and it is equipped with the 2m version of the Profi V2 spreader. Tyres are 750/60 R30.5.

Fliegl’s Profi V2 spreader mechanism has twin vertical, rear discharge milling drums. A combination of knives and cranked blades on each roller shred material as it is pushed into the beaters. Large diameter slinging discs at the base of each milling drum create an even spread up to 16m depending on the material. Predominately used as har-

For section control, Kuhn Axis spreaders have the Varispread Pro system. Two electric motors change the drop points and adapt the application pattern to the shape of the plot. It elimi-

vesting wagons, Fliegl’s ASW Push-Off trailer can also be fitted with a PTO driveline to power rear attachments. ASW wagons can accommodate loads up to 50m3 , while the tail-door can be changed to a Profi V2 spreading mechanism for use as a highcapacity muck spreader.

Power Farming carries the ASW271 Gigant model, which has a capacity of 34m3 (20 tonnes), a trailed steering tandem axle, and 560/60 R22.5 tyres. It has hydraulic drawbar suspension, hydraulic braking on both axles and reinforced Gigant-Plus parabolic suspension to handle heavy loads of compost and manure.

For those requiring greater control over spread rates of material such as chicken manure and compost via ISOBUS, Power Farming supplies Fliegl’s KDS spreaders.

KDS260 and KDS270 spreaders have a chain floor system and 770-mm diameter horizontal milling drums, which can spread low tonnages per ha.

Fliegl’s optional ISOBUS spreader control system automatically regulates discharge for accurate spreading with weigh cells based on travel speed and target spread rate.

SLURRY TANKERS

Fliegl offers slurry tankers with capacities from 3000 to 30,000 litres. Power Farming now stocks two single-axle vacuum slurry tankers from Fliegl’s Maxx Line range. They have carrying capacities of 8600 and 10,600 litres.

Both tanker sizes feature an 8-inch folding suction arm with docking station, hydraulic drawbar suspension, 11,000-litre Battioni compressor, hydraulic braked axle, 650/55 R26.5 tyres and a splash plate spreader.

A simpler 8600-litre Maxx Line tanker is available with similar specifications but without a suction arm.

All Fliegl slurry tankers have a

fully galvanised tank and integrated drawbar. Standard features are an internal baffle, fill level indicator and siphon protection for the compressor.

Proof of placement can be done via a digital flow meter. It shows slurry application rates in m3/ha and m3/minute and it suggests a driving speed to reach the specified m3/ha.

ISOBUS enabled options include a digital flow meter combined with a hydraulic variable discharge accelerator. It maintains the target discharge rate by changing the revolutions on the discharge accelerator, independent of the tractor’s travel speed.

nates overlap and applies the right dose in the right place even at high ground speeds.

Kuhn’s mobile app SpreadSet provides a setting guide so that you can spread the right

dose with types of fertiliser and spread widths.

Kuhn NZ works closely with Kuhn to maintain an up-to-date and accurate New Zealand fertiliser database in the SpreadSet

app. There are several common NZ fertilisers in the SpreadSet app. All of them have undergone vigorous testing at Kuhn’s facility to ensure the recommended settings are accurate.

BREDAL K SERIES

Bredal’s K Series is a trailing multi-spreader that can be used to spread fertiliser and powdered lime at widths of 12m-36m.

K Series spreaders are built for reliability, stability and strength. Drive can be provided by a simple ground wheel that gives accurate rate adjustments on the move. Or there is a hydraulic option, which uses ISOBUS.

K Series spreaders use a single wide drive belt to easily shift different products. They can be specified with either steel or stainless-steel bins.

A full-width floor belt constantly feeds the material to two large spread discs, which distribute it with Bredal's double overlap spread pattern. Options include weigh cells and headland control.

K series spreaders are available in models K45 through K165 with

capacities from 2500 to 18,950 litres. They come in single axle (smaller models) or double (larger models). The K105 is available with either option.

EuroAgri can install Bredal K Series hoppers onto spreading trucks complete with precision tracking software of choice and electronically-controlled headland spreading.

K-XE/SC SERIES

Bredal’s K-XE line of highcapacity trailed lime and fertiliser spreaders have capacities from 9000 litres to 15,600 litres. They deliver unprecedented spread widths of processed and unprocessed products.

Bredal has replaced the traditional spinner system with two fold down wings that allow the spinner discs to be spaced 6m apart. An endless belt system

feeds the spinners which gives reliable product supply and minimal maintenance.

K-XE machines can spread urea to 50m. With this unique application system, farmers and contractors can use one machine to spread fertiliser one day and lime or compost the next.

When specified with section control, the operator can automatically divide the spread pattern into 12 sections.

F4

Bredal’s tractor-mounted spreader is a professional’s machine, designed for integration with GPS section control through ISOBUS or a supplied screen. This allows for variable rate and accurate placement of fertiliser on headlands, verges and wedge-shaped paddocks.

The F4 spreader features a single belt transmission to drive the spreading discs for 12m-36m working widths and headland gear for 24m-36m working widths. They have a stainless hopper and capacities of 15004000 litres.

GPS-controlled electronic actuators place the fertiliser at the correct point on the discs, so it is delivered only where it is needed. Weigh cells give total control over fertiliser distribution as the new dynamic weighing feature automatically adjusts the spreading rate to control the accuracy of fertiliser flow.

F8 AND F10

Bredal’s trailed models have sophisticated features including prescription mapping as standard, ISOBUS control, auto weighing and a tilt sensor that enables accurate application on sloping paddocks.

As on the mounted F4, electric actuators make it possible for full section control with variable rate and the high accuracy into corners, verges and wedge-shaped paddocks.

Individual belts supply fertiliser to each disc at a variable rate. Rates can be altered from left to right for headland control and to maintain belt speed for ground speed changes - all handled by clever software.

SERVICE YOUR CLUTCH WITH US THIS WINTER

• Regular clutch maintenance helps to prevent major damage to your tractor and equipment

• Serviced by trained technicians in PTO clutches

• Tested on our computerised torque test rig

TORNADO MUCK SPREADERS

Joskin has introduced the new generation of Tornado muck spreaders. Compared to its predecessor, the body of the new Tornado is more tapered and the side walls are smooth to make emptying and cleaning easier.

The rear has also been widened to improve spreading. The hydraulic pipes are now integrated into the upper body edge strip to protect them from any contact with the material. Finally, the optional mudguards now have a 45° inclination to prevent material heaping up.

Tornado spreaders are made from high-tensile steel, which has resistance and dynamic properties. Therefore, it is not necessary to add any side body reinforcements, which reduces the machine's empty weight. For maximum protection and durability, the Tornado is also treated with 2K industrial paint.

Beaters on the Tornado minimise vibrations. Models with vertical beaters are less expensive, low maintenance and the bestselling version in the range.

Vertical beaters can spread heavier manure with straw at very high spreading rates over a width of 7m to 16m, depending on the material. The two vertical beaters slope slightly forward and rotate at a speed that gets the most out of the bolted teeth. At the base of the beaters are two retractable blades that project the manure and act as a smashing hammer. In the event of stones, the blades retract to absorb shocks and thus protect the beaters’ entire drive system (PTO shaft, gearboxes etc.).

Operators can easily adjust

flow rate by combining the speed of the tractor with that of the moving floor.

The 1010-mm wide beaters of the Tornado are among the widest on the market and ensure good crumbling of the material and precision spreading. A galvanised cord cutter cuts long fibres that may wrap around the beaters.

Vertical Tornado spreaders are available in three different body heights – 1.1m, 1.3m and 1.6m –so there is an option to meet the loading height requirements in different farming businesses.

Joskin’s Tornado comes standard with a simplified closed-circuit hydraulic drawbar suspension and hydraulic brakes for unmatched driving comfort.

MODULO SLURRY TANKERS

Joskin Modulo-2 slurry tankers offer high quality construction and protection systems for the spreading booms and pump.

Because Joskin tankers are built to take the extra weight and stress from a spreading boom or injector, you can add different spreading tools at any time.

Joskin uses high tensile steel to build their machines, which provides strength without excessive weight. Working across rough farmland with movement from fluid loads, tankers face more stress than any other piece of farm machinery.

Modulo-2 tankers are available in either single or tandem axle set-ups, with a capacity from 5000 to 18,000 litres.

A hot dip galvanising finish is the best protection against effluent, so Joskin galvanises the tank inside and out and the chassis and drawbar.

Optional Jumbo automatic filling arms maximise efficiency and use hydraulics to changeover from filling to emptying. The 8-inch Jumbo auto filling side arm can easily be switched from one side of the tanker to the other,

and it fills the tanker in minutes.

An optional turbo filler on the Jumbo arm decreases filling time further and stops the effluent foaming.

Joskin’s tandem bogie axle system pushes the front axle over obstacles and undulating ground to decrease the demand on the tractor.

Flotation tyres spread the weight of the tanker to minimise soil compaction while the steering rear axle on tandem models minimises pasture damage when turning.

The vacuum pump system creates an atmospheric pressure difference inside the tank to fill or empty. By creating a vacuum, slurry is sucked in and, to expel the slurry when spreading, the tank is pressurised by the pump.

Joskin machinery is imported, sold and serviced in New Zealand by 27 authorised Origin Ag dealers. Call 07 823 7582 or visit the website originagroup.co.nz for more information..

A Nevada drag hose system offers dairy farms a number of advantages. A drag hose system is ideal when you have small windows of opportunity to move and apply large amounts of effluent. This often occurs in spring, when larger full effluent ponds need to be emptied in the two or three fine weather days in a row.

Traditional pumping cannot put out effluent as fast as a drag hose system. A drag hose system can manage 100 to 200 m3 an hour. Compare this to a travelling irrigator, which can only handle 20 m3 an hour.

A drag hose system also has less wind drift than travelling irrigators, which means less nitro-

gen loss.

Drag hoses are good in irregular-shaped paddocks and are better than a slurry tanker if there are issues of weight around the paddock during the rainy months of the year.

They can also reliably apply heavy material (such as solids removed from a storage facility) that would block a traditional travelling irrigator. And they are easy to control, so there is less danger of errors or runoff.

Contractors or managers who look after multiple farms can move the Nevada drag hose system from one farm to another. The drag hose system is not limited by location and can be used

FARMCHIEF MACHINERY

VEENHUIS

As artificial fertiliser prices have soared and councils impose more environmental regulations, many farmers are taking a critical look at their fertiliser usage.

Fortunately, they have another resource they can use. Organic effluent is an effective fertiliser and it is both convenient and cost-effective. If the slurry is placed at the base of the plant it is both an efficient and environmentally friendly way to apply manure.

Spreading organic effluent is now imperative and FarmChief can equip farmers and contractors alike to do this with their world-leading Veenhuis slurry range of tankers, spreaders, mixers and pumps.

Founded in 1938, Veenhuis’ experience is hard to beat. Its

equipment has been proven on some of Holland’s foremost piggeries and dairy farms.

The Netherlands is a very tough testing ground because it has a limited period for spreading slurry, which means that agricultural contractors and farmers have to be highly efficient.

FarmChief CEO Grant Murray says his company stocks the Veenhuis brand because of its excellent international reputation and because their slurry tankers are well-engineered and well-equipped to deal with New Zealand’s challenging conditions.

Both filling and emptying a Veenhuis slurry tanker are very quick jobs. Filling is fast thanks to the company’s range of suction and docking arms. The loading turbo on self-loading filling arms reduces tank filling times

without having to insert pipes into the ground or bury hose lines.

The drag hose can be moved in any direction, so you can spread effluent across a whole radius around the effluent pond and cover a large area with a relatively

significantly, which is especially valuable for contractors who need to do big jobs on multiple farms.

To empty the tanker at high speed, the centrifugal discharge pumps are high capacity and low maintenance. These PTO-driven pumps deliver consistently high suction.

With their hydraulically forced steering (along with the option of a hydraulically extendable front axle), Veenhuis tankers are manoeuvrable and flexible. They are stable in rolling country and they impose less pressure on the soil, which reduces compaction. Veenhuis tankers are fitted on a high-strength chassis. Hydraulic suspension, hydraulic drawbar suspension, large radius tyres, and an extendable axle absorb any jolts caused by uneven surfaces.

FarmChief can supply drib -

small amount of hose.

If your operations include a big pond, irregular shaped paddocks, multiple farms, or you are working as a contractor, a drag hose is an efficient way to get the job done quickly with fewer employees.

ble bars and injector bars that will ensure your Veenhuis slurry tanker delivers optimal nutrient placement without run-off.

Applying effluent via a dribble bar ensures the nutrients go right where you want it to go. The grass is cleaner and there is reduced smell. FarmChief dribble bars have working widths up to 12m wide and are extremely strong.

With a FarmChief injector bar, 30 distribution hoses deliver a regular stream of nutrients across the whole width with a low chance of blockages. An option is pneumatic shut off valves. When connected to RKT GPS it gives absolute precision and no overlaps.

Your Veenhuis slurry tanker can be fitted with an automatic dosing system. The operator enters the required application rate into the terminal and the tanker does the rest. It applies the exact rate, so the operator can focus on driving.

FarmChief also offers the latest Veenhuis precision application technology, the Nutriflow nearinfrared analyser. Nutriflow can be specified on new tankers or retrofitted to existing machines. It can measure and document the nutritional content of effluent as it is spread. Easy and precise documentation of slurry applications helps farmers comply with environmental regulations, whilst saving time and money by reducing sampling expenses.

SAM MACHINERY

Do you want to connect your spreader with Hawkeye or MyBallance? If so, SAM Machinery has you covered. If you have a SAM Topcon spreader you can seamlessly integrate your business with your fertiliser cooperative via Precision Farming.

This set-up combines ISOBUS compatibility and commonsense. You can easily share your data so it goes where it needs to be without manual re-entry. It allows you to order, dispatch, report and apply a farm’s inputs using a simple interface. It even lets you view work in real time for fleet management.

You can reduce manual steps and get accurate documentation with minimal effort while saving thousands on third party gear and extra subscriptions.

How does it work?

1. You place an order for fertiliser or chemicals on the farm’s digital map in HawkEye, MyBallance or Precision Farming.

2. The Precision Farming dispatch platform receives the order and at the push of a button it goes to TAP and the Topcon

console in the tractor.

3. Proof of application then returns to Precision Farming and, if necessary, to HawkeEye or My Balance for record keeping and automated compliance reporting.

Know for sure you’ve invoiced all your jobs.

TotalVision captures all your work orders, leaving nothing behind. We’ll get you to the right job and give you the right tools to spread and spray with accuracy and speed.

Coupled with real-time data recording and our seamless Xero integration, you won’t lose any billing, or any sleep.

SAM’s Topcon spreaders are the top end of its range. The other two tiers in the range are simple manual drives and e-Spreaders.

The same clever design and build quality is assured across

Talk to your local sales manager today

TracMap)

Pichon has expanded its SV liquid organic fertiliser spreader series with the inclusion of two new models, the SV12R singleaxle and the SV15R tandem axle models.

The SV12R has a capacity of 12.2m3 and is the first single-axle model to join the Pichon SV liquid spreader series.

A movable bolted axle on the chassis is standard on the SV12R. It distributes loads on the coupling ring and on the axle, depending on the application tool, in a way that improves both tractor traction and driver comfort.

Recessing allows for tyres with a maximum diameter of 1900 mm. This minimises soil pressure during work. Combined with the new Pichon Alta double drain circuit, the SV12R is ideally suited for organic fertiliser applications in hilly areas.

Pichon’s new SV15R model has a capacity of 15.6m3 , and it is the perfect combination of versatility and efficiency. The tank design accommodates large diameter (1680 mm) wheels, which guarantees low rolling resistance and lower fuel consumption.

A tandem axle with reinforced pivots designed for a load of 15 tonnes/ axle is standard on the SV15R. The axles are prear-

ranged to integrate the Teleinflation option, which optimises ground surface contact and preserve soil structure.

The optional load transfer bulkhead gives the tractor excellent traction and grip until the load is fully emptied without load shedding on the tractor coupling. This is a big advantage in hilly areas.

All SV models can be fitted with Pichon drip hose booms, trailing shoes, incorporators, and injectors.

SV models also feature iControl terminals, which are available with a joystick or a joystick with touchscreen.

Tanks come in a range of thicknesses, making it possible to attain a negative pressure close

to -1 bar. This feature guarantees priming in difficult conditions and at significant pit depths.

PICHON ALTA

Pichon’s new Alta double unloading system optimises slurry spreading when working uphill and downhill and it is available across the SV slurry tanker range.

Alta has a front unloading pipe for downhill emptying and rear unloading pipe for uphill emptying. This makes complete unloading on hilly terrain a reality.

Operators choose which unloading pipe to use with two immersed hydraulic valves that are controlled manually from the

iControl 7S terminal in the cab.

The Alta system is compatible with the upper unloading pipe, which is linked to the flow regulation valve and turbo feeder. This prevents system failures and ensures an even and consistent spread.

Tanks will soon include an inclinometer to provide an incline reading in real time. This information will be sent to the in-cab iControl 7S human to machine interface, which will be able to automatically select the front or rear valve with no operator input required.

The aim is to reduce the driver’s mental workload and to make it easier for them to drive in emptying mode.

new orchard spreader.

TOPCON SPREADERS

This is the ultimate in control with accuracy as high as 99 percent of the target rate. SAM Topcon spreaders are popular with contractors and large scale farmers.

With Topcon’s well-proven guidance and load cells plus ISOBUS, they deliver precision and convenience. Now, for a small connection fee with Precision Farming, these spreaders can link directly with your fert suppliers.

The Topcon computer controls the floor speed hydraulically from a screen in the tractor cab. It can use the weight of the product to constantly check the spread rate on the move, so you can spread more accurately and

provide traceability.

You can plug your SAM Topcon spreader directly into an ISOBUS tractor. Proof of placement is integrated into the system so you don’t have to rely on third party reporting. Extra features include dynamic rate control, mapping, and variable rate spreading.

ISOBUS sectional control for headlands or cross over areas means no areas will receive a double application.

E-SPREADERS

The SAM e-Spreader is a simple, accurate computer-controlled spreader. It is straightforward to learn and use, and it is great if you have a third party GPS system but don’t have an ISOBUS tractor.

With added accuracy you save

money on inputs. Simply set your rate from the screen in the cab. It also has integrated load cells, electric back door, unloading function and border control.

SAM e-Spreaders are easy to calibrate and come with load cells. Load cells are the only way to get true accuracy because they weigh the fertiliser as you go and apply the correct application rate regardless of changes in forward speed.

e-Spreaders integrate easily with third party GPS systems. You can see what you have covered and how much you have actually applied, so proof of placement is easy. If you already use a third party tracking system like Tabula or Trimble you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

The SAM controller screen in the cab features reliable German

hardware and clever Kiwi software. Setting your spread rate is simple – just key in your spread rate, your product density and spread width.

MANUAL DRIVE

SAM Manual drive spreaders keep things very simple, which is great if you have different operators with different skill levels. The floor mat is driven off the forward speed of the wheel. You simply wind the back door height to the rate you want to be spreading. The label on the back door indicates different products and application rates.

Load cells can be added at the time of build. They connect to a simple app on your Android phone, which shows you the actual weight in the bin at any point in time.

PICHON

PRECISION NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Kiwi farmers pride themselves on their ability to coax the best from their land. But with rising input costs and stricter environmental regulations, squeezing every ounce of potential out of your fields while protecting the environment has become a constant challenge.

Precision nutrient management (PNM) can help optimise fertiliser use, maximise yields, and ensure a sustainable future for your farm. Precision agriculture specialist Vantage NZ can help you use PNM to transform your operation.

Traditionally, fertiliser appli

sampling and other mapping technologies can reveal hidden variations in nutrient levels in paddocks and detect where soil nutrient levels are high and low.

This data is then integrated with yield maps and satellite imagery to provide a comprehensive view of your land's health and productivity potential.

You can then develop customised nutrient plans to target specific areas within your fields. Variable rate application (VRA) allows you to apply precise amounts of fertiliser exactly where it is needed.

GPS and VRA adjust application rates in real-time to elimi

• Enhanced yields. By applying the right nutrients in the right places, PNM ensures optimal

sis to help adapting VRA technology. Vantage experts can help develop a PNM strategy that

VANTAGE NEW ZEALAND

The Sulky range of X40 and X50 Econov fertiliser spreaders have working widths of 18-50m. They are equipped with a continuous weighing system for automatic calibration of the spreading rate in addition to the unique Econov section control.

An analysis of the Econov’s fertiliser distribution profile shows a crescent shape offset behind the machine. The innovative Econov system constantly adjusts this fertiliser distribution area with six sections or 12 if ordered with ISOBUS control, each of which is managed independently.

Econov adapts the spread pattern by adjusting the drop point

onto each disc using electrical actuators. Controlled by a GPS signal, Econov treats each of the six or 12 sections individually and this eliminates any under- or overapplications in triangular areas and headlands.

Patented Speed Control technology (optional) automatically varies the spread width in real time according to the forward speed by constantly adjusting the rate and drop point on the disc optimising accuracy and efficiency

Among the benefits Econov offers are its unique boom section management, which is the only system on the market

GT BUNNING & SONS

A GT Bunning & Sons Lowlander muck spreader is saving time and money for Bostock NZ.

Bostock has 1700 ha of cropping land around Hawke’s Bay, where they grow onions, squash and maize. Of that total, 500 ha are organic.

When Andrew Meuli first started at Bostock five years ago, they used trucks to fertilise the organic crops. “It was slow and inefficient, and it created way too much compaction.”

Andrew went on a hunt to find the right bit of kit to spread compost and chicken manure. In February 2023 they bought a Bunning Lowlander MK4-150 muck spreader.

GT Bunning & Sons is an English company that builds a range of muck spreaders. Bos-

tock’s MK4-150 model takes 16-tonnes with side extensions.

The spreader’s full-width floor slats are driven by 16-mm chains that have a breaking strain of 32 tonnes.

“The floor chain is massive. Our biggest fear is breaking a chain full. That is a lot of shovelling, and the chains on the Bunning are bigger than other brands.”

Andrew says the floor bars are easily changed and there is no build up. “It keeps itself really clean.”

The Lowlander has twin vertical augers with diameters of 695 mm. Bostock’s spreader has an optional canopy over the back of the augers with a 300-mm gap at the bottom. This ensures products like chicken manure, which is spread at a low rate, is only

that creates a crescent-shaped spreading pattern.

The boom sections give automatic readjustment of rate/ha, avoid spreading beyond the boundaries in irregularly shaped fields and prevent overlapping in headlands and boundaries.

Not only can it deliver fertiliser savings up to 15 percent, it is easy to set up and clean.

Sulky spreaders are available in New Zealand through the Norwood dealer network.

For more information, visit norwood.co.nz.

being spun by the bottom auger blades.

There are additional features that made the Lowlander the obvious choice for Andrew. He says it is very robust and “built like a tank”.

The TV programme Top Gear once used a Lowlander to spread a load of melons, a shed, and a Volvo car. If a car won’t slow it down, then the odd rock will not bother it. Shear bolts protect the augers.

Other features Andrew likes are weigh scales and proof of placement.

“The scales are a major feature. We want to know what we are putting on, and then it calibrates as it goes.”

Proof of placement using GPS solves a problem they had with spreading chicken manure. Because of the odour, Bostocks

follows with a set of discs to incorporate the manure. When trucks were doing the spreading, the discs had to wait.

“That meant the manure would be exposed for longer periods. Now we know exactly where it is going and at what rate, and the discs can follow immediately.”

The Lowlander is ISOBUS compatible. It can use its own screen, but Andrew uses the tractor’s monitor to decrease clutter.

He sets the rate on the screen and the spreader keeps it constant as ground speed and product density changes.

Bostock’s team spreads at up to 9 kph with a spread width of 18m for compost and 10m for chicken manure. The spreader has a sprung drawbar, which reduces weight and bounce on the tractor so it rides really well. Large tyres reduce compaction and give a nicer ride.

The dealer is Waikato Tractors, and Andrew dealt with salesman Ben Peters.

“They were great. They showed us models that were working in Waikato and brought one down for us to trial. They helped us set up and stayed a couple of days to watch us spread.”

Andrew says the Bunnings Lowlander MK4 has saved time and money and reduced compaction.

“It has dramatically changed our spreading operation. It spreads three to four times faster than trucks.”

TOP CLA SS PERFORMER

MEET THE BOSS – VALTRA S6 SERIES HIGH HORSEPOWER TRACTORS BORN TO WORK

MEET ‘THE BOSS’. NO, IT’S NOT BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. IT’S THE NEW SIXTHGENERATION S-SERIES TRACTOR FROM VALTRA.

Manufactured at Valtra’s factory in Suolahti, Finland, S Series tractors feature a new engine, cab and transmission from the previous iteration.

Valtra has invested heavily in its Finnish factory to accommodate larger tractors and meet growing demand across its range. A stateof-the-art paint plant entered service in August 2023.

The new paint plant easily keeps pace with factory production rates. The latest painting technology ensures an optimal finish and improved access for robotised spraying to achieve better coverage.

Valtra Australasia product marketing manager Mark HamiltonManns says the introduction of the S Series is an exciting development because it is the first sixth generation Valtra range.

“There are six models in the S6 range, extending from 280 hp to 416 hp. Power is from a new AgcoPower 8.4-litre engine which meets Stage V regulations without the need for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Using SCR (AdBlue) and avoiding EGR improves the engine’s combustion efficiency and means the engine runs cooler.”

A single turbocharger on the new AgcoPower engine replaces the previous twin turbo design,

while its long-stroke develops maximum power at 1,850 rpm. This is about 5 percent less revs than the previous generation S-Series. Peak torque is produced at only 1,500 rpm.

At the top of the S Series range,

THE SIX MODELS IN THE S6 RANGE EXTEND FROM 280 HP TO 416 HP, ALL WITH A NEW AGCOPOWER 8.4-LITRE ENGINE. THE S6’S WHEELBASE IS 3.1M LONG WITH WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION 45 PERCENT ON THE FRONT AXLE AND 55 PERCENT ON THE REAR (WITHOUT BALLAST).

the S416 model produces up to 1750Nm of torque. This is 9 percent more than its predecessor, and fuel consumption is reduced by 3 percent.

While the S416 always has maximum power and torque available, its stable mates can boost 20–30 hp for specific operating conditions where PTO, implement or transport conditions require additional power.

Valtra’s ML260 CVT transmission has an upgraded hydraulic pump and heavy-duty PTO drive train. The tractor’s rear axle diameter is increased to 125 mm to handle the higher torque output and ensure effective power delivery to the ground. The transmission has two operating speed ranges – one for field work and one for transport mode.

“Combining the new engine with the updated transmission increases efficiency, and fuel consumption is reduced by around 10 percent compared to its predecessor,” Mark says.

The S6-Series shares a similar cab frame to Valtra’s latest N, T and Q Series models. Advantages over the previous series include better air distribution through 12 vents at various levels around the cab.

The S6 cab is available with TwinTrac reverse drive controls, while the optional Skyview cab provides greater vertical visibility. LED lighting is standard while various lighting upgrade packages are also available through Valtra’s Unlimited Studio.

VALTRA UNLIMITED

Valtra Unlimited customisation has proven ever more popular in recent years. Now more than one third of all tractors leaving the Suolahti plant have some form of Unlimited customisation.

Valtra vice president and man-

S6 CABS ARE AVAILABLE WITH TWINTRAC REVERSE DRIVE CONTROLS, WHILE THE OPTIONAL SKYVIEW CAB PROVIDES GREATER VISIBILITY UPWARDS.

aging director Mikko Lehikoinen says customising is of particular benefit to high horsepower customers.

“Large farms and agricultural contractors depend on having the right technology to do advanced smart farming tasks in the most efficient way possible. Valtra Unlimited is uniquely placed to offer exactly what each business needs to farm more efficiently, more ergonomically, and with increased safety,” Mikko says.

Valtra Unlimited features will be available for all sixth generation S Series models. They are available with Unlimited’s popular central lubrication system (CLS) and central tyre inflation system (CTIS). CTIS is controlled via ISOBUS. The actual tyre pressures are displayed on the SmartTouch screen. Using pre-programmed SmartTouch buttons, operators can set the ideal tyre inflation pressures to improve rolling resistance in the field and on the road and reduce track depth and soil compaction. The operational benefits are manifold and include lower fuel consumption and reduced tyre wear.

Features now available through the SmartTouch interface include SmartTurn automatic headland turning. SmartTurn offers four turning patterns – Part Field Mode, U-Turn, Y-Turn and K-Turn.

Valtra product marketing specialist Johan Grotell says most customers now want some level of precision farming.

“The SmartTouch user interface makes Valtra smart farming tech-

VALTRA’S ML260 CVT TRANSMISSION HAS TWO OPERATING SPEED RANGES – ONE FOR FIELD WORK AND ONE FOR TRANSPORT.

nology the easiest in the market. We are working on new technology features which will soon benefit our customers,” Johan says.

STRONG AND CAPABLE

The S6 wheelbase measures 3,092 mm, which is 93 mm longer than the recently released Valtra Q-Series tractors. Weight distribution without ballast is 45 percent on the front axle and 55 percent on the rear.

Maximum gross weight is 18 tonnes, allowing sufficient ballasting on the overall platform. The lift capacity of the rear linkage is 12 tonnes, while the optional front linkage has a lift capacity of 5.8 tonnes.

Hydraulic oil requirements have not been overlooked. The base Eco unit produces 200 litres/min at just 1650 rpm. There is also an option of two pumps, each producing 200 litres/min. This comes with six ESCVs, including one with flow rates up to 170 litres/min.

Lever couplers assist connecting and disconnecting, even when the system is pressurised. All hydraulic valves on the S Series have an innovative selfclosing flap design that prevents dirt from entering the valve.

Of course, like most Valtras, the S6 has completely separate transmission and hydraulic oils. This means reduced service costs due to the longer oil change intervals. Perhaps more importantly it eliminates oil contamination from shared implements damaging the transmission.

Valtra launched the S6 range at Agritechnica in November 2023. Mark expects demand for it to be as high in New Zealand as it has been in Europe. “Valtra dealers took 300 orders for S6 during Agritechnica and we cannot wait for it to arrive here,” he says.

Mark recommends that you talk to your local Valtra dealer for more information and a chance to meet ‘the Boss’.

LIFE BETTER WITH HIGH CAPACITY PEGASUS SPRAYER ON THE JOB

CROPLANDS SPRAYERS HAVE WORKED FOR THE LATTIMORE FAMILY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

Jim Lattimore bought the first one for their Methven farm, a 3000-litre Pinto with a 24m boom. It worked faithfully for two decades.

Now the next generation – Jim’s son Ben and his wife Chiara – is running Arranlea Farms. And they recently bought the next generation Croplands sprayer, a Pegasus in December 2023.

It is a much bigger machine, with an 8000-litre tank and a 48m Pommier alloy boom. It is the biggest boom on a Pegasus in Australasia.

Already they are noticing the difference.

“The paddock in front of the house is 36 ha. It took three to four hours to spray with the Pinto. Now we blow it out in one hour,” Ben says. Speed is important. Arranlea Farms covers 300 ha. Ben and Chiara winter-graze dairy cows, which eat out all the crops over June and July, and then they have to ready the paddocks for an early spring start.

They grow a lot of barley, a small amount of wheat, and small-seed crops such as radish, linseed, clover, millet, and sunflowers. The exact mix depends on markets and the season.

The sprayer works most of the year, with just June and July off.

“There is a lot of spraying to do in spring, and in a bad season, when I can only spray two nights a week, the old sprayer struggled to keep up.

“With spring-planted crops you need to be on time spraying out weeds, and you can’t be late with insecticides or fungicides.”

MORE CAPACITY

They say that the difference between a good farmer and an excellent one is two weeks. The

THE 48M POMMIER ALLOY BOOM ON THE LATTIMORES’ PEGASUS 8000 HAS NOZZLES ON 25-CM SPACINGS AND AUTOMATIC SECTION CONTROL TO AVOID OVERLAPS.

Pegasus allows Ben and Chiara to do their work at the right time, and the advantages flow on through the season with better crops and a calmer brain.

It has also given them some wriggle room which allowed them to cope with an unexpected set-back they faced recently. In February, a grain truck ignited a fire in 36 ha of barley.

“It didn’t burn well enough to kill the crop. It grew back and now we are trying to kill it. If we didn’t have this sprayer, we would be so far behind that I would be pulling my hair out.”

Ben prefers a towed sprayer, rather than a self-propelled. He says it saves a horrendous amount of money not having a self-propelled. “It would be another motor to maintain, whereas I am already maintaining the tractor.”

Their tractor is 155 hp with auto-steer. Ben says it does the job comfortably but he would not want to go smaller.

With a hydraulic stand it is “a piece of cake” to attach and remove. It has Hendrickson airbags on the drawbar to hold the sprayer level, and load-sensing airbags under the axle, so it is a very smooth ride.

Ben sprays at around 15 kph. “We have been using it since harvest and every time aiming for that speed.”

The larger capacity has improved efficiency. “We can do most of the paddocks on one tank. It’s a big advantage. In the old one we

FOR 20 YEARS THE LATTIMORE FAMILY USED THEIR 3000-LITRE PINTO (LEFT) TO DO ALL THE SPAY WORK ON THEIR CANTERBURY CROPPING FARM, BUT THEY HAVE NOW UPGRADED TO THE PEGASUS 8000.

had to fill it up to four times.”

MAJOR FEATURES

Mixing chemicals is easy with a pull-down 100-litre mixing hopper. So far Ben has only used liquids but says granular chemicals wouldn’t be a problem as it mixes in the hopper before being sucked into the tank. He also likes the sprinklers in the mixing hopper to clean it out.

All tanks are filled from the same point using the filling pump which has auto cut-off when full.

There are various spray pump options. Ben chose a hydraulically-driven centrifugal pump for its increased capacity with higher water rates and fertiliser applications.

A new feature for Ben is the recirculating boom. “To prime our old sprayer, I would back up to the fence line and wait for 20 seconds, with this one you push a button and away you go.”

It also means at the end of the run any spray in the boom lines can be returned to the tank. The lines can then be rinsed using the

700-litre flushing tank.

The new Pegasus sprayer’s 48m boom makes a big difference. Ben and Chiara chose it because it works with their 24m tramlines. You might think that a boom this size would only be useful on flat ground, but the home farm is undulating at best and has a big gully through it.

“I wasn’t sure it would work, but it has a levelling centre and it is much better than I thought. With the old sprayer, I had to lift a wing to get through the gully and when dealing with slopes. Some parts of the boom were a long way in the air.

“The Pegasus is a big upgrade compared to that. When one wing lifts, the other lowers and it twists the centre to follow the ground. It seems to work fine.”

Automatic boom height control from Norac ensures spray rates remain accurate, and prevents impact damage to the wings.

Another new feature Ben likes is automatic section control. He says he drives into a paddock and it does everything else.

“It turns itself off and on, even turning a corner it ensures an even rate and it turns off the end of a boom so it doesn't overlap.”

Ben specified 25-cm nozzle spacings for his new sprayer (rather than 50-cm). “It gives better coverage and we want the chemical to do everything it says on the label.”

They use triple nozzles. At the moment 90 percent of the work is done by one nozzle, with another for foliar fert which they plan to start doing.

WITH ITS 8000-LITRE TANK, BEN LATTIMORE CAN COVER A LOT MORE GROUND BETWEEN REFILLS WITH HIS NEW PEGASUS SPRAYER.

Nozzles on the end of the boom spray out, giving room around fence lines. “Not all the paddocks were GPS mapped properly, but I have now got my head around it. I don’t hit too many fence posts, unlike in the beginning.”

Arag IBX100 ISOBUS spray controls keep everything on the Pegasus sprayer ticking along. Ben says it took a little while to get his head around checking screens, rather than flicking switches.

Folded up, the sprayer is just 2.5m wide so it is easy enough to get through gateways.

The dealer for the Pinto was Gluyas Motors in Ashburton which is now Norwood. Norwood provided the Pegasus.

The Pegasus was a big change for Ben and Chiara and the help Norwood provided to set

it up was appreciated.

A Croplands service technician from Australia spent a week helping the Norwood dealer with the set-up and fine-tuning. They also provided training support to both Ben and Norwood staff. “Between them it worked very well.”

Ben likes being on top of the spraying workload, but, also, he and Chiara have two preschoolers Micky (4) and Poppy (3).

“The Pegasus gives me more family time. I am looking forward to spring to see how it works. I will have more time to spend with them and to do other jobs on the farm.

“Before, from late September to December, the wife and kids barely saw me. As soon as there was no wind I was going up and down paddocks.”

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CONTRACTOR’S VEENHUIS SLURRY TANKER BOTH FASTER AND SMARTER

AS ANY CONTRACTOR KNOWS, TIME IS MONEY. IF YOU CAN GET YOUR WORK DONE WELL AND QUICKLY, YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT JOB SOONER… OR PERHAPS SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

For that reason Paul Keen of Craig-Keen Contracting has made the effort to increase the speed and efficiency of his spreading business by purchasing a big Veenhuis slurry tanker with extra features that improve performance.

Paul and his wife Ainslie (whose maiden name is Craig) run Craig-Keen Contracting from their base in Culverden, North Canterbury. Operating as a one-man band, Paul spreads effluent and hard muck for dairy farmers in the irrigated Amuri Basin. Ainslie does the office and bookwork for the business and she also holds down another job.

“We are busy year round. We do some tidying up and bigger jobs over winter but we almost always have work on the go,” Paul says.

Several years ago Paul decided to trade in his basic, 18,000-litre slurry tanker for a larger model. Because he works closely with FarmChief Machinery, the New Zealand distributor of Veenhuis, he opted for a new 20,000-litre Veenhuis Premium Integral to replace it.

“I run a lot of gear from FarmChief, including my pond stirrers. Their guys are brilliant. They know all about their equipment. They are not just trying to sell you a machine.

Whenever we have had a problem, they have sent someone up to deal with it within 24 hours.”

Paul ordered his new Veenhuis with a number of bells and whistles that have taken the speed and efficiency of his effluent spreading up a notch. They include a crane suction arm, hydraulic suspension on the axle and drawbar, and a PTO-driven centrifugal discharge pump.

The crane arm is fitted to the top of the tank. It has an 8-inch hose and can swivel 320° to reach into effluent ponds, tanks or pumps from either side of the tanker and at nearly every angle. It has a turbo-filler hydraulic drive accelerator that speeds up filling.

“The filling arm uses a vacuum pump to fill the tanker. Its turbo filler spins and sucks up the effluent really quickly. It can fill the 20,000-litre tank in less than three minutes” Paul says.

“To discharge the effluent we switch to a PTO-driven centrifugal pump. It can empty the tank in two and a half minutes. We run it at about 820 rpm. It is fantastic. I would never go back to using a vacuum discharge pump.

“With the turbo filler and the centrifugal discharge pump, this tanker is twice as fast as our old one. We can fill and empty it in about five minutes, so the distance we have to cart the effluent is what determines how fast we can work.

“I have done five loads an hour with the Veenhuis and I typically do three or four. With our old tanker we did a couple of loads an hour.”

NORTH CANTERBURY SPREADING CONTRACTOR PAUL KEEN SAYS HE CAN DO THREE OR FOUR LOADS AN HOUR WITH HIS 20,000-LITRE VEENHUIS SLURRY TANKER, WHEREAS HIS OLD TANKER ONLY DID TWO.

The new tanker also has 850-mm flotation tyres. Paul says, with its sprung axle and drawbar plus the flotation tyres, the tanker treads lightly on paddocks and rides very well, both during transport and work.

“It rides smoothly when it is full. It feels like it is planted on the ground because of the cushioning effect of the hydraulic suspension.

“After we have been in a paddock, you can hardly see where we have been. With the flotation tyres it barely leaves a mark, which means we are causing less compaction in farmers’ paddocks.

“It has a tandem axle with forced steering on the rear axle, which gives us active steering in both forward and reverse. It makes it much more manoeuvrable and responsive.”

Whereas his old tanker had splash plates, Paul ordered the Veenhuis Premium Integral with a 12m Vogalsang swing up dribble bar. He says the Amuri Basin can get very windy, which used to restrict how much he could spread with the splash plates on some days.

“The dribble bar has about 50 pipes that lay down a nice steady stream of effluent on top of the ground. After we spread it looks much tidier than when we used the splash

THE CRANE SUCTION ARM HAS AN 8-INCH HOSE AND CAN SWIVEL TO REACH INTO EFFLUENT PONDS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SLURRY TANKER.

CASE IH SET TO LAUNCH BIGGEST AXIAL-FLOWS YET

CASE IH REVOLUTIONISED COMBINE TECHNOLOGY WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE AXIAL-FLOW IN 1977. NOW THEY ARE SET TO DO IT AGAIN WITH THE COMPLETELY REIMAGINED NEW COMBINE FAMILY, THE AF SERIES.

The AF Series are the biggest combine harvesters Case IH’s ever produced. Today’s farmers face constant pressure to deliver more efficient harvests and AF combines deliver the capacity, speed, precision technology, and simplicity to do this.

Case IH hay and harvest product manager Tim Slater says farmers depend on being able to manage harvest as efficiently as possible and the AF Series takes this to another level.

“The AF series is the next chapter in the Axial-Flow story. It will offer industry-leading cleaning capacity and grain tank size, and will also be the most powerful Axial-Flow ever with engines up to 578 kW (775 hp).

“They will be an ideal addition to the Case IH combine range in New Zealand and Australia. They will more than satisfy farmer and

WITH ENGINES UP TO 775 HP, THE AF SERIES ARE THE BIGGEST COMBINE HARVESTERS CASE IH HAS EVER PRODUCED.

contractor expectations around improved performance and productivity, as well as integrated technology.”

AF Series combine harvesters have the capacity to cover more hectares in less time. The combination of efficient power, increased throughput and larger cleaning and grain handling systems maximise crop flow throughout the machine.

Highlights include:

• More power. With engines up to 775 hp they can produce 24 percent more power than previous models.

• Larger grain tank. Grain tanks hold up to 20,000 litres.

plates. The farmers can get their cows back into the paddock sooner, and we are putting fewer nutrients into the atmosphere and

more onto the ground.”

• Longer rotor. The rotor has 50 percent more separation area so it can better process high yielding crops.

• Superior unloading rate. The grain tank is emptied at a rate of 210 litres/second.

• Larger fuel tank. The fuel tank is 25 percent bigger than earlier Axial-Flow models.

• New Cross Flow Plus cleaning system. The cleaning system is 32 percent larger than previous models.

AF Series machines have the latest technology, which makes operating them more intuitive and efficient.

Dual Pro 1200 displays give the

The Veenhuis is an ISOBUS machine so it can be used with its own or the tractor’s mon-

operator greater control during harvesting while critical settings of the harvester can be made automatically through AFS Harvest Command. Remote diagnostics and fleet logistics are available through AFS Connect.

“Axial-Flow combines were developed using very important core principles – simplicity, grain quality, grain savings and crop adaptability. These remain the foundation of this range today, and are further enhanced in our new AF Series,” Tim says.

Details on the commercial release of the AF Series will be announced later in 2024.

itor. It also has a flow rate valve system that ensures consistent application.

Paul says the tanker’s screen has icons and push buttons that make it easy to use. Once the PTO has revved up, he can use a single start-stop button to begin the work sequence – start the macerator, open the valves, and drop the boom down. Then, when turning at the end of a row, he touches the same button to do the sequence in reverse.

His Veenhuis is integrated with his Tracmap-Tabula system so that he can record volumes of effluent applied and provide proof of placement to his clients.

PAUL KEEN SAYS THE 12M DRIBBLE BAR ON HIS VEENHUIS HAS 50 PIPES THAT LAY DOWN A STEADY STREAM OF EFFLUENT ON TOP OF THE GROUND.

KUHN UNVEILS NEW FOLDING POWER HARROWS

KUHN’S TILLAGE RANGE HAS EXPANDED WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW FOLDABLE POWER HARROWS. THE HR 5030 R AND HR 6030 R OFFER WORKING WIDTHS OF 5M AND 6M RESPECTIVELY.

They are suitable for a wide range of tractors up to 350 hp and are an effective tool for arable farms looking for high productivity.

All HR 1030 R range power harrows have a single-beam frame that gives easy access to gearboxes and transmissions, which limits time spent on maintenance. A centre of gravity that is as close as possible to the tractor ensures driving comfort and a lower required lifting power.

Because soil texture can vary within the same paddock, it is important to be able to adjust the settings on your power harrow quickly. The two HR 1030 R power harrows make this as easy as possible. Adjustments of the

working depth and the levelling bar are done either manually, centrally, or hydraulically directly from the tractor cabin.

For optimised crumbling, levelling and tamping, the HR 1030 R range can be used with different blades and rollers.

Standard specification is DuraKuhn carbide-coated blades, which give increased resistance to impact and wear. For even longer service life, there is the option of DuraKarb blades with tungsten carbide inserts. Thanks to the Fast-Fit quick fastening system, minimal time is needed to replace blades and rollers.

Duplex gearboxes have interchangeable sprockets, which allow the speed of the rotors to

THE WORKING DEPTH AND THE LEVELLING BAR OF KUHN HR 5030 AND HR 6030 POWER HARROWS CAN EASILY BE ADJUSTED FROM THE CAB.

be adapted to the working conditions, whether the soils are light, heavy, dry or wet.

The HR 5030 R and 6030 R power harrows can be combined with several different rollers – the MaxiCrumbler (520 mm diameter), MaxiPacker (535 mm diameter), or MegaPacker (590 mm diameter). The large diameter MegaPacker has excellent bearing capacity.

The reinforced central gearbox has an oil cooler and the whole of

the kinematic chain is protected by a cut-out clutch.

As in all Kuhn power harrows, the powerful rotor drive is fully protected by a rigid gear housing. The casing, bearings and blade holders form a compact and robust unit and the arrangement of the tapered roller bearings ensures strength and reliability.

The new HR 1030 R will be available in New Zealand in 2025.

CUTTING-EDGE KVERNELAND GEAR KEEPS ARABLE FARM TICKING OVER

STEVE ROME AND HIS SON SCOTT FARM 620 HA OF ALLUVIAL FLATS IN RIVERSDALE, NORTHERN SOUTHLAND.

Waifield Farm is a mixed arable operation. It includes about 460 ha of wheat, barley and small seed crops such as peas, ryegrass, brassicas and radish.

The Romes also run breeding ewes, winter-graze dairy cows and trade stock.

Two pivotal machines that help keep the busy operation running smoothly are Kverneland – a 6m trailed U-Drill Plus and an Exacta TL Geospread iDC disc spreader.

The Kverneland U-Drill Plus arrived in September 2020. When their old drill was wearing out, Scott was looking for a replacement. He wanted a drill that also placed fertiliser.

He saw the U-Drill working and liked the simplicity which is important because they take on staff. He also liked the job it did.

Then there is the minimal maintenance that goes with its good design and strength.

“I like the longevity of Kverneland gear and the good name. It comes with excellent back-up from Power Farming.

“The Gore mechanics have been really good. It is not only them and their abilities, but also how easy it is to get parts.”

Scott was initially looking at a second-hand drill, but the U-Drill was so competitively priced that they bought a new one.

THE U-DRILL’S COULTERS DO A GOOD JOB OF PLACING THE SEED WITHOUT DISTURBING THE SOIL, WHILE THE WIDE PRESS WHEELS ENSURE GOOD SEED-TO-SOIL CONTACT.

It is a systems drill that does five steps in one pass – levelling, seed bed preparation, reconsolidation, seeding and pressing.

The front wheel packers are 800 mm in diameter and provide both depth guidance and soil levelling.

“I rate the front packer. It makes the drill a lot more stable,” Scott says.

Two rows of 18-inch conical disc harrows do the cultivation. These are 5 mm thick and quite robust.

“We have had the U-Drill for three full seasons. We haven’t changed the discs yet and won’t any time soon.”

An off-set wheel packer then reconsolidates the ground prior to seeding.

U-Drills can be specified with seed coulters spaced at either

125 mm or 167 mm. Scott and Stephen’s model is an ex-demo and has 125 mm spacings.

With the narrow coulters, less energy is needed to get through the ground and there is less soil disturbance.

The wide press wheels ensure good seed-to-soil contact and are the rear part of the depth control system, which can be adjusted from the cab with the push of a button.

“It has very good seed placement and even establishment.”

When the coulters have done their job, S-type or finger harrows cover the seed. They are adjustable at different pressures and angles to match the conditions.

Scott and Stephen have S-type harrows. Scott says he can lift them out of the way either to

STEPHEN AND SCOTT ROME USE THEIR KVERNELAND EXACTA TL GEOSPREAD IDC SPREADER FOR VARIABLE RATE SPREADING BASED ON GRID SOIL SAMPLES.

reverse or when they are not needed for the particular job.

Like so many farmers, the Romes disturb the ground as little as possible. Minimal tillage is the aim.

After a crop, they usually use a tine cultivator first to get weed strike. They then spray out and go in with the U-Drill.

“Because the U-Drill has cultivation discs on the front, we essentially do cultivation and drilling in one pass.”

The main exception to this is drilling after a cover crop. Cover crops go in after wheat or barley. With the U-Drill, they can mash up the cover crop, work it in and drill the next crop, all in one pass.

The U-Drill works seven months of the year. Spring sowing is relatively leisurely, but during autumn they have to work in tight windows. This is why they got the 6m folding model. (The U-Drill is also available in 3m and 4m working widths.)

Scott drills at around 13 kph and aims to do about 5 ha/ hour. Getting into transport mode is done with the push of a button without leaving the cab.

The hopper is 4,350-litres split 40:60 for seed and fertiliser. Scott says they get a better strike when they put down fert when they drill. They fill the bins with a telehandler.

The computer tells them what metering roller to put in for the

GREAT STRENGTH FOR A GREAT FINISH

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• Important function for “non-square fields” and for perfect in´s and out´s.

• Safe and trouble free parallel setting of the cross shaft connection to the tractor lower links.

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various seed sizes. Calibration is standard: push a button and catch and weigh the output.

The Eldos seed meter is fully electric and it can work at rates from 1 to 400 kg/ha. “It is very easy to use and very accurate,” Scott says.

The U-Drill is ISOBUS-compatible so it is easy to swap between tractors.

“We just hook it up and plug it in. It will talk to any tractor. One tractor has a Kverneland monitor, and in the others it runs through the tractors’ screens.

Scott and Stephen use 230 hp tractors. Scott says this is fine when working the U-Drill on flat ground, but he reckons they would need more power to work in hills.

It can do variable rates and section control, which the Romes expect to use some stage in the future.

KVERNELAND EXACTA TL

The Kverneland Exacta TL Geospread iDC disc spreader arrived in October 2022. Getting a tractor-mounted spreader was a no-brainer. They already had the tractors and they can go more places and work in more marginal conditions than a truck.

They had a different brand spreader, but when the time came to update it, Kverneland won their vote.

Several things swayed them. One is the twin discs, which run independently of each other, giving them better border control. Others were ease of use and the competitive price.

Scott says the Exacta TL Geospread’s delivery system is way better than their previous spreader. “The way the fertiliser feeds out of the hopper is smoother and more accurate.”

The Geospread has a hopper capacity of 3900-litres and an output of 10 to 320 kg/ha. For some products it can spread up to 45m, however Scott and Ste-

THE KVERNELAND U-DRILL DELIVERS VERY GOOD SEED PLACEMENT AND EVEN ESTABLISHMENT, SCOTT ROME SAYS.

phen work on 24m tramlines and have set theirs for the narrower spread.

But the really interesting feature is its ability to spread with sectional control in 2m sections. It comes down to when the fertiliser is dropped onto the disc, which can be adjusted electronically from the cab.

So you can be driving along in an odd-shaped paddock and the spreader will automatically cut the width as you overlap. This prevents wastage and protects waterways.

Scott and Stephen have been doing variable rate spreading for the last two years, based on grid soil samples.

“It’s about the right nutrient in the right place, and saves us money. The ability to do variable rate spreading was another reason to get it.

“It integrates seamlessly with John Deere GreenStar. We get proof of placement and the ability to send and receive files. The prescription maps are sent to the tractor and the spreader just does it,” Scott says.

They also have a Yara N-Sensor on the roof of the tractor which calculates how much nitrogen the plants need.

“It is instantaneous. As we drive, it works out how much to put on and tells the spreader, and the rates change as we go.”

With its scales, the Geospread automatically calibrates as it goes. Working speed is 16-18 kph. The spinners’ rpm are independent of the tractor speed, keeping rates consistent.

Scott runs the spreader through the tractor’s monitor and says the whole thing is very easy to use.

LATEST DEERE S7 COMBINES GOBBLE MORE GRAIN, LESS FUEL

JOHN DEERE S SERIES COMBINES HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED AND GIVEN NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT BUILD ON THEIR PROVEN PERFORMANCE.

John Deere production systems manager Ben Kelly says the updates deliver productivity gains of up to 20 percent using 10 percent less fuel.

“There have been visible updates to the cab and exterior styling, but the changes do not stop on the surface,” Ben says.

“Under the bonnet, S7 combines have new engines that deliver more fuel efficiency. They are also equipped with a new grain loss sensing system, which provides more accurate grain loss measurements, and new automation features that take performance to the next level.

“The S Series remains the proven workhorse it has been

since its inception in 2012, but is now even better than ever.”

Latest S7 Series harvesters have either a JD14 13.6-litre engine or JD9 9-litre engine.

These are Tier 3 engines designed to produce higher pow-

er at lower RPM.

The new S7 Series family includes the S7 600 (367 hp max power), S7 700 (460 hp max power), S7 800 (540 hp max power), and the S7 900 (617 hp max power).

POWERFUL NEW ENGINES AND ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS TAKE THE PERFORMANCE OF DEERE S7 COMBINE HARVESTERS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

YEARS OF ACCURATE, LOW-COST DRILLING WITH ALLEN P-D SERIES

TODAY’S FARMERS AND CONTRACTORS ARE DRIVEN TO ACHIEVE EFFICIENCY, AND ASHBURTON-BASED ALLEN CUSTOM DRILLS SAYS ITS SEED DRILLS CAN HELP THEM ACHIEVE IT.

The Allen range includes the P-D Series, known as their Packer Drill. P-D drills are minimum tillage arable drills with a full-width tyre packer.

P-D drills are very effective in cultivated ground and can be specified with optional opening discs for direct drilling as well. In either case, the tyre packer consolidates the ground and prepares a firm seedbed, which improves plant establishment.

David Clark of Valetta Farms in Mayfield, Canterbury replaced his American drill in 2012 after 17 years of use.

He says he was looking for a robust, simple 6m drill that would give accurate seed placement and low long-term running costs.

“The Allen Packer Drill ticked all those boxes for us. Craig and Deb Allen and their team were awesome to work with during the design and build process to manufacture exactly what we were looking for in a drill,”

David says.

“After 11 years, we feel this drill gives us low running costs due to its robust and simple design. Our crops germinate evenly across the field. This drill has been a very good investment for us.”

P-D Series drills are available in working widths of 4m to 12m, with row spacing options of either 5” (125 mm) or 6.5” (166 mm). They deliver running costs as low as $5/ ha.

The largest packer drill in the series is the P-D 12000, which is 12m wide and hydraulically folding.

the name of the company suggests, Allen Custom Drills is happy to make any addition to a drill that will make it work better for a particular operation. Some optional extras for the P-D Series include ISOBUS, small seed boxes, slug bait spreader, levelling paddle tines (up to 8m), seed blockage sensor kits, and more.

Other models in the Allen range are the Ergonomic drill (E-D Series), Contour drill (C-D series), Tyne drill (T-D Series), and HeavyDuty drill (H-D series).

Company directors Deb and Craig Allen are passionate about what they do and appreciate that their product is an asset to farming and contracting operations around New Zealand and Australia.

Their vision is to be the leaders in design and manufacturing of air seeder drills that exceed their customers’ expectations. They thrive off the relationships they have with those they work with in the industry.

Allen drills are designed and built to deliver simplicity, efficiency and durability. This

means they are reliable for hectares on end and provide accurate results each time.

Minimal maintenance is required for Allen drills, but if anything is required, the company has hard-wearing parts available on the shelf. They can deliver them locally or send them out on an overnight courier.

Allen Custom Drills had stands at the 2024 Southern Field Days in Waimumu and the Wanaka A&P Show, where they enjoyed chatting with people from all around the country.

The next spot you will be able to see Allen Custom Drills on display is National Fieldays in Mystery Creek with their dealer, Waikato Tractors, from 12-15 June 2024.

For more information visit the Allen Custom Drills website (allencustomdrills.co.nz) or call 03 308 4094.

ALLEN P-D DRILLS HAVE A TYRE PACKER THAT CONSOLIDATES THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE SEED COULTERS.

As

Would you use a fork to eat soup?

Why would you use a tractor for lifting and shifting?

Turbo Farmer Range

• Tight turning radius

• Narrow width

• Low height

Featuring a 3.5 or 4.2 ton lifting capacity and a 7 metre reach, the cab is positioned to offer a clear view and is the obvious choice for loader work. Why would you use a tractor for a job that Merlo telehandlers are designed to do? PH 021 925 034

• Captive joystick

• Weigh monitor

• High level of comfort