Farms & Farm Machinery #448 (March 2025)

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Industry news

16 Industry groups welcome biosecurity levy axing

17 Australian milk producing costs stack up globally

18 Billions invested to boost vegetable consumption

19 Biosecurity funding for grain growers

20 Nuffield Scholarship applications open

21 Lease agreement to boost NT agriculture

22 Project helping with early disease detection

23 Victorian crop study facility expands

24 NSW appoints agriculture commissioner

24 Funding to help with North Queensland floods

Market news

57 A slower than expected start goes against hopes of early improvement, the Tractor and Machinery Association says

Opinion

58 WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington says privatisation of state government assets – if done correctly – could unlock funding to develop regional areas

Event news

62 Publisher partners with WorldSkills Australia

63 TMA launches careers awareness campaign

Dealer news

64 New Holland and Case IH announce dealers of the year

Regular items

4 Editor’s note

60 Calendar of upcoming events

74 List your item for sale!

81 Trophy Cabinet L K Diesel Services honoured for repair and fault diagnosis excellence

Image: John Deere

to the latest edition of Farms & Farm Machinery

Never a month goes by where I do not marvel at the breadth of stories to be told from Australian agriculture – celebrating the ingenuity and achievements of those working within the sector, along with how they a re getting the best out of their machinery.

It begins with our cover story this month, where large-scale operation Hay Australia has reaped the rewards since shifting to Merlo machinery.

It is always a pleasure to tell the stories of those using particular types of farm machinery and hearing the benefits they have experienced.

Other examples exist this month, courtesy of a New South Wales farmer who owns a pair of tractors from McCormick, plus a Queensland business benefiting from Hercules machinery sourced at Brisbane Mini E xcavator Sales.

We also look in depth at JCB CEA’s Fastrac tractor series, Bourgault’s seeding equipment, Landpower’s silage making equipment and Shell Rimula engine oils to learn about how each of these are playing a major role in these specific aspects of farming.

John Deere has made a significant leap forward in the tech space, announcing its Precision Essentials packages which give farmers a real choice about the specific technologies they will benefit from.

A number of tailored packages are available and we explain these, along with explaining why the manufacturing giant has gone down this path.

We also take a look at Pickles Auctions, which has found success in recent years by selling old oil and gas pipe casing as a fenc ing product for agricultural and rural areas. Newly released figures show Australian

horticulture has enjoyed a positive year –so we delve into why this is the case and discover the outlook for the year ahead.

CNH brands New Holland and Case IH held their annual dealer of the year event and we reveal all the winners for both brands.

There is also plenty of industry news as per usual, which includes the federal government’s scrapping of the controversial biosecurity levy.

Nominations are also open for next year’s Nuffield Scholarships – an important program for emerging young leaders – while t he Tractor and Machinery Association has also launched its own campaign to get more young people into the industry.

We look forward to telling more stories of the people who make Australian agriculture the exceptional industry that it is, a long with showing you the best of what is on display during the field day circuit –starting next month when we highlight the Wimmera Field Days in Victoria.

Happy reading!

Lincoln Bertelli Editor

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Hort growth

Australia’s horticultural sector has seen production value grow to $17 billion, according to Hort Innovation

Hort Innovation has released its latest figures, revealing the nation’s total horticultural production value reached $17 billion in 2023-24, marking a 4.3 per cent increase year on year.

This was prompted by a strong season where fruit production values reached record highs, while export values also reached a record high.

Australia’s horticultural production

value increase can be attributed to a significant increase in production volume, which increased by 6.6 per cent, to 6.89 million tonnes.

Export volumes rose by 8.7 per cent, export values reached a record high of near $3 billion, led by almonds, citrus, macadamias, avocados, and summer fruit.

Citrus broke a new record reaching more than $1 billion in value for the first

time, according to the Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2023-24.

The production of almonds and macadamias also rose significantly during the year, increasing by 63.3 and 94.1 per cent respectively.

“These figures demonstrate the incredible resilience and capability of Australian growers,” Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield says.

“From driving export growth to meeting local demand, our horticulture industry has once again proven its strength as a cornerstone of our agricultural economy.

“This year’s results reflect a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and quality production, which position Australia as a competitive force globally.

“While these are strong numbers, it’s important to also remember Australian

horticulture is facing historic highs when it comes to productions costs like labour, energy, capital and inputs like fertiliser.

“Our growers, industry partners, and research bodies have worked together to achieve these outcomes. Whether it’s adopting new technologies, expanding into export markets, or meeting sustainability goals, this success is a collective achievement.”

Berry nice

The 2023-24 season was a successful one for the berry industry, with Oz Group Co-Op CEO James Kellaway thankful for a “great season” after two less than ideal seasons prior.

The co-op consists of about 150 farmers who grow the berries, with the co-op then packing and marketing them – something which Kellaway says helps with collaboration, coordination and establishment of critical mass.

Blueberries consist of about 75 per cent of the co-op’s total growth, with blackberries and raspberries making up the remainder.

A strong season for supply, with a “record number” of blueberry trays produced, was complemented by additional demand thanks to an increasing diversification of product use.

“The product is no longer seen as solely a meal ingredient,” Kellaway says.

“We see great consumption 24/7 as a snacking product as well and we’re getting a higher reach and frequency for our

product in terms of purchasing behaviour.

“It has great shelf space and positioning at the point of sale so it’s really front and centre on shoppers’ minds as soon as they enter the store.

“Supply has been good and demand is building, so we see a good upward trend in this product over the longer term.”

Crucial to the product’s long term growth will be the export market.

Exports currently represent only three to four per cent of total production for the co-op, Kellaway says, and this is to phytosanitary market that do not require import protocols.

Work is being done to develop further markets for Australian berries, he says, and treating these export markets as a long-term partnership will be the key to success.

“We’re knocking on the doors of other markets that require import protocols,” Kellaway says.

“They take a lot longer to get access from a technical perspective and to a certain extent a political perspective as well, but I’ve got great faith that this year we could get access into other protocol markets.

“We’ve done a lot of technical R&D to demonstrate our capacity and capability from quarantine and biosecurity perspective, but we are patient and we will keep progressing our diversification strategy into these other markets.

“It’s critically important that we’re not just looking at trying to dispose of excess products.

An increase in domestic fresh market supply was supported by strong production in strawberries. Image: littlewolf1989/stock.adobe.com

Strawberries had a strong year of production. Image: Hort Innovations

FARMING

Blueberries are a significant part of the co-op’s growth. Image: SalenayaAlena/ stock.adobe.com

grammes with these markets, so irrespective of the supply or growing season, we will be supplying these markets.

“We want to build these long-term relationships and they need to be sustainable.

“You can’t be in and out depending on supply.”

Another element of the long-term

varieties, beyond the 32 different types of blueberries which are currently grown by co-op members.

Kellaway says it is “critical” that new varieties which are responsive to consumer taste and trends are developed, meeting criteria around size, crunch and flavour.

“This is a long term project and I suppose

that’s the benefit of being in the co-op, because all members together can make that investment,” he says.

“We need to keep growing varieties that are going to be responsive to consumer taste and trend, and also in terms of seasonality.

“We just want to make sure that we’re continually addressing those consumer characteristics which they demand.

“We want a good size berry, we want a berry with good crunch and obviously a berry with great taste and flavour and that’s to do principally with sugar.

“Our investment in new genetics and varieties is important as well.

“We do variety trials which are important to showcase and demonstrate different varieties of their characteristics, and more specifically how those varieties will perform in the micro-climate that reflects each grower’s conditions.”

Horticulture has experienced a positive year. Image: Hort Innovations

Australia’s Most Useful Attachment

WORK Heavy

The reliability of Merlo telehandlers has proven a huge asset to Hay Australia and its around-the-clock operation

Up to 30 trucks a day can be unloaded at Hay Australia’s Bridgewater site

Agricultural machinery cannot be treated with a ‘one size fits all’ approach, as every customer’s reason for purchasing a particular machine and their most important priorities can be vastly different.

For Hay Australia’s Victorian processing site – a large-scale, non-stop operation – its reasons for a positive experience with Merlo telehandlers extend much beyond the machine’s technical specifications.

Instead, it is the machine reliability, availability of spare parts and ongoing service from its nearest dealership that have made the recent switch to Merlo products pay off instantly.

Hay Australia’s Victorian location at Bridgewater, near Bendigo, runs around the clock and this factor heavily influences the decision making when it comes to machinery investments.

The first machine acquired was a Turbofarmer 35.7, which Hay Australia has been leasing since the start of 2025, before doubling its Merlo fleet with a larger model from the Turbofarmer range – the 50.8.

Hay Australia has been dealing with Farm and Diesel, which joined the Merlo dealer network last year, but this particular dealer-customer relationship dates back much longer.

Big needs

Hay Australia describes itself as “an

Australia’s broadacre cropping regions”. Its locations allow hay and straw to be sourced from local growers, which is then exported and also supplied to the domestic livestock industry.

The Bridgewater site opened in 2013 and now presses an estimated 100,000 tonnes per year.

This volume provides an insight into the scale of Hay Australia’s Victorian operations, while also highlighting the need for reliable and robust machinery which can handle a 24 hour a day operation.

Site manager Scott Cannon admits their Merlo machines are worked harder than most, with the ability to handle virtually non-stop use being crucial.

“In the past, there has never been a machine that is robust enough for what we need,” he says.

“For me, it’s also about availability of spare parts because no matter what, you’re going to need them if you run the machines the way we do.

“We’re getting the machine serviced basically once a week because we hit 250 hours very quickly, so you need the backup support, and parts availability is key to what you buy because with another brand we couldn’t get parts in for two or three weeks.

“Merlo carry a fair amount of spare parts in Australia and Farm and Diesel

to keep us going until the particular parts become available.”

Nitty gritty

The larger of Hay Australia’s two Merlo telehandlers in the TF50.8.

Part of the manufacturer’s high capacity range, it is powered by a 170hp engine and offers a 5,000kg load capacity along with an 8m lift height and 4.2m maximum reach.

The smaller Merlo unit – the TF35.7 – is part of the medium capacity range and offers a 3,500kg load capacity, 6.5m lift height, 3.5m maximum reach and is powered by a 140hp engine.

The four key pillars around which Merlo designs all its telehandlers are comfort, efficiency, performance and safety.

The comfort has been highlighted by Cannon as a major benefit for the staff who have driven them.

“We’ve had the smaller one for a bit longer and that has been brilliant for all the staff that use it,” he says.

“We’re running it 24/7 and it has obviously been hot over summer, so the air conditioning has been really good.

“The more experienced guys in the yard were all very happy with it – it’s comfortable when they’re spending 12 hour shifts in the machine.

“It’s pretty much a mobile office and

Images: Merlo Australia

Merlo’s TF35.7 is used inside Hay Australia’s sheds

Cannon mentions has been developed to cut the warm-up and cool-down times in half compared to conventional systems, while the inlet vent has been placed on the side of the fully enclosed cabin to be away from potential dust and dirt sources.

“The environment we’re working in is hot and dusty, so blowing out filters and access to all of that is crucial to what we do, because we do it twice in the 12-hour shift,” Cannon says.

Features across Merlo’s Turbofarmer range include 180-degree opening of

the door, along with a handrail to ensure easy access, plus axles designed in-house that can be fitted with diff lock to ensure traction on any terrain.

There is also excellent braking capacity when the accelerator pedal is released, which Merlo says guarantees high torque to the wheels during material handling and transfers, along with precision when positioning the load.

Active boom suspension keeps the load protected in all conditions, while the ASCS safety system adjusts the speed and max-

imum extent of the movements based on the attachments in use, the load being handled and its position, eliminating the risk of the telehandler overturning.

Merlo also has a patented EPD system which electronically controls engine and transmission. It manages engine speed, hydrostatic pump flow rate, and hydrostatic drive displacement, maximising efficiency and reducing RPM, which the manufacturer says can save up to 18 per cent in fuel consumption.

Another technical aspect which is

The TF50.8 is the larger of the two Merlo telehandlers used

praised by Cannon is Merlo’s willingness to make customised adjustments which Hay Australia have suggested when they purchase the machine they are currently leasing.

“That was a big point from the buying point of view that they’re willing to adjust to suit – it will obviously cost us, but at the end of the day we want a machine built to suit what we do,” he says.

Overall operation

Hay Australia’s desire to have a machine “built to suit what we do” comes from the unique challenges their telehandlers are faced with compared to everyday farming.

When about 100,000 tonnes of hay goes through the Bridgewater site every year, the machinery powering the operations needs to be able to keep up.

“The Merlo telehandlers are purely to keep up productions,” Cannon says.

“We’ve got storage sheds that are a distance away. The furthest one is probably 400 metres away from our production shed, so they are continuously bringing in stock to keep the plant running.”

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They are also used to unload trucks, which Cannon describes as also being a constant operation.

“Trucks come over the weighbridge, we weigh them in, and they go to a shed where they unload into stacks for storage,” Cannon says.

“During peak season, we could have 30 trucks a day coming in, so we’ll have two or three loaders non-stop unloading trucks.”

Dealing with such volumes can pose challenges around storage, which means Hay Australia sometimes needs to call on its farmer network.

This provides another example of why reliable machinery for unloading trucks is crucial to the overall operations.

“We want to have that stock on hand preferably, but we can’t always store that much hay, so farmers store it for us and we pay for them to do that,” Cannon says.

“When we need it, they bring it in and we unload.

“They key is to not hold them up and get it unloaded as quickly as possible and get

them on their way, so you need reliable machines to do that as well.”

The bales are stacked six high in Hay Australia’s sheds, which the TF35.7 handles comfortably, while the larger TF50.8 is used in the yards where bales are stacked nine high.

Cannon says the longer-term plan is to put a trailer on the back with a Euro hitch, which will enable additional bales to be loaded onto the trailer, along with those carried by the telehandler, to further maximise speed of operation.

Established relationships

The dealership which Hay Australia deals with for its Merlo telehandlers is Farm and Diesel, which has branches in Epsom and Swan Hill.

It is owned by Sam Walker, whose family were formerly part-owners of Hay Australia’s Victorian operation, giving the dealership a strong connection with the hay exporter.

Hay Australia has worked with the dealership for many years, acquiring forklifts

and its company vehicles through Farm and Diesel along with entrusting them for the ongoing service and maintenance.

“Farm and Diesel has been with us for the full journey,” Cannon says.

“They have grown a lot over the years and have been a good supplier.

“It could be two in the morning and if we’ve got an issue I can make a phone call and get advice over the phone or they come out.

“Obviously there are callout fees but in this industry downtime is about $10,000 an hour and we cannot afford that – so they definitely go above and beyond.”

Farm and Diesel is only a relatively recent addition to Merlo’s national dealer network, but Walker describes the experience as being “unreal” so far, praising Merlo Australia’s commitment to its dealers through ongoing backing, service and parts access..

Merlo’s Turbofarmer models, along with the full telehandler range, can be viewed at www.merlo.com/aus

Levy scrapped

Industry groups have welcomed the scrapping of the federal government’s proposed biosecurity levy

The federal government has announced it will scrap a controversial levy which would have put a portion of biosecurity costs on to producers.

The Biosecurity Protection Levy was announced in the 2023–24 budget and would have been paid by Australian producers, meaning about six per cent of the nation’s total biosecurity funding would have come from producers.

Originally planned to begin on July 1 last year, it failed to win wider political support and was officially scrapped last month.

“We are listening to farmers and to the experts as we protect our environment and economy from the biosecurity threats of today and tomorrow,” federal agriculture minister Julie Collins says.

“The Albanese Labor government will continue to work with farmers and stakeholders so producers are involved in the policy solutions that protect their livelihoods.”

The news was welcomed by a number of agricultural industry groups including the National Farmers Federation, Grain Producers Australia and AUSVEG.

NFF president David Jochinke describes the levy’s axing as a “huge win for farmers” and says the original plan was “deeply flawed and unfair to farmers”.

“We appreciate the minister’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the sustainability of our biosecurity system,” he says.

“I also tip my hat to our members, industry stakeholders and the thousands of farmers who voiced their concerns about this tax.

“Together we put up a fierce fight and we are relieved to close the book on this idea.

“The agricultural sector was united in its opposition to this tax and we are just as united in our commitment to protecting our country’s biosecurity.

“Farmers already contribute significantly to the system, and we look forward to working with the government on policy that strengthens our defence against pests and diseases without adding extra costs on farmers.”

Another group which has welcomed the levy’s scrapping is AUSVEG, which is the peak industry body for Australia’s vegetable industry.

AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote says the additional cost would have been a significant challenge for an industry which is already experiencing major cost pressures, but also reiterated the importance of maintaining strong biosecurity.

“At a time when Australian vegetable growing businesses are experiencing extreme margin squeeze that is threatening the viability of many, the last thing growers needed was the imposition of another cost that they would have had little capacity to pass on,” he says.

“A strong biosecurity system is critical to the long-term viability of Australia’s vegetable industry, and AUSVEG looks forward to ongoing engagement with the government, and all with a stake in Australia’s food future, to ensure that system is fair and fit-for-purpose.”

In late 2023, Grains Producers Australia coordinated a letter which was joint signed by 50 agricultural representative groups and sent to the prime minister, treasurer and the then-agriculture manager.

GPA analysis also found the grains industry would have paid about $30 million of the proposed $50 million, which would have been raised annually by the levy.

GPA chair Barry Large says he is thankful for members of parliament who listened to the concerns of farmers, particularly around how the revenue would have been used.

“From the outset GPA was concerned at the lack of transparency and accountability on how funds to be raised from the biosecurity tax would actually be spent, and if this revenue would actually improve biosecurity protections,” he says.

“There was also a serious lack of consultation during the policy design process, which led to its fundamental design flaws – and that’s why it ultimately failed to win the support needed, to pass parliament.”

Despite celebrating the levy’s axing, industry groups have reiterated the importance of biosecurity. Image: Wifesun / stock.adobe.com

Dairy delight

Australia’s milk-producing costs have been found to be among the lowest in the world, despite a global increase, according to Rabobank

A new report by Rabobank has found the cost of producing milk in Australia compares favourably with other dairyexporting regions, despite a rise in global milk production costs over the past five years.

In the report, the agribank found Australia to be one of the lowest cost producers in 2024, second only to New Zealand.

Australia was also found to be one of the regions generating the best gross milk price margins since 2019, along with New Zealand and the Netherlands.

This is despite significant global increases in the average total cost of milk pro -

duction across major exporting regions, which Rabobank says has increased by around US6c/litre from 2019 to 2024 (up 14 per cent) with over 70 per cent of the increase occurring since 2021.

“The majority of the cost pressure has been on-farm working expenses rather than other ancillary costs, such as serving debt, taxes and depreciation,” RaboResearch senior agricultural analyst and report author Emma Higgins says.

Higgins adds the latest cost jump began in 2021 due to a range of factors, including feed and fertiliser cost increases from severe weather, trade disruptions, elevated

Image: Emil/stock.adobe.com

shipping costs and broader supply chain disruptions.

Eight key exporting regions including Argentina, Australia, China, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, California and the upper midwest of the United States experienced this production cost rise in 2021-2022, Rabobank says, remaining elevated through 2023 until 2024.

The reports says all areas experienced relief over the past year, narrowing the cost band back to 2019 levels.

“Feed expenses have been the largest culprit in cost increases, with average feed bills across the eight regions rising 19 per cent from 2019 to 2024,” Higgins says.

“Feed bills started to pull back due to yield improvement and good weather in 2024, while fertiliser costs have also retreated as supply remains ample for demand.”

Australia and New Zealand’s low cost of production has been supported by the Oceania region’s strong reliance on pasture grazing, supplemented with homegrown feed stuffs or locally produced feeds, Higgins adds.

Eat your veggies

A Hort Innovation program aims to contribute $3.3 billion to vegetable growers and the supply chain, to tackle low and declining consumption in Australia

Hort Innovation says Australians only consuming an average of 1.8 serves of vegetables per person per day, instead of the recommended five pieces. Image: FiledIMAGE/ stock.adobe.com

A new research and development program funded by Hort Innovation is aiming to increase the daily vegetable consumption of Australians by one serve a day.

The six-year program, funded by Hort Innovation through the Frontiers Healthy Living Investment Theme, has been developed in response to low and declining daily vegetable consumption, Hort Innovation says.

It will incorporate insights and lessons from global best practice programs to maximise outcomes for industry and growers, Hort Innovation adds.

The program is expected to contribute $3.3 billion to vegetable growers and across the supply chain and create 13,000 new jobs in regional communities, according to Hort Innovation.

It will also lead to a $1.4 billion reduction in healthcare costs – Hort anticipates – contributing a total $4.7 billion in net economic benefit.

Australians today are only consuming on average 1.8 serves of vegetables per person per day, according to Hort Innovation, which is 135g, or around half a cup of vegetables – instead of the recommended five pieces per day.

By increasing daily vegetable intake by one serve per person per day, Hort Innovation says it adds up to more than 9.1 billion additional serves annually, or 680 thousand tonnes of vegetables consumed.

“Only 6.1 per cent of Australians are eating the recommended five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit per day,” Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield says.

“The chronic underconsumption of veggies affects all Australians, which means eating one more veggie every day will have a positive impact on all of us.

“By tapping into what will really drive behaviour change, we believe this research program will help us work towards both a healthier Australia and a prosperous vegetable industry.”

More than 48 cross-sector organisations spanning industry, research science, healthcare, government and community outreach have co-designed the program to understand the most effective ways to get Australians to eat an extra serve of vegetables each day.

The program will run until 2030 and is expected to see every dollar invested yielding a $12.30 return over six years.

Greater security

The GRDC is investing an extra $3.5 million in biosecurity to protect grain growers from exotic plant pests

The Grains Research and Development Corporation and Plant Health Australia have signed a joint $3.5 million memorandum of understanding to bolster the Grains Industry Biosecurity Plan 2023-28.

The additional investment will support the implementation of the national biosecurity plan, which was announced in August last year to strengthen biosecurity protections and help safeguard Australia’s $32 billion grains industry.

Developed in collaboration with industry leaders and biosecurity experts, the plan identifies more than 1,300 different exotic plant pests and disease threats

that could impact the Australian grains industry.

It also details several programs and proactive measures required to protect growers, industry and the economy.

GRDC managing director Nigel Hart says the $3.5m MOU would allow critical measures to be implemented.

“We are doing this to support the industry to develop improved biosecurity practices, so we are prepared and proactively guarding against the very real threat exotic pests and diseases pose to agriculture,” he says.

“Importantly this plan has the support

of the entire industry. We are working together to ensure the systems are in place to allow us to be responsive and act in a timely way – two critical factors that can be the difference between effective control and industry devastation.”

The biosecurity plan will be reviewed and updated regularly over coming years with a particular focus on three main areas:

• Pest risk scanning to ensure the GRDC captures and learns from the latest international literature on key pest threats

• Ongoing coordination of the development and management of preparedness information resources

• Reviewing the plan’s progress to improve understanding of pest risk profiles and entry pathways, and to target surveillance efforts to areas of greatest risk. The plan also details development of an enhanced partnership approach between key players.

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GRDC managing director Nigel Hart. Image: GRDC

Top scholars

2026 Nuffield Australia scholars are encouraged to be curious, drive change and help the agricultural industry thrive

Nuffield Australia has opened applications for its 2026 scholarships, encouraging farmers and those working in the agricultural industry to seize what it says is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Successful scholarship recipients will have the opportunity travel overseas for 15 weeks of study, with Nuffield calling on the next intake of Australian agriculturalists to be curious, drive change and help the industry thrive.

Nuffield Australia CEO and 2013 scholar Jodie Redcliffe says Nuffield scholarships were recognised as the pinnacle of industry-based, experiential learning for primary producers.

“Scholars have a unique opportunity to visit, learn from and collaborate with not only other scholars but with agribusiness leaders around the world,” she says.

“By fostering a culture of curiosity and excellence, we challenge scholars to step beyond their comfort zones, exploring groundbreaking ideas and solutions that can reshape Australian agriculture.

“The journey is transformative, offering life-changing experiences that empower individuals to lead with focus.”

Soon-to-be-released research commissioned by Nuffield Australia shows its alumni overwhelmingly say their scholarship was an incredibly rich and diverse experience, having had a profound impact on their life.

Claire Catford from Hoyleton, South Australia, was awarded a scholarship last year and while it was initially a daunting prospect, she says going outside your comfort zone is where amazing things happen.

“The most wonderful and surprising thing has been the welcoming and supportive network that opens up when you’re awarded the scholarship,” Catford says.

“In planning my travels I’ve been astounded at the opportunities that’ve opened because of the Nuffield network.

“I can only imagine where this is all going to lead over the next 12 to 18 months, and no doubt beyond that time as well.

“I urge anyone who’s on the fence about applying to just go for it – there’s never a perfect time for these things but taking the leap could help you discover something you might never have imagined.”

Celebrating its 75th year of scholarships, Nuffield Australia will award around 20 scholarships, as it does each year.

Some of these scholarships target specific agricultural industries, while others are open to a wider range.

Up to five drought resilience-specific scholarships will be offered, with support from the Australian government’s Future Drought Fund.

Applications will close on Friday May 16, with shortlisted applicants to be interviewed during June, with a final round of interviews in July.

Successful recipients will be announced at the Nuffield Australia national conference in Adelaide from September 8-10.

For more information and to apply, visit nuffield.com.au/how-to-apply

2025 Nuffield scholar Claire Catford. Image: Nuffield Australia

Growing the future

Northern Territory’s agricultural industry has received a long-term investment

Duxton Farms has secured a lease agreement to further progress the Wildman Agricultural Development Hub in the Northern Territory.

The hub is located about 135km east of Darwin and spans 28,000 hectares.

Described by the NT government as a “key development site”, it will accommodate a variety of agricultural activities, including horticulture, livestock, broadacre cropping, and forestry.

NT agriculture and fisheries minister Gerard Maley says the development marks a significant step in expanding and diversifying the territory’s agricultural sector.

“This acquisition by Duxton Farms is an exciting development for the Territory’s agricultural future,” he says.

“The expansion of the Wildman Agri-

cultural Development Hub will contribute significantly to regional economies, providing vital job opportunities for Territorians while supporting sustainable agricultural practices.”

Duxton Farms acquired 2,386 hectares of the hub last year and has invested further, with board chairman Ed Peter saying he is excited about the project’s potential.

“I am delighted that Duxton Farms has been given the opportunity to develop the Wildman Agricultural Development Hub, and we look forward to working with the corporation, the Government, and the fantastic people of the Northern Territory to build something truly special in the Top End,” he says.

“This is a very unique project that should create substantial long-term value.”

The Wildman Agricultural Development Hub.

Image: NT government

The NT government says this project is part of its broader efforts to rebuild the Territory economy through diversification and investment in agriculture.

“The development of agricultural hubs like Wildman is vital to ensuring the Territory continues to grow, both economically and in terms of job creation,” Maley says.

“We are laying the groundwork for a sustainable and prosperous future by attracting major investment to the Territory.

“By creating opportunities for new agricultural developments, we are driving sustainable growth in the Territory’s agricultural and horticultural industries.”

The development has the potential to boost production of crops, the government says, including high yield such as mangoes and melons, broadacre crops alongside cattle production, which will be key for the local economy.

“We are committed to boosting the economy, and Duxton Farms has committed to investing a substantial amount of capital in the Northern Territory’s agricultural economy over the next eight years, which is fantastic for the NT,” Maley says.

Autumn is your time to shine

Rewards from Shell Lubricants to help keep your machinery looking pristine.

Shell lubricants not only keep your machinery running stronger for longer, this autumn they also help keep it clean with great rewards for purchasing Shell Rimula R4 L, Shell Rimula R4 X, or Shell Spirax S4 TXM (as tabled) from participating distributors.*

Alert system

Growers can access accurate and localised data to improve disease management through a project that tracks airborne disease spore movement

A three-year, $3.6 million project is aiming to provide growers and advisors with early detection of diseases, including blackleg, botrytis, leaf blights and spots (alternaria species), cereal powdery mildew and general rust in their crops.

To facilitate this, 60 sensors that capture airborne particles containing fungal spores have been installed across Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

When combined with artificial intelligence approaches, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) says the data from these sensors allow for early alerts as to potential crop infection when spores are microscopic and plants are asymptomatic.

This can provide growers with the opportunity for more informed and timely disease management decisions.

GRDC agriculture technology manager Peter Thompson says that growers are currently reactive to fungal diseases,

with detection only possible once disease is visible in crops.

“Growers are already on the back foot once visual symptoms can be scouted by eye,” he says.

“During early infection, spores are microscopic, and plants are asymptomatic, making disease difficult to detect. But at the same time, early infection is the optimal stage to apply fungicides.

“This project is providing more accurate and localised disease risk information for growers, so they can make more informed decisions on when and where to apply foliar fungicides, helping maximise profit from fungicide use and delay the onset of resistance.”

The sensors installed are BioScout SporeScout units and use air sampling to trap fungal spores, which are photographed using an automated microscope.

An AI function then compares these photos to a database of images to detect

and identify fungal disease.

Data from the SporeScout units is displayed on BioScout’s online dashboard, with graphs containing the airborne spore concentrations of specific pathogens.

BioScout CEO Lewis Collins says the network sampled nearly 1 billion litres of air over the 2024 season, tracking and reporting on around 1.6 million unseen disease-causing spores in near real-time.

This sampling revealed 1.2 million spores of general alternaria.

“The BioScout powered network is providing a level of unprecedented detail for growers that has not been available before,” Collins says.

The BioScout network is free to grain growers for the next 12 months, and BioScout encourages feedback during this period for further development.

Growers and agronomists can access the network at www.bioscout.com.au/grdc.

Data from the sensors installed allow for early alerts of potential crop infection. Image: GRDC

Crop durability

Expansion of a facility that studies the impact of extreme weather on different crops will help develop heat tolerant varieties

Victoria’s Free Air Temperature Extreme (FATE) facility, which researches the impact of extreme hot and cold weather on crops, has completed its $1.18 million expansion.

Based at the Horsham SmartFarm in the state’s west, the facility has doubled in size, now covering about 2.5 hectares.

Extreme weather testing conditions at the FATE facility include the impact of heat waves, drought and frost on cereal,

pulse and oilseed crops, to understand the impact on grain quality.

The Victorian government says the expansion will enable more crop rotations and experiments, accelerating the development of new heat tolerant crop varieties for farmers.

The equipment can also be used for future research on other crops, including different grazing pasture species, the state government adds.

Victoria’s Free Air Temperature

Extreme facility tests the impacts of heat waves, drought and frost on cereal, pulse and oilseed crops.

Image: Agriculture Victoria

“The research at this world class facility will help our farmers to learn and prepare for future heat waves and drought impacts on crops, using new technologies to adapt to climate change,” Western Victorian MP Jacinta Ermacora says.

Jointly funded by the state government and Grains Research and Development Corporation, the facility has researched eight different wheat and lentil varieties with various growth rates under the heaters this year, against a control group under normal weather conditions to test the resilience of crops.

Evidence from this research will inform plant breeders which crop varieties can stay productive during extreme weather conditions, as the frequency and severity of these events increase in a changing climate.

INDUSTRY

Leading the charge

New South Wales’ first statutory agriculture commissioner will provide advice and make recommendations to the government

The NSW government has announced Alison Stone as the state’s first statutory agriculture commissioner.

Committed to during the state election

and legislated last year, Stone will provide independent advice, conduct reviews and make recommendations to the NSW government on agricultural matters, including productivity, land use conflict and food security.

Commissioner Stone has over 40 years of experience across primary industries, equipping her to provide informed advice to the state government on future proofing the agricultural industry.

This experience has included 25 years as a farmer, policy experience across land, natural resources, forestry, heritage and wildlife roles, along with experience in disaster resilience, response and recovery having led the codesign process for the Disaster Wise Communities Network.

As agriculture commissioner, Stone will serve an initial three-year term with work to include:

• A ssisting the NSW government in developing an ongoing system for defining, identifying, and mapping agricultural lands throughout the state

• Progressing the pilot of a Farm Practices Panel, which will look at ways to reduce conflict between agricultural producers and neighbours on a broader scale

• Providing input and advice to address challenges related to critical renewable energy infrastructure to support energy

transition and the impact it can have on landholders

• Promoting a coordinated and collaborative approach across the federal government, the NSW government and local government in relation to agricultural matters

• Work with the Net Zero Commissioner promoting a cohesive approach to policy making.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our state, and my role is to collaborate with government, landowners and industry leaders to drive tangible, on-the-ground outcomes and practices to ensure NSW has a strong and prosperous agriculture sector,” Stone says.

“NSW’s primary industries sector is one of the most diverse in the country, with a wide range of agricultural commodities and farming systems. While this presents challenges, it also creates valuable opportunities for growth and innovation.”

Stone adds one of her key priorities will be to help the government to protect and support agricultural land, ensuring productivity remains on the government’s agenda.

Stone has previously served on the NSW government’s cornerstone Regional Advisory Council, the Victorian Fisheries Co-Management Council and the federal government’s Forest Industry Advisory Council.

$100 million in grants will help support North Queensland farmers and small businesses with the effects of flooding

The Queensland and federal governments have announced more than $100 million in grants are now available for flood affected primary producers, small businesses and not for profit agencies across flood affected areas.

Grants will help to support recovery and resilience for North Queensland communities impacted by recent flooding.

The package activated includes:

$72.7 million grants package for flood-affected primary producers in North Queensland

$25 million grants package for small businesses and not for profit agencies impacted by the North Queensland floods

$2.4 million Rural Landholder Grants for owners or lessees of at least 10 hectares of flood affected land

$1 million Emergency Fodder Support for eligible primary producers.

“Grants like this can make all the difference in helping to ensure impacted North Queensland farmers and small businesses can get back on their feet faster,” federal agricultural minister Julie Collins says.

“Farmers and small businesses are at the heart of local communities, so this funding is critical.”

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to

flood-affected primary producers, small businesses and not for profit agencies impacted by the North Queensland floods.

In addition, grants of up to $10,000 are available to rural landholders or lessees of at least 10 hectares who sustained direct damage but are not eligible for other Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements primary producer assistance.

Assistance is available to eligible applicants in the local government areas of Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville and Yarrabah.

The Emergency Fodder Support Package will be available to primary producers in the Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville and Yarrabah local government areas.

It will provide up to $1 million for the purchase and transportation of fodder to sustain livestock and mitigate the impacts of flooding.

For grant applications, contact QRIDA on 1800 623 946 or www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

To access the Emergency Fodder Support Package, contact the Department of Primary industries on 13 25 23.

Alison Stone has over 40 years of experience across primary industries. Image: NSW government

Merlo - Work Smarter

Pipe dream

Oil and gas casing is finding a new life as agricultural fencing, with Pickles Auctions seeing increasing popularity for this purpose

Australian farmers are renowned for their ingenuity and finding unique but effective solutions to situations which arise.

When alternative products can be

hundreds of kilometres away, the concepts of repurposing equipment or making do with what you have are second nature to many in the nation’s most remote areas.

These scenarios can present opportunities, and a realisation that something unexpected can be a surprise hit.

One such scenario is the growing popularity of used oil and gas casing as viable fencing for agricultural fencing.

The origins of this can be traced back to around 2015 when Hassalls Auctions –which was acquired by Pickles Auctions in 2018 – began auctioning oil and gas casing, sucker rod, and drill pipe.

This casing was initially sold to scrap dealers, before the idea of using it as rural and agricultural fencing began to get momentum around two years later.

This began with traditional on-site auctions, Pickles sales and account coordinator Clinton Taylor explains, where buyers would bid for semi-trailer loads per lot.

In the beginning, there were between 40 and 70 trailer loads sold monthly.

From there, the concept has grown in popularity – proving a lucrative business for Pickles since the acquisition of Hassalls – and has also seen a changing

Retired oil and gas casing is becoming popular as agricultural fencing

Images: Pickles

The auction house also sells a range of heavy-duty machinery

“As we approached 2018 and 2019, the casing movement established a solid standing as an option for fencing for farmers and landowners,” Taylor says.

“Originally, a handful of major buyers focused on this asset wholesale and would purchase through Pickles, cut the pipe to their buyers’ desired length, resell and provide transport to the buyer.

“In today’s market, many more buyers come directly to source through our monthly online auctions, thus cutting out the middleman and purchasing the asset at a better price.”

This use of the oil and gas pipe is a shrewd one, given it is no longer suitable for its primary use in drilling.

From a sustainability point of view, Taylor says fencing would be the best alternative for this used casing rather than simply scrapping it.

There are three primary sizes of casing which feature in Pickles’ monthly auctions.

All of these are at 9.2m lengths but the diameter varies – with 60mm, 73mm and 89mm diameters being the common thickness.

From there, Taylor says the buyer usually cuts the casing into three primary sizes – 2.2m, 3m or 4.6m – which represent about a quarter, third, and half of the total length respectively, although it can be cut into any desired length.

As an economical and sustainable alternative to traditional fencing, it is little surprise Pickles has seen a sharp increase in the popularity of the month -

ly casing auctions.

“From 2015 to now, the casing sales have seen a significant rise in both price and buyers,” Taylor says.

“We currently sell upwards of 13,000 lengths each month directly from our auction facility in Miles, Queensland, and these buyers are now the majority of end users.”

These monthly auctions are held online and can be accessed from any-

where in Australia.

Photos of auction lots are posted in advance for buyers to browse the available range, with in person viewing days from its site in Miles available by appointment only.

To bid in Pickles’ monthly casing auctions, or to find out more about the company’s other auctions, visit www.pickles.com.au

The casing is commonly sold in 9.2m lengths

Pickles holds monthly auctions to sell the casing

MACHINERY

Winning formula

They might only have been in the country for about two years, but JCB’s Fastrac tractors have already made a major splash in the Australian market

When trying to create the dream tractor for Australia’s demanding broadacre conditions, farmers would most likely nominate a few of the same features.

The grunt and power to pull the heaviest of implements with ease; the speed to travel long distances between faraway paddocks quickly; a host of technology to improve functionality and simplify operation, plus the comfort to know the operator can work long days

with minimal fatigue.

While some of this might appear like a pipedream – particularly managing seemingly contradictory interests such as heavy towing power along with excellent speed – the reality is that such a tractor exists, and it is already changing the game for Australian farmers.

JCB’s Fastrac iCON 8330 is the tractor in question.

Its speed is a headline-grabbing feature,

capable of reaching 70kmh at its peak.

A modified Fastrac also earned the title of ‘world’s fastest tractor’ in 2019, but its real-world speed is not just about attracting attention.

It is making a significant difference for Australian farmers, who have the constant challenge of moving between paddocks and properties which are sometimes hundreds of kilometres apart.

Australian farmers who Farms & Farm

JCB’s Fastrac 8330 iCON tractor

Machinery have spoken to are reporting considerable time savings when using the Fastrac 8330 iCON, cutting their lengthy travel time between one-third and half.

“Some instances [of moving machines] could take six hours or more to get one machine and move it on to the next person, and I’ve almost halved it – or definitely taken off one-third of the time,” one Queensland farmer said last year.

Another South Australian farmer, who previously spent about three and a half hours travelling to a separate farm with a spreader on the back of a tractor, said the Fastrac covered this distance “probably one-third quicker than what we could with any other tractor we’ve got on the farm”.

Time equals money for Australian farmers, and this additional speed offered by the Fastrac can reduce labour costs of employing tractor drivers, while also enabling more free time at the end of each day.

Power packed

Where this speed becomes even more impressive is in the context of the power it also offers.

Being able to get between paddocks quickly is of little benefit if the tractor cannot handle the demands of daily farm operation.

JCB’s Fastrac iCON 8330 has a powerful 348hp (260kW) engine, while it can produce 1,450Nm of torque.

Its rear lift capacity of 10,000kg is another standout feature, showcasing its ability to handle even the most demanding of implements with ease.

There is also a 50-50 weight distribution which JCB says helps to optimise the tractive performance in the field.

Dual-line steering, twin-caliper ABS disc brakes and a full-length rigid chassis provide high levels of safety, while anti-roll bars and an advanced suspension system offer improved stability at high speed.

This stability and comfort are also making a difference for Australian farmers.

One contractor, who operates in Victoria and New South Wales, chose the Fastrac due to its in-cabin comfort when spreading for between 18 and 22 hours per day during the busy season.

Another operator, who is the farm manager of a cropping operation across Queensland and New South Wales, said operators were fighting over who could drive the Fastrac as “you spend a full day on that and you’ve still got a spring in your step”.

The South Australian farmer who high -

lighted his time-saving experience also previously gave Farms & Farm Machinery a glowing endorsement of the tractor overall.

“I’ve driven a lot of tractors, but it’s by far the most comfortable tractor we’ve ever had on our farm,” he said.

Modern additions

Travelling quickly, towing heavy implements, and operators still remaining comfortable even after a long day in the cabin might already seem like a great trifecta – but it is still not telling the entire Fastrac story.

The tractor’s full name is the JCB Fastrac 8330 iCON, and the iCON aspect of this is another significant feature and is where the tractor stands out from previous iterations of the Fastrac.

It relates to a technology-packed control suite which is opening new opportunities for farmers.

A new armrest console and 30cm touch-screen display is the first part of this, along with fully integrated ISOBUS connectivity.

JCB has put considerable time and effort into ensuring iCON is an intuitive, easy-to-use system which farmers can get maximum benefit from.

Simplified operation of the joystick

The Fastrac is ideal with an array of implements

is one example of this, with the tractor speed now increased by pushing the joystick forward rather than tapping it to the right-hand side.

Five configurable buttons and a roller thumb control feature on the main joystick, with another four with a rocker switch on the second joystick.

Its overall layout will be familiar to previous Fastrac users, JCB says, but this new level of practicality – such as being able to create a bespoke experience by allocating virtually any function to each

of these buttons – takes the operator experience to a new level.

The existence of iCON is another element which Australian farmers are singing the praises of.

“It’s very user friendly and very easy to configure the controls to each implement that you hook up to it,” one farmer said.

“Once you work out your configurations and how you want to run the m achine and control layout, it’s just far easier to use than other tractors.

“Everything’s one or two clicks away instead of needing to dive into the screen and go through five, six or seven steps to find out how to do something.”

This user friendliness is an area which cannot be overlooked, particularly when farmers might be employing additional staff who need to get into an unfamiliar tractor and quickly learn how to get the best out of it.

Extra offering

While the Fastrac 8330 iCON is undoubtedly the jewel in JCB’s crown, it is not the only model available for Australian farmers.

The manufacturer also offers the Fastrac 4220 iCON, which provides a 235hp (175kW) engine and offers 1,000Nm of torque.

Many of the standout features – such as the iCON technology suite – are still present.

The clearest difference is the presence of four-wheel steering on the smaller 4220 model, something which JCB says makes it more agile for row cropping and vegetable farming, where it is more commonly used and where turning sharply is more important.

Fastrac iCON tractors are distributed in Australia by JCB CEA’s extensive dealer network.

To find your nearest outlet visit JCB’s website or phone 1300 522 232

Two joysticks can be customised for a bespoke experience

CLAAS JAGUAR

CLAAS LINER RAKE

The Fastrac 8330 iCON, left, alongside the smaller 4220 iCON

SYDNEY

MELBOURNE

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TOWNSVILLE

Smooth operator

Viva Energy Australia, the Shell Lubricant Macro Distributor in Australia are ready to keep farmers in the field with machinery operating at its best

Australian farmers regularly operate in extreme conditions, across all seasons with the pressure of maintaining food security for the nation.

This is why selecting the most appropriate lubricant for the machinery plays a vital role in maximising operational efficiency across the nation’s agricultural sector.

The right engine oil can improve a machine’s performance and ensure operations run smoothly.

Conversely, choosing the wrong lubricant for your machinery and equipment can cause breakdowns and accrue costly repairs and maintenance, quickly putting the machinery out of operation and caus-

ing costly and unnecessary downtime on the farm.

Shell is one of the most well-recognised oil and fluid brands in the world, and as the exclusive distributor of Shell branded lubricants in Australia, Viva Energy has streamlined the process of selecting the right lubricant for your machinery and equipment.

Whether it is for a tractor, harvester, plough or seeder, Shell has developed a unique product range that assists farm machinery operators in ensuring careful management of their engines.

The Shell Rimula R4 range are key products for protecting the integrity and efficiency of agricultural machinery

engines to ensure their performance and longevity.

When developing a new product, Shell lubricants undergo rigorous rounds of tests, in the widest possible range of conditions to ensure it is developed for the real world.

Quality lubricants keep machines running at their best

Shell Rimula heavy duty diesel engine oil

MACHINERY

As part of the development process for today’s Shell Rimula R4 L, based on the API CK-4 engine-oil specification, over 160 million kilometres of road tests were run across multiple markets including Australia, along with the United States, Europe and China.

“During the development process, Shell tests its engine oil formulas exhaustively,” Shell’s global technology manager for heavy duty engine oils, Jason Brown, says.

“We use these tests to improve and refine the additive package and enhance oil performance across its lifetime so that it delivers industry-leading protection from the moment of top-up right through to the next oil drain.”

What farmers need

As a brand which operates on a global scale and dealing with everything from passenger cars to trucks, along with agricultural equipment, Shell Lubricants are either approved by, or meet the specifications of, more than 3,000 OEMs around the world including the largestselling tractor brands in Australia.

There are five key areas in which Shell

Lubricants can enhance the operation of tractors and other farm machinery: greases; transmission, gear and axle oils; diesel engine oils; hydraulic oils; and coolants.

The specific nature of these, plus the depth of product range, means farmers can trust in a product designed for their requirements.

Shell Rimula heavy-duty diesel engine oil uses the most advanced technology and is developed with Shell’s Dynamic Protection Plus Technology to create exceptional resistance to corrosion, wear and oxidation while producing lower vehicle emissions.

This technology is also versatile in a wide range of environments, providing protection against acid and deposit build up to keep engines working harder and longer.

Protecting the performance of exhaust emissions control systems is not only important to ensure that machinery complies with legislative requirements, but it also ensures efficient operations.

For example, blocked diesel particulate filters (DPF) can increase a machine’s fuel consumption.

Shell Rimula R4 L is formulated with

reduced levels of ash and sulphur to help maintain the efficiency of the latest technology DPFs.

The benefits of using Shell Rimula oils also translate to the wallet, through increased reliability of machines and lower downtime, along with reduced maintenance costs.

The Shell Rimula R4 range allows farmers to plan for engine maintenance cycles with confidence, knowing that the highest quality lubricants are being used to optimise engine performance in line with OEM requirements.

Operators should refer to OEM product manuals to understand recommended service intervals, as some equipment may have a service interval of 200 hours while others may be up to 500 hours.

Regardless, it is best practice to keep ahead of service intervals to ensure equipment is operating at peak performance levels all year round.

Businesses seeking real time support can receive a free consultation on which lubricant is optimal for their engine through the Viva Energy Technical Help Desk (Shell Lubricant Specialists) on 1300 134 205.

For the digitally savvy, the Shell LubeMatch and Shell LubeAnalyst digital tools allow customers to input the details of their equipment and access detailed lube matching information, as well as survey and monitor engine health.

Shell Rimula is available in a range of small and large pack sizes

Seeds of success

Bourgault Australia’s mission is simple – helping farmers optimise their seeding and achieve maximum results

Bourgault knows that Australian broadacre growers require large equipment which can handle the nation’s tough conditions, which is why its product range does exactly that.

Two of its biggest assets are the 9000 Series Air Carts and 4420 Deep Knife Drill, both of which are ideally suited to Australian needs.

Bourgault’s air cart range, for example, includes the attention-grabbing 91300 model that boasts an unprecedented 45,810L of capacity across its four tanks.

The 4420 DKD is the most recent addition to Bourgault’s local range and also breaks new ground – both metaphorically and literally thanks to being optimised to work at depths up to 16.5cm below the surface.

While Bourgault is a Canadian manufacturer, it is also well entrenched in the Australian market.

Bourgault Australia was established in the late 1990s and this foothold in this

country has been amplified by considerable local testing on its products to ensure they will excel Down Under.

Australia is not simply one of many global markets where Bourgault places its products.

The company’s commitment to helping Australian farmers is best shown through the 4420 DKD – a product which was purpose-built for local needs.

Optimising efficiency

Overall machine size is a major consideration for farmers at seeding time, Bourgault says, with the need to get the job done as quickly as possible and without unnecessary ‘dead’ time spent refilling the cart.

Bourgault’s 9000 Series Air Carts clearly meet this criteria, with even the smallest model in the range (the 9650) offering a noteworthy 22,900L capacity.

For the largest of growers, many of whom are running two shifts a day, Bour-

gault says the largest air carts have been a popular choice.

The shift structure often dictates the capacity purchased, as growers do not want to stop halfway or three-quarters into a shift for refilling.

While the size and capacity alone allow for considerable acreage to be covered in one fill, Bourgault’s carts are packed with technology to further maximise efficiency.

Automated section control is becoming a popular feature with customers, Bourgault says, as it provides independent control of seed and fertiliser distribution to ensure the optimal amount.

Another unique feature offered by Bourgault’s air carts is the DynaCal live rate monitoring system.

This means the machine will monitor the rate in real time and alert the machine driver of discrepancies during sowing, and DynaCal works in tandem with weigh scales, which are offered as standard on the 9000 Series.

Images: Bourgault Australia

Bourgault says customers with the DynaCal feature are noticing the system will detect very small changes in rate across a tank fill, which is ultimately detecting a change in seed and fertiliser density.

This is helping to bring application rates to within one per cent accuracy across the seeding process, rather than seven or eight per cent which is common without DynaCal.

Each tank has its own individual weigh scales to help farmers know exactly how much product is being distributed and to ensure complete accuracy and precision.

Bourgault’s 9000 Series is also compatible with Topcon’s X40 Apollo system,

Bourgault’s seeding equipment can

The 4420 DKD is purpose-built for Australian needs

Bourgault’s 4420 DKD is optimised for depths of up to 16.5cm

MACHINERY

farmers total control over their job.

Built for strength and durability, there is also a large range of tyre options to help reduce soil compaction and minimise the air cart’s impact on the ground.

Cutting deep

Bourgault’s air carts work in sync with the new 4420 DKD, giving farmers the ultimate machinery combination for their seeding needs.

One of the DKD’s best assets lies in its name – deep knife drill – with it being optimised for digging depths of between 12cm and 16.5cm below the surface.

This new style seeder bar has a deep-ripping front fertiliser knife, a new opener and a seed knife.

The seed knife follows behind on a parallel arm to give accurate seed placement and depth setting.

The unit can also carry up to 5,400L of liquid on board, helping to reduce filling time.

Bourgault’s 4420 DKD also offers a heavy-duty forward shank with on-the-go adjustable hydraulic breakout between 68kg and 450kg, plus a 16mm wide knife point.

Other features of the drill include a ground-following 1:1 contour ratio, easy packing pressure adjustment with a cordless impact driver, easy depth adjustment with a simple handle and pin, a floating hitch to ensure optimal depth control and

superior tracking, plus large tyres and a steerable front axle.

Available in 12m and 18m working widths, it is a unit big enough to be paired with Bourgault’s largest air cart, yet can also fold away to just 5.5m – or 5.35m without coulters – to ensure easy transport between where it is needed.

Local footprint

Bourgault has identified both sides of Australia as being important markets for its products.

Bourgault moved to a new facility in the Perth suburb of Kelmscott five years ago to keep up with demand in Western Australia.

There is also a significant spare parts

building, workshop and office in the New South Wales border town of Albury.

This provides Bourgault Australia with key distribution hubs, along with staff, to customers in both the east and west.

With full distribution centres on both sides of Australia, Bourgault is well equipped to quickly provide machinery, parts and support to customers no matter where they are.

Combined with machinery designed for the heavy-duty needs of Australia, Bourgault says customers can be confident their seeding season will be a success.

Bourgault Australia’s full range is available online at www.bourgault.com/en-au

Bourgault’s seeding equipment can handle tough Australian conditions

The 91300 is Bourgault’s largest air cart

Twice as nice

Purchasing two McCormick tractors across different power segments has opened up new possibilities for one farmer

For New South Wales farmer Gary Olrich, the purchase of a McCormick G-Max 135 marked a step up to a horsepower level he had previously not experienced.

The 133hp (98kW) tractor was purchased from Clark Equipment alongside a 75hp S-Max 75, with the double investment in McCormick opening up new possibilities around versatility and getting jobs done quicker.

Gary has six properties totalling about 11,000 acres, which were formerly used for sheep farming but are now predominantly to run cattle.

With his properties scattered across approximately 30km near Niangala in north-eastern New South Wales, the logistics of how to move the tractor around comes into consideration as well as the work it completes.

The ability to do 35kmh in the tractor has been a “bonus”, Gary says, helping to cut down time spent travelling from one extremity of the properties to the other. Having a more powerful unit has also enabled him to cut back on the use of con-

tractors and take more jobs in-house, plus the financial benefits this brings.

“The G-Max has mainly been used for pasture improvement, like doing a lot of direct drilling,” Gary says.

“It has also done a bit of slashing, because we’ve got a twin rotor slasher that we use it with. Other than that, we use the forks on it for loading pallets and seed bags and that sort of thing, so there’s a bit of front end loader work but it’s mainly just dragging the seeder.”

Daily workhorse

McCormick’s G Max 135 is a mid-size utility tractor, offering what the manufacturer describes as “industry-leading innovation, cutting-edge technologies and uncompromising comfort”.

It offers a six-cylinder Iveco engine, 54 x 18 powershuttle transmission and five sets of rear hydraulic outlets which provide a 110L per minute hydraulic flow.

It is equipped with diff lock, wet disc brakes and four-wheel drive, while the front axle offers a high ground clearance

and 55-degree steering angle.

These features increase traction and manoeuvrability, McCormick says, helping to improve comfort, safety and productivity.

For Gary, the additional power offered by the G-Max compared to previous tractors he has owned has made a significant difference to what can be done.

“It’s been useful because we used to predominantly rely on contractors, but we’ve got our own seeder and everything nowadays so we can just do all our own work,” he says.

“We got a stick rake manufactured for it, but we’ve got also other equipment like an excavator that we do a lot of our timber work with anyway.

“It was the first time I’ve had a tractor with that sort of horsepower range, because normally the highest we had was 90hp, so it’s good to have extra horsepower and obviously it pulls a direct drill very easily and efficiently.”

Moving to a bigger machine which can do more has also proven a labour saver,

A 133hp engine is offered by the G-Max 135

McCormick’s G-Max 135 is capable of handling tough work

which is a challenge farmers across the country are constantly dealing with.

“You can have a few tractors but you’ve got to have enough operators to drive them all too – that’s the trouble,” he says.

“There is only four of us working all this country and all up we’ve got a skid steer and five or six different pieces of machinery, so they don’t all get used at once.

“If you’ve got a job to do, you’re going to go with a bigger machine rather than overwork a little machine.”

Double deal

While the G-Max 135 has been worked the hardest of the two newest tractors, it is not the only McCormick he purchased from Clark Equipment.

The smaller McCormick S-Max 75 was acquired as a replacement for a smaller tractor which was traded in about two years ago.

‘It was bought for my wife as a replacement for another little tractor we used to

have, just for basic jobs,” Gary says.

“It does a little bit of slashing and light timber tidying up.

“It’s done some bucket work - just levelling up roads - and we’ve done a little bit of boom spraying with it as well.”

The S-Max 75 has a four-cylinder turbo engine producing 75hp (54kW) and offers a 12 x 12 shuttle transmission, two sets of rear hydraulic outlets and two-speed PTO.

A fully enclosed and air-conditioned cabin ensures operator comfort.

McCormick says this tractor “offers unmatched value for money to the general duties farmer” and “has an excellent quality to price ratio, without losing out on components or performance”.

Top service

The value for money cited by the manufacturer was also highlighted by Gary as a major factor in his purchase.

He had never previously owned a McCormick tractor, but it was the ability to

affordably step up in horsepower – along with the service provided by Australian distributor Clark Equipment and salesman Aaron Becroft – which saw him make the leap.

“The value for money was probably one of the things, with the amount of horsepower you could get for the dollars,” Gary says.

“I saw them at AgQuip, but I enquired about purchasing one about 12 months before I actually did so.

“Aaron was in the area doing something, and he called in and had a bit of a chat to us. I had prior knowledge of him and the Clark Equipment business, and did a fair bit of research on the internet, but I think the number one thing was probably value for money.”

Gary praises the ongoing service provided by Becroft, having developed the relationship over time, and says Clark have been quick to fix any minor issues which have arisen with the tractor.

The S-Max 75 is an ideal everyday tractor for grazing operations

“One thing I will say about Aaron particularly and the Clark team in general is their after sales service has been very good. They’ve worked as best as they possibly can,” he says.

“I’ve always had a great relationship with Aaron - he’s always back on the phone. If you ring him and you don’t get a hold of him, he’ll certainly ring you back.

“Communication has been very good and they’re efficient with what they do.

“The couple of little issues we’ve had with it have been fixed very efficiently too.

“We managed to get it back down to Heatherbrae and they did all the work still under warranty and did a service while they were there as well.

“I think it was only missing for about 10 days from when it went down there to when it come back so I thought the turnaround time was pretty quick.

“It’s only been about two years since we bought it, but I’m happy with it thus far.”

The full McCormick tractor range can be viewed at www.clarkfarmequipment.com.au

Customers can now either buy all their precision agriculture technology upfront or select what they need

tech

John Deere’s new Precision Essentials program is giving customers more flexibility around their precision agriculture technology purchases

John Deere has introduced its Precision Essentials program, meaning customers now have the option to either buy all their precision agriculture (PA) technology upfront – the traditional product offering – or only those elements that they need most by selecting from four hardware and

Royce Bell, Deere’s Australia and New Zealand marketing manager for production and precision ag, says Precision

Precision Essentials will be available to all John Deere buyers

MACHINERY

Essentials is driven by several of the manufacturer’s commitments.

These are to making technology more affordable by lowering upfront costs, more accessible by ensuring customers can select only the tech they need and by making it available to all brands of machinery, and more adaptable by allowing farmers to scale up or down as their operation demands.

Package deals

There are two Precision Essentials packages to choose from with four licence options:

The first is a choice of two Precision Essentials Hardware Kits comprising of either a G5 or G5 Plus Display, along with StarFire 7500 Receiver and JDLink M or R Modem.

G5 family and G5 Advanced package. They also have the option to upgrade any licence at any point during the year, providing real choice and flexibility to adapt to their everchanging circumstances.

“Precision Essentials really changes the way farmers think about the feasibility of implementing PA technologies and how often they can upgrade to better systems,” Bell says.

“By offering a choice of buying everything upfront as they do now, or alternatively purchasing Precision Essentials, customers can tailor to their own operation at a lower initial cost.

“The new options also provide customers newer to precision ag technology the opportunity to try a technology and then expand as it fits their farm.”

The other is a choice of four renewable software licenses, with no commitment to purchase future licences.

These are:

• AutoTrac licence

• E ssentials licence for AutoTrac, Section Control and RowSense

• E ssentials plus SF-RTK

• Advanced Licence with SF-RTK, AutoTrac Implement Guidance, AutoTrac Turn Automation, AutoPath, In-field Data Sharing, Satellite Maps and Machine Sync.

Customers will be able to incorporate all the software updates that come with the

“Every farmer is at a different point on the PA journey, and for Australian agriculture to realise its full potential, it’s important that new pathways are provided for farmers to benefit from new technologies – Precision Essentials does just that,” Bell says.

New and old

The offering is not limited to new machinery buyers.

Through the Precision Essentials program, farmers will also be able to retrofit legacy machines with the most up-to-date technology and to bring them in line with modern requirements.

Farmers with equipment that is not John Deere can even opt into Precision

John Deere’s Precision Essentials kit comes with a choice of core hardware to suit what’s right for individual operations

Essentials to introduce industry-leading tech to any machine.

“Our goal is to help farmers, regardless of farm size, crop or livestock operation, incorporate the PA technology that’s right for their farm,” Bell says.

can tackle the challenge of improving uptake of innovation and the reality is that many farmers only use the elements of the technology they most need, or are most comfortable with, or is most affordable.

The Precision Essentials program was rolled out for the first time in the United States last year and Bell says it has proven incredibly popular across all types of farming operations and commodity types.

“The popularity stems from farmers who opt for Precision Essentials being rewarded with lower entry costs on their Precision Ag core hardware, which enables them to grow their Precision Ag capabilities in line with their business requirements,” he says.

“It’s very exciting to now be able to bring this innovative approach to farmers across Australia and New Zealand.

“We’ve listened closely to our customers and given a lot of thought as to how we

“By lowering the cost of hardware allowing farmers to choose a package of most benefit to their business, farmers can optimise their investment in PA.

“And the adaptability ensures the initial investment continues to provide value as technology gets better over time, supporting long-term goals such as expanding acreage, enhancing crop diversity or integrating advanced systems.”

Renewable licences

Precision Essentials marks a significant change in the John Deere business by now incorporating low entry level hardware cost coupled with renewable, scalable software licences.

“In the worst cases, some farmers avoid

PA technologies altogether because they find it either too daunting or too expensive, or both,” Bell says.

“By shifting to offer one tech bundle with one low upfront cost, and by selecting what software options your need for your farm, is a big step forward for growers.”

Bell says John Deere is providing greater support to assist farmers to increase productivity and efficiencies in taking up PA technologies that create the greatest impact on their farm.

“Precision Essentials is all about supporting farmers at every stage of the technology adoption by providing choices to easily take the next step by embracing the John Deere system designed especially for their needs,” he says.

Farmers will see immediate benefits in the form of financial savings, Bell says, while the increased technology utilisation delivers against John Deere’s goal of its customers being the most sustainable and efficient in the world.

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Fab four

Using a combination of four machines from the Claas silage range means farmers can experience the benefits associated with high-quality silage

The last thing any farmer wants is for their hard work to be in vain, with inadequate machinery compromising output.

The flow-on effects can be significant and in the case of silage making, the financial implications are just one aspect.

Poor quality silage can impact animal health and performance, along with lowering the farm’s sustainability.

Silage making can be a complex and delicate process which requires considerable care and attention to detail, as one wrong move can significantly reduce the end product’s quality and undermine much of the work completed.

One of the best ways to ensure any job on the farm runs as smoothly as possible is to use the best quality machinery, with every piece working perfectly in sync.

Claas machinery is available to handle every step of the silage making process

– with a combination of four products helping to cover everything a farmer needs.

The four weapons in Claas’ arsenal are the Disco mower, Liner rake, Jaguar forage harvester and Torion wheel loader.

By using these together, farmers can tackle silage season knowing they have the tools to produce high quality silage and experience all the benefits this brings.

Step by step

The challenges associated with silage making begin at the first step, as it must be chopped at the correct moisture and maturity.

This can be done with the Disco mower.

Offering clean cuts at high speeds thanks in part to its Max Cut mower bar, the Disco also has an innovative bolt concept which provides maximum impact resistance.

Correctly setting and height adjusting the mower will help to avoid soil contamination and subsequent silage damage.

One feature of the Claas Disco mower is its Active Float hydraulic system, which helps to ensure consistency in the cut height, while it also offers excellent ground contour following.

Another machine which can be added into the mix is Claas’ Volto tedder, something which helps to significantly increase wilting prior to raking and therefore maintains as much nutritional quality in the silage as possible.

The next step after mowing is raking –and Claas offers the Liner for this purpose.

Offering 3D ground contour following and tine adjustments means it is well equipped to ensure contaminant-free forage.

Its continuously lubricated and tightly

Claas products can help farmers at silage time

MACHINERY

sealed swathing drive is another feature, along with the Profix tine arm bracket which attaches securely and is easily replaceable.

After raking comes the all-important harvesting, which is where Claas’ Jaguar forage harvester comes in.

It is also during the harvest process where the benefit of all machines working together becomes even clearer.

Using the Disco mower and Liner rake successfully means farmers will have good silage, chopped at the correct time and free from contamination.

When harvested at a time when the crop is over-mature, mould and yeast growth can occur in the silage due to too much air being trapped behind the dry material.

Furthermore, the harvest should be com pleted within 24 to 36 hours after mowing, as nutrient value declines as the silage sits on the paddock awaiting harvest.

During fermentation, understanding the processes which occur and getting these right is crucial towards achieving silage success.

A slow and inefficient fermentation process can lead to nutrient losses and spoilage, significantly reducing the silage quality regardless of how good the original crop is.

37 additive applicator technology which controls flow rates and application and provides on-the-go response to varying

Once harvested, the next crucial step is to achieve a well-compacted silage pit. Sealing the stack as soon as harvesting

Using a Torion wheel loader helps to compact the silage pit

is completed is crucial, as this will prevent air from entering.

Using the Claas Torion wheel loader will help to achieve this.

The versatile and powerful unit offers a Smart Loading feature which speeds up loading cycles and also enhances

handling efficiency, something which is advantageous when trying to get silage compacted as quickly as possible.

Available with either hydrostatic or infinitely variable ZF transmission, the Torion provides precision and agility along with a comfortable and intuitive cabin.

Reaping rewards

By carefully timing every step of the silage making process and carrying it out effectively thanks to the Claas machinery range, the end result will be high quality silage.

This will lead to numerous benefits.

Maximising the available nutrients means the livestock consuming the silage will have optimal health and are less likely to experience issues related to poor feed.

It is also more palatable and digestible for the animals, leading to a higher feed intake.

This also reduces the need for expensive supplemental feeds, reducing input costs for farmers.

Good quality silage without spoilage also means less feed is wasted, as it is both more desirable for the livestock and preserves better which enables it to be a consistent feed supply during the year.

Healthier animals also lead to better financial returns for farmers due to livestock reaching market weight more quickly and economically.

Claas machinery is available in Australia through Landpower and Claas Harvest Centre, with the full range online at www.claasharvestcentre.com

The Jaguar forage harvester is a key component of the Claas range

A combination of Claas machinery is available to aid silage production

Perfect pair

Two Hercules loaders have not only made a difference for a Queensland business, but also resulted in an invaluable relationship with Brisbane Mini Excavator Sales

Family-owned and operated Innisfail Machinery and Engineering Company (IMEC) has built a reputation for developing positive and long-standing relationships over 50 years, with no better example of this than its rapport with Brisbane Mini Excavator Sales (BMES).

IMEC’s roots lie as an engineering workshop and agricultural machinery supplier, but it has since transformed over the years into a major player in North Queensland’s construction industry.

Still based in Innisfail today, IMEC offers a variety of services, including agriculture works, civil contracting, plant hire, roadbuilding, and the supply of bulk raw materials, to name a few.

“We’re a business that’s evolved over a long time, while remaining in the same location in Innisfail,” owner Mick Buzolich says.

Buzolich’s first interaction with fellow family-owned and operated business BMES – Australia’s exclusive dealer of Hercules loaders – came around five years ago when he was looking to purchase a new wheel loader.

Travelling down to Brisbane, Buzolich was immediately impressed with not just the machinery in stock but also the knowledge of the friendly BMES team, especial-

ly sales representative Ross Ricca.

Like Buzolich, Ricca has experience as a civil contractor and is an ex-farmer from North Queensland, who has worked with agricultural and construction machines for more than 35 years.

This experience was a key reason that he was able to understand Buzolich’s

answers about the eventual purchase.

“Ross is a down to earth guy, he was very honest with me, and he told us how it is,” Buzolich says.

“I felt that he was being truthful, and it turns out that he was. This was important because relationships are everything to me.

Buzolich purchased the loaders from BMES due to their price-point and a positive interaction with the team. Image: BMES

people, things go well, so I carry that philosophy into IMEC and with our clients.”

Top deal

One of the biggest factors that stood out for Buzolich about the Hercules loaders was the price point, which he says was much more competitive than some of the other options he was looking at on the market.

As a result of the already positive interaction with Ricca and the bonus of the machines’ affordability, Buzolich procured not one, but two Hercules H1050 wheel loaders.

“The two Hercules loaders cost me less than it would to purchase one loader from a big brand OEM,” Buzolich says.

“Previously, every time I bought something that I deemed was a good deal, I sort of kicked myself when I realised I should have bought two.”

Since acquiring both 10.5-tonne machines, IMEC has been using the Hercules H1050 models to load raw materials for

once there is excess material on the road, the 147.5hp (110kW) Hercules machines will load and unload it on a truck.

After a truck has delivered the re-sheet and tipped it into a stockpile, Buzolich says the re-sheet is loaded into a body truck, which then spreads it out along the road.

“The Hercules loaders have been very good for us,” he says.

“They’re fit for our purpose, not to mention they have very good speed on the road as well – they’re very quick.”

With a dumping height of up to 3.2m, Buzolich has also been impressed with the

reach of both machines, making it easier to load trucks in tight positions.

“When the bucket crowds, it holds all the material, so it doesn’t spill out,” he says.

The 1.5 cubic metre bucket capacity, 3-tonne rated load and the hydraulic quick hitch on each machine have also been standouts for Buzolich.

Ongoing relationship

Having used both machines now for several years, Buzolich couldn’t be happier with his purchase decision.

Besides their quality performance, procurement of the loader pair has also

resulted in an invaluable relationship with Ricca and the rest of the BMES team.

“Ross will often give me a call and tell me he’s coming up to field days near us, so we’ll always go see him,” Buzolich says.

“When I go down to the Gold Coast and Brisbane I’ll always try and visit him too.”

Given the long distance between Innisfail and Brisbane, Buzolich has been pleasantly surprised with how smooth BMES’ aftersales support has been.

This was originally something that worried him, as he thought it would be hard to get spare parts quickly. However, he was quickly proven wrong, with BMES supply-

The Hercules H1050 loaders are powered by a 110kW (147.5hp) engine. Image: BMES

ing required parts fast and effectively.

“The location difference played on my mind a bit, but Ross has made sure it’s been easy to get spare parts,” Buzolich says.

“The biggest key for me with my machinery is having spare parts available, and BMES always does.”

When asked if there was potential to purchase more machinery from BMES in the future, Buzolich was straight to the point.

“Absolutely we will. If I’m going to buy anything, I ask Ross what he has in stock, and if he can help me,” he says.

“Ross is down to earth, truthful, and the whole BMES team has got plenty of knowledge of the industry.”

For more information on the Hercules H1050 wheel loaders, visit www.brisbaneminiexcavators.com.au or call (07) 3807 4333.

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Slow start

A slower than expected start to 2025 for agricultural machinery sales goes against hopes of early improvement, the Tractor and Machinery Association says

The new year has begun in subdued fashion for tractor sales, with around 550 units sold nationwide in January.

This is around 15 per cent below the same month last year and goes against what was a hope for improvement in sales.

Dealers have been reporting that order enquiry has been solid, but with extreme weather conditions being felt in various parts of the country it is perhaps no surprise that deliveries were down.

Expectations of a flattening out of sales remain as the industry tries to not place too much emphasis on one month’s num-

Looking at the state-by-state picture, all states were down for the month except for Queensland and Tasmania.

Queensland was 3 per cent ahead of January 2024’s sales, while Tasmania was up by 25 per cent.

New South Wales was 10 per cent behind for the month while Victoria reported a massive drop of 35 per cent.

Sales in Western Australia were off 25 per cent against the same month last year.

South Australia had another decline of 16 per cent, with sales in the Northern Territory finishing 13 per cent down compared to last January.

Sales in each of the reporting categories were off this month except for the small, under 40hp (under 30kw) category which was up 11 per cent.

The 40hp to 100hp (30-75kw) range was down by 2 per cent, while the 100hp to 200hp (75-150 kw) category reported a drop of 33 per cent.

Finally, the 200hp plus (150kw plus) range was 42 per cent down compared to the same month last year.

It was not just tractors that did it tough. Sales of combine harvesters have begun the year slowly, ending 35 per cent behind last January.

With less than 700 combines sold last year, the industry is certainly hoping for a better year in 2025.

Gary Northover is executive director of the Tractor & Machinery Association of Australia (TMA). He can be contacted on (03) 9813 8011 or at gary@tma.asn.au

Baler sales were well down in the month and finished 57 per cent behind January 2024’s figures.

Finally, sales of out-front mowers were also down 30 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Planning for the 2025 TMA conference, which will be held at the Hyatt Essendon Fields in Melbourne on Thursday July 24, is under way.

The TMA has released its sponsorship prospectus, which gives interested companies a great chance to get involved.

For more details about the conference, visit www.tma.asn.au or follow the association on Facebook and LinkedIn

Small tractors were the one category to record a rise in January. Image: indyedge/stock.adobe.com

Private eye

WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington says privatisation of state government assets – if done correctly – could unlock funding to develop regional areas

By now, most farmers will have heard that the State Labor Government is “flying the kite” on taking back ownership of WA’s rail network.

For some, the idea of reviving a government-run rail system is a dream come t rue.

For others, especially those who remember the old Westrail, the idea brings back memories of bloated inefficiency, endless strikes, and bureaucratic mismanagement.

T he odd thing about rural Western Australia’s attitude toward privatisation is how conflicted it remains.

There’s a solid section that retain a deep suspicion - if not outright hostility - towards government, yet a surprising number still cling to the idea that natural monopolies should remain state-owned.

“We need to ‘keep the family silver’,” they tell me, “so the profits flow back to the people,” not that there is much silver left with these families.

They have either sold it off long ago to invest in more farms or sold it off because they went broke waiting for the government to save their farm.

The problem with this thinking is that it assumes government ownership guarantees better service, lower prices, and long-term economic security.

Yet the long sad broken history of staterun monopolies suggests otherwise.

If state control is really the answer, why stop at buying back the railways? Let’s take back the airports, the banks, the ports, the power stations, the pipelines, not to mention the phone networks.

It was not until the 1990s and early 2000s, that the federal government managed to begin the process of selling off major assets, and in turn the state government followed suit.

The argument was simple: competition would deliver better services, lower prices, and remove the dead hand of government interference.

In most cases privatisation has been an outstanding success, for instance Qan-

tas, CSL and the Commonwealth Bank would never have been as successful if they had remained government owned.

In other cases such as the airports, Westrail and Telstra, the failure to set a competitive regulatory model and the greed of the government of the day to maximise the sale price at the expense of future investment has seen their new corporate owners milk the asset for all its worth, while investing the minimum they can get away with.

Today, privatisation has undeniably improved efficiency, but it hasn’t always delivered competition or lower prices.

In many cases, we’ve simply swapped public monopolies for private ones and the only real difference is that the profits now go to shareholders instead of union-backed payrolls.

Still, at least the trains run on time, the airports function, and the gas keeps flowing - something that wasn’t always guaranteed when unions had the power to bring everything to a standstill with annual strikes.

Yet, despite the success of privatisation at the Commonwealth level of generating cash to help wipe out Australia’s debt a nd free up cash for future investment in roads and hospitals, the Western Australian government still clings to a few legacy assets - Western Power, Fremantle Port, and Water Corporation - collectively worth around $20 billion.

The anti-privatisation crowd argues that these should never be sold, lest WA be held to ransom by the corporates, but they seem to forget about being held to ransom by the unions.

The reason privatisation has sometimes failed isn’t because the private sector is greedy. It’s because governments are. Instead of structuring sales to maximise long-term investment and competition, state governments have treated privatisation like a fire sale - grabbing as much cash upfront as possible while failing to set the rules to ensure the assets are properly developed.

Imagine if WA had sold its state rail network for $1 instead of $585 million in 2000, but on the condition that the buyer was required to reinvest and upgrade the entire system to world-class standards. We wouldn’t be having this debate.

If Perth Airport had been sold for $1 instead of $643 million, with an ironclad requirement to build a third runway, we wouldn’t have a bottleneck at takeoff.

If the Dampier-to-Bunbury gas pipeline had been sold for $1 instead of a hefty price tag, but with a mandate to duplicate the line to ensure future capacity, we’d have avoided years of supply constraints.

And if Fremantle Port had been sold for $1, with a binding agreement to build a fully automated, multi-user deepwater port, WA would be the most efficient trade hub in the Southern Hemisphere.

Governments hold all the cards when they privatise assets, yet they continually play them badly. Instead of using their power to secure long-term benefits, they cave to short-term budget fixes - selling off assets for top dollar to patch up finances rather than structuring deals that ensure competition and reinvestment.

When the inevitable happens—when the rail network falls into disrepair, airport expansions stall, or port fees skyrocket—the very politicians who botched t he sale in the first place turn around and blame the private sector.

State-run enterprises are just as ruthless at price gouging as private ones - only w ith bigger bureaucracies, more inefficiency, and even less accountability.

Trevor Whittington is CEO of WAFarmers

Meanwhile, out in the Wheatbelt, the demand for government investment in infrastructure is deafening.

Nobody wants to talk about where the money is actually going to come from. It’s certainly not coming from higher fees and charges - no one wants those.

It’s not coming from a land tax - because that’s political suicide. And it’s not coming from payroll tax - because everyone agrees that should be abolished, right alongside stamp duty.

So where exactly is this magic pot of

infrastructure funding hiding?

Because unless someone is willing to make the hard call - whether that means selling off state assets or finding new revenue sources - all we’ll get is another decade of political lip service while regional WA keeps falling further behind.

Meanwhile, billions of dollars sit in state-owned utilities, money that could upgrade regional infrastructure.

So where is the money going to come from? The obvious answer is to sell off the remaining ‘family silver’ assets and

redirect the money to where it’s needed.

State-owned utilities should, in theory, be reinvesting their profits into the very infrastructure rural WA needs. If they aren’t, what’s the point of keeping them?

Either they should be sold and the capital reinvested in regional WA, or they should be forced to put their bloated profits back into the network. There is no logical case for the government to sit on highly profitable monopolies while farmers watch another decade of underinvestment roll by.

Events Calendar

Here are upcoming field day and agricultural events for 2025. Information was current as of going to press.

Farm World –Lardner Park, Vic

Farm World attracts more than 40,000 visitors every year as a premier agricultural field day and lifestyle event that has been running since 1963.

As Gippsland’s largest annnual field day with over 100 acres of exhibitor displays inside and out, Farm World has something for everyone.

When: March 27-29, 2025

More info: www.lardnerpark.com.au/ farmworld

Toowoomba Royal Show –Toowoomba, Qld

The Toowoomba Royal Show is an unrivalled production of the very best in entertainment and agriculture displays on the Darling Downs since 1860.

Every year has new entertainment so bring the whole family and enjoy world class acts, competitions and exhilarating rides in sideshow alley.

When: March 27-29, 2025

More info: www.toowoombashow.com.au/ royal-show

Seymour Alternative Farming Expo – Seymour, Vic

Held in the heart of Victoria at Kings Park, Seymour, the Expo features approximately 500 exhibitors and attracts 20,000 visitors across three days. Explore the latest technology, practices and trends in small and backyard farming, visit the animals and enjoy the market style shopping, food and entertainment.

When: April 4-6, 2025

More info: www.seymourexpo.com.au

Northern Australia Food Futures ConferenceDarwin, NT

The Northern Australia Food Futures Conference is Australia’s leading conference on agricultural development in the North. Held in Darwin, Northern Territory, the program features over 50 national and international speakers, workshops, farm visits and technical sessions on cotton, grains, horticulture, fodder, forestry and niche crops.

When: April 8-9, 2025

More info: foodfuturesntfarmers.org. au

East Gippsland Field Days –Bairnsdale, Vic

An iconic event on the East Gippsland calendar, this Bairnsdale-based field day has proudly been run by the Lindenow Lions Club since its inception in 1986. With over 350 exhibitor spaces and numerous quality promotions at the Field Days, East Gippsland is not one to miss.

When: April 11–12, 2025

More info: www.egfielddays.com.au

Sydney Royal Easter Show –Sydney, NSW

First held in 1823, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s largest annual ticketed event, attracting over 850,000 attendees on average. Revenue generated by it allows the Royal Agricultural Society to invest

in agricultural programs, competitions, education, youth and rural NSW.

When: April 11-22, 2025

More info: www.eastershow.com.au

Agfest - Carrick, Tas

Agfest is a multi-award winning event and offers an excellent opportunity for your business to showcase its products to thousands of people. Operating for over 35 years, Agfest is a Tasmanian success story that injects millions of dollars into the local economy every year.

When: May 1-3, 2025

More info: www.agfest.com.au

Tocal Field Days - Tocal, NSW

Highly regarded for its educational aspect, Tocal Field Days provides an opportunity each year for landholders and the community to see first-hand a range of livestock and animal handling and husbandry skills. The site also features a large land management area that provides great information on caring for our environment, looking after our native animals and managing feral pests that threaten our landscape.

When: May 2-4, 2025

More info: www.tocalfielddays.com

Primex Field DaysCasino, NSW

Positioned as being ‘Australia’s sustainable farming expo’, Norco Primex has evolved from a localised event to become one of the country’s leading primary industries expos. It now boasts in excess of 1,000 different companies on show and more than 25,000 visitors across its three days.

When: May 15-17, 2025

More info: www.primex.net.au

Mildura Field DaysMildura, Vic

Mildura Field Days are two full days of the best that the region has to offer as well as the latest in agricultural machinery and innovation. Agriculturally-focused exhibitors are joined by new exhibitors forming a wide range of appeal including local food & wine, health and beauty and more. Events include live music, presentations and kids’ activities.

When: May 16-17, 2025

More info: www.mildurafielddays. com.au

Bellingen Show - Bellingen, NSW

Begun in 1881, the Bellingen Show is a yearly event that brings together members from throughout the community providing a venue for both young and old to showcase their unique skills and talents through traditional agricultural events, the exhibition of agricultural produce, arts and crafts, and top class local entertainment.

When: May 24-25, 2025

More info: www.bellingenshow.com.au

Casino Beef WeekCasino, NSW

Casino Beef Week is an annual celebration of this iconic Australian industry and the rural way of life. Taking place over 12 days, the festival provides entertainment, education and

an authentic country experience for the whole family. With over 100 vibrant events to enjoy, there is no shortage of fun things to see and do.

When: May 24-June 1. 2025

More info: www.casinobeefweek. com.au

Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day - Gidgegannup, WA

Countryman Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day is the place where those living and working on small farms in the agricultural sector can come together at the one time to view and compare from a selection of products and services designed for efficient farming and rural practices.

When: May 25, 2025

More info: www.gidgegannup.info/ small-farm-field-day/

Rotary FNQ Field DaysMareeba, Qld

The Rotary FNQ Field Days has grown exponentially since its conception in the mid-1980s. Held over three days on a biennial basis, the award-winning field days is the largest community event on the Tablelands and all monies raised are donated to charities and community organisations in the Atherton Tablelands area.

When: May 28–30, 2025

More info: www.fnqfielddays.com.au

FarmFest - Toowoomba, Qld

Elders FarmFest is Queensland’s largest premier primary field day. More than

2,500 individual companies and organisations will come to together to exhibit everything from ATVs and boom sprayers to grain driers, harvesters and rock pickers.

When: June 3-5, 2025

More info: www.acmruralevents.com. au/farmfest/home

Hort ConnectionsBrisbane, Qld

Hort Connections is an opportunity for networking, education and business for the entire fresh produce industry. Speakers and exhibitors will showcase the latest research, technologies, and innovations to offer new perspectives on the future of Australasia’s horticulture industry. The 2025 edition will be held in Brisbane.

When: June 4-6, 2025

More info: www.hortconnections. com.au

Fieldays - Mystery Creek, New Zealand

Whether you are from in town or out in the country, a Fieldays veteran or visiting for the first time, Fieldays has something for everyone. From the latest agricultural technology and ground breaking innovations, to shopping, competitions and demonstrations, live shows and tasty food prepared by some of New Zealand’s top chefs, Fieldays showcases the best of New Zealand’s primary industries.

When: June 11-14, 2025

More info: www.fieldays.co.nz

Visit tradefarmmachinery.com.au/agricultural-and-rural-field-days-calendar

Lardner Park in Warragul will again host Farm World later this month

Skills pairing

Prime Creative Media has joined with WorldSkills Australia as its Official Media Partner, helping to promote the achievements of talented students

WorldSkills Australia is thrilled to announce Prime Creative Media –publisher of Farms & Farm Machinery magazine – as its Official Media Partner in a collaboration set to amplify the visibility and impact of skills excellence nationwide.

This partnership will play a pivotal role in promoting the talent, dedication, and achievements of competitors, trainers, and industry leaders involved in WorldSkills Australia’s competitions and initiatives.

Developing synergies

Prime Creative Media chief operations officer Christine Clancy said the company

was “excited about the synergies this partnership offers between Prime Creative Media, Australia’s largest B2B publishing company, and the country’s leading trade skills competition, WorldSkills.”

“Prime Creative Media is committed to the growth of the industries we serve and WorldSkills is an organisation that demonstrates some of the best future trade skills t hat are vital to those industries’ growth,” she says.

“WorldSkills organises a range of exciting events at state, national and right up to the international skills competition, to be held in Shanghai in 2026.

“These showcase trade skills at their best.

“We look forward to telling the stories of

these young competitors, whose passion and dedication to their craft and honing their skills are great role models for future careers in those industries.”

Driving awareness

With the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Show set to take place at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, this partnership will ensure comprehensive media coverage of the event.

Prime Creative Media will leverage its platforms to showcase competitor journeys, training excellence, and the broader impact of WorldSkills Australia on industries and communities nationwide.

Australian Car Mechanic editor Harry Murtough, WorldSkills Australia communications lead Alicia Murray, WorldSkills Australia CEO Trevor Schwenke, Prime Creative Media managing editor Eugene Duffy and National Collision Repairer business development manager Michael Ingram. Image: WorldSkills Australia

Slow start

A slower than expected start to 2025 for agricultural machinery sales goes against hopes of early improvement, the Tractor and Machinery Association says

The Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia has launched a new Careers Awareness Campaign, which is aimed at showcasing the diverse and dynamic career opportunities within the agricultural machinery industry.

The campaign aims to attract young people by breaking down industry stereotypes and demonstrating that careers in agricultural machinery can be technology-driven, creative, and highly innovative.

It features a series of 12 compelling video stories from professionals across Australia, highlighting their unique backgrounds and career journeys.

TMA executive director Gary Northover says this initiative is important in changing perceptions about the industry.

“Many people assume that working in agricultural machinery means being out in the field or having a farming background,” he says.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. This industry is home to roles in technology, design, sales, marketing, engineering, and many other fields, with opportunities in both rural and city locations.”

The individuals within the campaign come from varied backgrounds – including some with no prior connection to agriculture – proving that it is an industry for everyone.

“This campaign is about broadening

horizons,” Northover says.

“Whether you’re interested in cutting-edge robotics, software development, sustainable engineering, or business leadership, there is a place for you in this sector.

“These stories highlight the rewarding and progressive career paths available.”

The videos will be distributed via TMA’s website and social media platforms, reaching students, job seekers, and career changers across Australia.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.tma.asn.au/careers

Rocky River Ag Services

Best of blue

New Zealand was well represented at New Holland’s dealer of the year awards, but it was a multi-state group which took out the main prize

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand have come together for the dealer of the year awards, which recognises the top-performing dealerships across the company’s network.

The coveted New Holland dealer of the year award for dealerships with three or more outlets went to AEH Group.

The annual awards recognise top performance and commitment to customer success, with New Holland saying AEH Group embodies dedication to customer care and outcomes.

AEH Group dealer principal David Thompson says the recognition was another feather in the cap for the team, having fostered tangible relationships with farmers.

“Thank you very much to the New Holland team, it’s a great honour to receive this award,” he says.

“We built the business on the parts and service side on the back end - that’s where we achieved our great results.

“It’s been a fantastic group effort. We’re looking forward to a great future in agri-

culture with New Holland.”

eastern states, located in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Across the ditch

New Zealand dealership Stevenson & Taylor received the dealer of the year title for dealerships with one or two outlets.

It was a double success, also receiving the inaugural award for CNH Dealer of the Year – which covers dealerships that represent multiple CNH brands.

“I’m still struggling to believe that this has happened – we’re absolutely stoked to receive this award,” general manager Robby Smith says.

“The whole New Holland team has been an awesome help. We all run as a team, and it’s a really good feeling to all be striving towards the same goal.”

Fellow New Zealand dealer, Agricentre South, was named New Holland parts and service dealer of the year, with dealer principal Grant Price accepting the award.

Vater Machinery from South Australia took out the CNH Capital New Holland dealer of the year award.

“We’re going through a lean time with droughts,” dealer principal Roger Vater says.

“CNH Capital is there to look after the customer through the good and the bad times. It’s made a very big difference to our business and the communication that we now have with our customers.”

Aaron Bett, CNH agriculture business director for Australia and New Zealand, congratulated the award recipients and commended them for their outstanding dedication and service.

“Our ANZ network of more than 100 dealerships embody the New Holland promise to farmers of being ’with you season after season’,” he says.

Images: New Holland

AEH Group celebrates its win in the New Holland dealer awards

New Zealand’s Stevenson & Taylor claimed two awards at the event

Winners named

Dealerships from around Australia, along with New Zealand, claimed victories at Case IH’s annual dealer awards

Case IH has celebrated its outstanding dealers of the past year at a gala ceremony at the Western Sydney Conference Centre.

Held during the brand’s annual dealer conference, the top awards went to a mix of Australian and New Zealand Case IH dealerships.

Boekeman Machinery in Western Australia took home the award for dealers with three branches or more, while St George Machinery Centre in Queensland claimed the title for dealers with one or two branches.

Case IH’s parts and service dealer of the year was Three Rivers Machinery from New South Wales, while Kenway & Clark, which has dealerships in NSW and Queensland, claimed the CNH Capital Case IH dealer of the year award.

For the first time, there was also an award for CNH Dealer of the Year.

This awards was taken out by Stevenson & Taylor, which has dealerships on New Zealand’s north island.

Case IH says its dealer of the year results are based on multiple different criteria, including finance and business management, performance in sales and marketing, and parts and service, a precision technology focus, and total market share.

Aaron Bett, CNH’s agriculture business director for Australia and New Zealand, congratulated the winners and highlighted their outstanding efforts and commitment to Case IH and its customers.

“It’s no surprise these dealers have risen to the top in the past 12 months, all of them

demonstrating a standard of service and performance that CNH is very proud of and which customers welcome and have come to expect from such highly skilled, knowledgeable and passionate dealer teams,” he says.

“Boekeman Machinery, St George Machinery Centre, Kenway & Clark and Three Rivers Machinery have all worked hard in recent years to raise the bar on business excellence.

“Kenway & Clark and Three Rivers Machinery have also undergone significant expansions and it’s gratifying to see them rewarded for their efforts.

“We’re also excited to introduce the new award, CNH Dealer of the Year, and to have it won by one of our New Zealand dealers, after such big changes for our brands in New Zealand in the past few years, is really outstanding.

“Stevenson & Taylor is a well-respected name in the north island, building a very successful dealership with a very loyal customer base,” he says.

Winners speak

Boekeman Machinery – the overall winner for dealerships with three branches or more – is located in the Western Australian towns of Brookton, Dalwallinu, Northam, Wongan Hills and Dowerin.

Dealer principal Tim Boekeman says it was a privilege to accept the award on behalf of his entire team.

“I’d really like to thank our team for all of their wonderful efforts – this award really

“All of the effort that they put in, all the hard work, the afterhours calls that they’re taking for our clients to deliver parts and service. I’d also like to thank Bruce Healy, Dean Smart, Glen Fraser and Steve Ogden for all of their support, we’re really grateful for them.”

St George Machinery Centre – tie winner for dealerships with one or two branches –is located in St George, Queensland.

Branch manager Cameron Small says it was a great honour to be recognised for the award, and a credit to his team.

“It’s all a team effort really, we’ve got a great team that work very well together and are passionate about what they do,” he says.

“Our CNH reps are a big help too, and of course, a big thank you to our clients and customers.”

Bruce Healy, Glen Fraser and Dean Smart from CNH, and Andrew Boekeman, Ben Boekeman, Tim Boekeman and Dillan Elliot from Boekeman Machinery.

Dale Holmes and Karl Harvey from CNH, Graham Willan and Robby Smith from Stevenson and Taylor, and Jean-Pierre Van Heerden, Craig Hodgetts and David Knowles from CNH. Images: Case IH

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7840, 8430, 8560, 8870, 8970, 9482, 9682, 9860, 9880, 9882, 9482, 9484, G210, G240, L85, L95, T6020, T7030, TG230, TG235, TG255, TG285, TJ375, TJ425, TJ450, TL70, TL90, TM125, TM135, TM195, TN55D, TN95F, TS100, TS100A, TS110A, TS125A, T9060

STEIGER

KP525, KP 1350, KP1325, KP1400, BEARCAT 3 & 4, COUGAR 2 & 4 CM250, PANTHER 2, PANTHER 3 ST310 & ST325, PANTHER 4 CM325, TIGER ST470,

VERSATILE

500, 700, 800, 835, 836, 855, 875, 895, 900, 935, 945, 946, 950, 956, 975, 976, 1150, 1156

HYSTERH16.00XM-6 2010,lowhoursandin greatconditionwithMichelinXZMradialtyres, forkpositioningsideshiftand2,440mmForks. R3525. TA730601.

ForSaleorHirePOAPh:1800688788to Inspect

HYSTERH12.00XM 200811,740kg4500mm lift,sideshiftcarriageand2440mmforks.Hire orBuyFreeCall1800688788.R3405. TA369982. POA

HYSTERH18.00XM-12 withforkpositioning sideshiftcarriage,2440mmforks,Cummins engine,fullyenclosedairconditionedcabOption20x40sideliftcont.frame.R3632. TA1124211.

POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

KALMARDRT450-65S 2013,Stacksladen 20x40containers5high.CumminsQSM11 dieselengine.Dana15.5HR36000XMSN. H10300280. TA1153805.

ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

OMEGA16-12W Idealfurnitureremovalist solutionRated12,000kgwithELME558 sidesliftabletostackuptofourhigh20and40 footcontainers..353AUFL443. TA1154000. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

ISOLOADER21RubberTyreStraddleCarrier LoadUnloadandTravelwith32t20'andor27t 40'containers.Lowcostlightweight containerhandlerideal for lessrobust pavementorgoodhardstand.S113. TA1222701. POA

HYSTERH18.00XM-12 2008,stacks12,000kg highcube20'&40'3high.ELME55820x40 spreaderwithtopentrytwistlocks.Frontline unitreadynow.R3547. TA829125.

ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

ISOLOADERHL-PC-35 2006,Two(2) ISOLOADERPrecastConcreteHandling RubberTyreGantriesbuyoneorboth for tandemliftandtraveleachwithSWL 35,000kg.R3696R3697. TA1222670. POA

HYSTERH650C 6newContinentaltyres, Cummins6CTenginethisbudgetpriced forkliftisready for work.Option20'or20x40 toppickcontainerspreaders..R3712. TA1216675. ForSaleorHirePh1800688788POA

HYSTERH10.00XM 2006,Cumminsengine. WideForkPositioningSideshiftCarriage wouldsuitlongloadse.g.pipe.R3689. TA1216676. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

KALMARDRT450 2014,SOLD-Another Available.Only11081hourswithoriginal Cumminsengine.Stack45,000kg1strow 31,000kg2ndrow.ReadyNow.R3603. TA998021. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

PRENTICE7,000KGSWL forklifttruckramps (8)topickfrom.Ideal for shippingcontainers. Forsaleorhire.R3274. TA96974. $12,000+GST=$13,200ForSaleorHire

SKYJACKSJ3219 2014, 19'ElectricScissorlifts,severalmachinesoffered. 227kgliftcapacityallingoodcondition.Locatedin Brisbane,Melbourne&SydneyandintestfromJune untilOctober2024.Various. TA1019568

$5,000+GST=$5,500

SKYJACKSJ4632E'S 2014, 32'ElectricScissorlifts,2014models,5machines offered.317kgliftcapacity,allingoodcondition. LocatedinBrisbaneandMelbourne.Allmachinesnow outoftest.Various.S32113E-S32119E. TA1160080

$7,000+GST=$7,700

GENIEGS2669BE GenieHybridDiesel/Electric Scissorlifts,10machinesavailable,intestuntil2027. These are RoughTerrainelectricmachineswithadiesel generatortoprovidepowerwhenrequired.Witha 680kgSWLanda1.5metreextensiondeck,locatedin BrisbaneandSydney.S26357BEN-S26366BEN. TA1204796

$17,000+GST=$18,700

JLG600AJ'S 2012, 60'JLG4WDDieselKnuckleBooms.4machinesoffered andallmachines are nowoutoftest.Machines are locatedinBrisbaneandSydney.Various. KB6070G7-KB6083G7. TA1160083

$38,000+GST=$41,800

SKYJACKSJ6832RT4X4 SkyjackDiesel4x4 Scissorlifts,8machinesavailable,intestuntil2025. These are trueRoughTerrainmachineswitha454kg SWLanda1.5metreextensiondeck,locatedin BrisbaneandSydney.S32131-S32139. TA1258495

GENIEGS4047 2014-40'ElectricScissorlifts.5 machinesoffered.Thesemachinesdriveatfullheight witha350kgSWLanda910mmextensiondeck.All machinesoutoftest.MachinesinSydney,Melbourne& Brisbane..S4022E-S4026E. TA1258498

$9,500+GST=$10,450

SKYJACKSJ46AJ 46'4WDDieselKnuckleBooms.4 unitsavailable,allwitha227kgliftcapacityandin goodcondition.MachineslocatedinMelbourne, NewcastleandBrisbane.Allmachines are nowoutof test.KB4639-KB4647. TA1160082

$25,000+GST=$27,500

SKYJACKSJ45T 2014, 45'DieselStickBooms.4unitsavailableandallintest untilJuly/August.Equippedwith7kVaon-board generatorsandOEMSecondaryGuarding,aswellas drivesensingsteering,allowingtheOperatortoalways steeranddriveforwards.LocatedinBrisbaneand Newcastle.B45136G7P-B45139G7P. TA1216664

$35,000+GST=$38,500

CTETRACCESS230E 2017, TRACCESS230E-23mElectricSpiderLift.Equipped withnon-markingtracks,outriggersandanextremely lowgroundbearingpressure,greatforhardtogetto areas. Ithasitsownbatterypowerorcanbepluggedin. 3machinesavailable(1withaLithiumBattery). SP6901P-SP6903PL. TA1228156

$70,000+GST=$77,000

Trophy cabinet

LK Diesel Services secured a prestigious award at last year’s EPG Engines Expert Dealer Conference, adding to the many honours it has received over the past two decades

Melbourne’s LK Diesel Services is renowned for reducing machine downtime through diagnosing engine faults and repairing the relative issue.

This is evidenced through the significant number of awards won by the Braeside-based business, which are proudly shown off at its headquarters.

Most recently, LK Diesel’s Michael Kuhlwind travelled to the other side of the country to accept an award at the 13th EPG Engines Expert Dealer Conference.

Held at Perth’s Optus Stadium last year, the event celebrated the achievements of EPG’s Kohler petrol and diesel engine dealers.

LK Diesel was presented the Best Overall Dealer award for its sales numbers over the 2023/2024 period, as well as its excellence in repairs and fault diagnosis throughout the year.

“It’s always great to be recognised,” Kuhlwind says.

“We’ve had plenty of engines come in and 99 per cent of the time we are able to fix a problem or supply a new one.”

This top honour holds even more value to LK Diesel knowing that it was competing against all the Kohler Diesel dealers from across the country.

Kuhlwind says the business has mainly

sold Kohler diesel engines for pumps, generators and small earthmoving equipment, such as mini excavators.

This includes Lombardini and Ruggerini,

which are now a part of the Kohler diesel engines family.

As a Kohler diesel expert dealer, LK Diesel knows these engines back to front – a large reason why it has been able to solve so many of its customers’ problems.

This expertise also comes down to experience – something that LK Diesel has in abundance.

“We’ve got many years of working experience, including our top collar mechanic, who has been with us for 20 years,” Kuhlwind says.

“We’re also factory trained, so we’ve travelled to Kohler EPG and they’ve come to us to do training courses together.”

For more information on Kohler Diesel engines, visit www.lkdiesel.com.au or call 03 9588 6900.

Michael Kuhlwind (middle) accepting the Best Overall Dealer award at the 13th EPG Engines Expert Dealer Conference. Image: EPG Engines

1.5TonneElectricReach.

2.5TonneBrandNewManual.PALLETJACK. DPLIn53187. $523

2.5TonneLPGForkliftWith4.59MetreLift ClearviewMast..P040. TA1207778. $13,200

EnforcerWalkie-ElectricTowTug(NO42).NO42. TA1198251. $5,500

2.5TonneLPGForkliftwith4.3MetreLift ContainerMast.P003. TA1206087. $13,200

HysterLPGForkliftsForHire! AsLittleas$100+GSTPerWeek!.D017. TA644792. $110

1.2tonneelectricwalkiereachtruckwith4.27 metrelift.N054. TA1178245. $13,200

viper. TA1160389. $21,450

19-29

SNORKELMHP13/35 2012,TrailerMounted articulatedboomliftfeatures asafeandstableworking heightofupto12.6m.Stillin hirefleet,verygood condition.S38.

$20,000+GST

SNORKELTB42JDZ 42fttelescopicboomlift. 4WDDiesel.S30. $15,000+GST

GENIEGS3268RT 4WDdiesel.Recently10 yearinspected,newpaint, goodreliablemachine. S35.

$25,000+GST

SNORKELPRO126 126ftstraightstickboom, diesel,4WD,working height40.2m,good workingcondition.S36. $30,000+GST

SNORKELSRT2770 RT 8.5mdieselscissorliftveryreliable,greatvalue. S8. $20,000+GST

JLG43FTRTSELF LEVELLINGDIESEL SCISSORLIFT VeryGoodValuefor money,tidymachine,still workinginourrentalfleet. S27.

$30,000+GST

SNORKELTB47J 47fttelescopicboomlift. 4WDdiesel.S31. $25,000+GST

JLG460SJ46FT STRAIGHTBOOMLIFT 4WDdiesel15mboomlift -goodsafeworkingorder. Stillworkinginrental fleet.S33. $15,000+GST

SNORKELAB50J 4WD Snorkel15mArticulation boomlift.S28. $18,000+GST

GENIEGS1932 GenieGS1932Electric Scissorlift.S29. $4,000+GST

NISSANPKC245 2003,GMJT24.250EWP,major5yr rebuilddoneJune2023($41KSpent),24mworking

BAUERMEISTERUT42/USCH 1978,BauermeisterGrinders are idealforfinegrindingofsugar,spices,grains(in pieces),gypsum,limestone.Thismachineis reconditionedandfittedwitha0.8mmscreenforultra fineproducts,comeswitha75kwmotor,103083.QLD. $29,500

CUSTOMBUILTNOMODEL

ExRestauranttable,perfectWorkshopBenchc/whighandlow sections.Solidsteel.Overlaywithasheetofplyfortheperfect workbench.850(W)x2700(TotalL),750(H-lowside),1100(HHighside),1250(L-Lowside),1450(L-Highside),HD Steel Bch. QLD. DIY1247630. 0418 883 962. $350

$220,000

INIAUSTRALIA31TONNEMOORINGWINCH 4x31TonneMooringWinch,LinePull1stlayer-31tonne,Brake Load-78tonne,Line,Speed1stlayer-10m/min,WireCapacity320mx52mm,DrumDiameter-820mm,DrumWidth-1018mm, OilFlow-270L/min,SystemPressure-150bar,Brake-Manual Type,Clutch-Hydraulicoperated,BaseDimensions-2,487mmx 1,960mm,Weight-8,500kgeach,IYJ77-315-320-52-C-PDL. WA. DIY1257361. 0409 993 002.

WASTEQUIPGL32120 2024,Underwarranty.neverused&inbrandnew condition.Unfortunatelynolongerrequired.Setup forproductdestructionthismachinecanhandle tyres,e-waste,pallets,drums,plastic,MSW/RDF, wood,bottlesandcans.Hydraulicdrivesystem, electricalcontrolpanelwithSiemensPLCControl Systemrequiring3phasepower. We canworkwith youtoarrangetransportandcommissioning, 240547.NSW. DIY1254597. 0498 500 509. $192,500

KERFAB BALE FORKS

DO THE HEAVY LIFTING

Kerfab’s bale forks are proudly designed and manufactured in Australia to withstand the harshest conditions, delivering exceptional durability, efficiency, and safety.

Trusted by professionals across Australia and New Zealand, Kerfab attachments provide the reliability and performance that top operations demand. Reach out to the Kerfab team or your machinery dealer today to experience the difference.