Australasian Farmers' & Dealers' Journal - November 2016

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NOVEMBER 2016

RURAL MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS, PARTS, VEHICLES AND TECHNOLOGY

MAKE A ‘TINY’ YOURS TODAY AND GET RESULTS!

ALSO INSIDE: THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE GRAINS BUSINESS - PAGE 17-18

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NOV EMB ER 2016 I N TH IS IS S U E Australasian Farmers’ & Dealers’ Journal Established 1984

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TMA NEWS

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FUTURE FARMING

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GRAIN FARM PERFORMANCE

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FIELD DAYS GUIDE

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WHAT'S NEW

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TILLAGE AND CROPPING

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ADVERTISER INDEX

Publisher & Managing Editor Hartley Higgins General Manager Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editorial David Upton Email: edit.afdj@ryanmediapl.com.au

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Advertising Manager Sue Craig Ph: 0407600282 Email: s.craig@ryanmediapl.com.au Creative Services Luke Westle Email: prod.afdj@ryanmediapl.com.au Circulation Email: admin.afdj@ryanmediapl.com.au

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FRO M THE EDI T O R

Grains growers our unsung heroes Grain growers have faded into the background in recent times, with media paying much more attention to booming cattle prices, innovative horticulture and political hot potatoes like the backpacker tax.

But a new report released with little fanfare last month by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) makes it clear that grain growers are the unsung heroes of agriculture in Australia. What’s more, farm machinery manufacturers and their dealers can take a bow as well, for developing many wonderful new tools that have made grain growers so productive.

The latest annual ABARES report on grain farm performance, covered on pages 17 and 18, shows that farmers who specialise in grain growing are doing much better than their neighbours running mixed crop-livestock, even when grain prices are low and beef prices are high.

And the more grain you plant, the better the numbers get.

Specialist grain farms are expected to achieve average cash income of $337,000 in 2015-16, compared to only $124,000 for the non-specialists. Return on investment (excluding any appreciation in land value) is tipped to rise to 4.3%, more than double the average return of nonspecialists of 2.0%.

When you compare these returns to ABARES’ numbers for beef farms, you get a whole new appreciation of the how smart are grain growers are working. The average return on investment by beef farms in 2015-16 was only 1.9%, and even that low figure is well above the 15-year average of 1.0% thanks to the current price boom.

Grain farmers are a humble lot, but maybe its time they made some noise about their achievements. It could improve their chances of government funding for the data networks and other infrastructure they desperately need to get to the next level of productivity. And they might also get the kudos they deserve.

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TMA NEWS Big tractor sales flying, but Victoria remains tough TMA News

With By Gary Northover, Executive Director TMA

AUSTRALIAN tractor sales are being led by the larger end at present, with sales in dollar terms now 10% up on an annual basis. The big ticket tractors above 200hp are experiencing boom conditions and the grain harvesters are getting set for a big season, up 11% for the month and 12% respectively on a year to date basis. Sales in South Australia enjoyed an increase of 5%, while sales in WA are in line with last year, despite being down slightly in September.

Overall, unit sales are tracking a volatile path at present, with September sales recording an across-the-board decline of 5.5% in unit numbers following a very strong August. As we’ve stated in the past, it can be unwise to read too much into one month’s figures. A number of short term factors are affecting the monthly numbers, but these average out to leave year-to-date numbers in 2016 in line with this time last year. It is also very clear that many machine deliveries, particularly in the hay and livestock sectors have been delayed due to the severe weather conditions being

experienced in the south and southeast of the country.

Victorian sales were down 20% in September, and are now 16% behind last year. A combination of the well documented stress in the dairy sector is seen as the major contributor, although there are indications that many dairy farmers are taking the opportunity to refinance their equipment whilst interest rates are still low, so this segment is perhaps not as dire as one might expect.

The under 40 hp range, including the “hobby farmer” segment, remains quiet due primarily to the prolonged wet season that has kept grass levels low.

Sentiment in this space is also being tested by such things as volatility in the sharemarket. Many of the hobby farmers are learning to live with lower than expected returns on their retirement funds, however when the warm weather finally does arrive, we expect to see a

 T able 1. Tractor sales between 2008-2015. Source Agriview Australian Tractor Sales 12,000

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9,000 8,431

8,418

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6,000

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2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

YTD

YTD

SEPT'15

SEPT'16

boom in this segment.

NSW was once again the standout, up 21% on last month and now up 17% on a year to date basis due largely to the very strong cropping sector in the northern part of the state. Queensland is sharing some of his benefit, with sales down 7% for the month but in line with the previous year on a year-to-date basis.

Combine harvesters delivered another cracking result, up 12% in September following a huge leap in sales in August.

However, baler sales dropped back and are now around 10% down on last year due largely to wet weather and ongoing difficulties in the dairy sector.

Finally, the sales of out-front mowers continue to soar, up another 9% on last month, and 17% up on a rolling 12 months basis.

Australian tractor suppliers remain quite bullish with regards to the forward outlook. There have been some challenges environmentally, however the grain and crop harvesting activity is expected to continue strongly into the near future.

Finally, we would like to say a big thanks to all involved in the recent field days, particularly at Henty and Elmore.

The TMA has continued its involvement in both of these events culminating in the awarding of the best Australian Agricultural Machine Award at Henty to Landaco for their variable spreader, the Maxispread TS1200 and TISCA at Elmore for the Batwing Wood Slasher. Congratulations to all involved.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS Higher tonnages in all states points to record winter crop Australian farmers are on track for a record winter crop this year, according to new estimates from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

Total production is forecast to rise by 16% in 2016–17 to a record 46.1 million tonnes, exceeding even the bumper crop of 2011-12.

The forecast for bumper volumes will help to offset the disappointment of low grain prices, which are hovering around their lowest level in a decade because of a global oversupply.

The national crop increase is being driven by the great seasonal conditions and an expected lift in tonnages from all states for the first time since 2007-08, with particularly significant increases expected in WA and Victoria.

The winter crop in Victoria is tipped to soar 61% to 6.7 million tonnes.

ABARES has also forecast a potentially record-breaking winter crop of 17.1 million tonnes for WA, including a record wheat crop of 10.5 million tonnes.

Acting ABARES Executive Director, Peter Gooday, said seasonal conditions in most cropping regions during winter were very favourable, and crops were generally in very good condition at the beginning of spring.

“In the eastern states, including South Australia, winter rainfall was average to above average and in Western Australia was more variable but timely. In some regions, particularly in parts of New South Wales and far southern Western Australia, yields could be constrained by waterlogging, which resulted from very high winter rainfall.

“Wheat is up 16% to 28.1 million tonnes and barley up 11% to 9.5 million tonnes, which is the secondhighest production on record for both crops. It has also been a strong year for canola production, which is forecast to be third highest on record.”

Total area planted to summer crops is forecast to rise by 21% in 2016–17 to around 1.4 million hectares, with forecast increases in area planted to

Winter crop production, Australia, 2006–07 to 2016–17 New South Victoria Queensland Year Wales kt kt kt 2006–07 3 794 1 748 924 2007–08 3 999 4 692 1 194 2008–09 9 438 3 887 2 326 2009–10 7 787 5 889 1 617 2010–11 14 784 7 625 1 821 2011–12 11 952 7 352 2 329 2012–13 11 123 6 886 2 156 2013–14 9 773 6 773 1 516 2014–15 10 445 5 117 1 464 2015–16 s 11 408 4 156 2 181 2016–17 f 12 032 6 708 2 234 % change 2015–16 to 5 61 2 2016–17

rice and cotton expected to more than offset a forecast fall in area planted to grain sorghum.

Planting conditions for dryland crops are expected to be favourable, and supplies of irrigation water for irrigated crops are expected to be higher than in 2015–16.

South Australia kt 2 793 4 706 4 863 7 035 9 316 7 371 6 470 7 221 7 439 7 174 8 001

Western Australia kt 8 278 10 761 13 785 12 943 8 044 16 600 11 243 16 510 14 662 14 666 17 108

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Australia kt 17 580 25 415 34 378 35 344 41 672 45 670 37 934 41 878 39 197 39 640 46 140 16

f ABARES forecast. s ABARES estimate. Note: Includes barley, canola, chickpeas, faba beans, field peas, lentils, linseed, lupins, oats, safflower, triticale and wheat.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

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NEWS Growers urged to act now to control rust Growers are urged to monitor crops and apply fungicides as soon as practically possible following a number of reports of barley leaf rust and wheat stripe and leaf rusts across Victoria and South Australia.

Agriculture Victoria’s Senior Plant Pathologist – Cereals, Dr Grant Hollaway, said with forecast rain, there was likely to be an increase in rust as the season progressed.

“Growers need to be monitoring crops and making decisions now for applying fungicides. Growers will need to consider the growth stage of their crop, yield potential, variety susceptibility to rust and the level of rust in the crop when deciding on a fungicide strategy.

“As the weather warms during the coming weeks the speed of rust development will increase, which is why growers need to make their control decisions now.”

Rust has been reported in barley and wheat crops in the Mallee and Wimmera. Currently, wheat leaf rust is present at low levels, however it is likely to increase as temperatures warm during spring.

In South Australia, the recent warmer weather will likely have enabled a rapid spread of leaf rust in wheat and barley, according to SARDI pathologist Dr Hugh Wallwork.

“Virulence in leaf rust on the new barley variety Compass has been detected on the Eyre Peninsula in recent weeks and a crop of Compass was found to be severely infected in the Mallee near

New boss for TMA

The board of the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Gary Northover to the position of Executive Director of the TMA. Gary will replace Richard Lewis who announced his resignation at the recent annual conference.

Sherlock last week. “Compass is now rated as very susceptible (VS) to leaf rust. This means that barley crops across the state should be closely monitored from now on as infection is likely to move rapidly in the more susceptible varieties.

“In wheat, leaf rust is still mostly at low levels although a report from the West Coast suggests that infection in warmer areas has started to become more serious. This is why it is vital that unprotected wheat crops are monitored carefully from now on.

“A shortage of some fungicides means that options for spraying are more limited than we would like. Growers and advisers need to bear this in mind when planning ahead. It’s really important that growers be vigilant in their observations so we can get on top of any potential rust outbreak quickly,” Dr Hollaway said.

What to do if you suspect your crops have rust: • To help identify suspected rust on your crops, visit rustbust.com.au, an initiative of the Australian Cereal Rust Control Program, supported by the Grains Research and Development Council • Discuss your options with your adviser and make a decision on spraying • Let your neighbours know if you have found rust so they can monitor their crops too.

• Send a sample to the Australian Cereal Rust Survey

Gary brings a wealth of management experience to the role, including 15 years as the General Manager for William Adams Rental business. This business incorporated the Cat Rental Store brands in Victoria and Tasmania and the Max Hire business in New South Wales and Queensland. This provided exposure to

Peracto SA changes name to AgXtra Leading SA agricultural research company Peracto SA has been rebranded as AgXtra, reflecting a new strategic direction and plans for regional expansion.

While the company’s name has changed, it will continue to provide research and development services to clients in the broadacre and horticultural industries, focusing on a range of crops,

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pests, diseases and agronomic practices.

AgXtra managing director, Richard Porter, said the company he started in 2002 had undergone a period of significant growth in the past five years and it was timely for the AgXtra team to step out in a new direction and with a new corporate identity.

“Initially operating as a small, soletrader business, we were passionate about

the operations of both OEMs and dealers, as well as the needs of a wide range of customers and other stakeholders.

Prior to that, Gary filled a number of roles within Brambles Industries Wreckair Hire business and most recently has been operating a management consulting and coaching business.

helping our original client base with their applied research needs.

“We have grown and evolved to now be a medium-sized company, employing a total of 26 full-time and casual staff, servicing a more diverse range of clients and segments. We remain family-owned and incredibly passionate about helping our clients who invest in innovative practices for primary production.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

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FUTURE FARMING Technology set for key role in building our $100 billion ag industry Australia is poised to use digital agricultural technology (AgTech) as a critical component of its goal to develop an AU$100 billion agricultural industry by 2030, according to a new report, released by StartupAUS. The new report, co-authored

by KPMG Australia, and supported by the Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Bank, draws on detailed discussions with more than 60 stakeholders – including AgTech startups, farmers and agribusinesses, research bodies, government, and investors.

The StartupAUS report identifies three key components necessary for Australian AgTech to reach its full potential – capital, connectivity and direction.

It makes 12 recommendations aimed at boosting producers’ productivity and growing their business, including the establishment of an independentlyadministered fund designed to make AgTech more affordable to industry.

StartupAUS CEO, Alex McCauley, said technology had always played an important role in increasing agricultural output.

“We have an extremely valuable opportunity here to develop technologies that make a real difference to the economy’s bottom line, while also helping rural Australia realise the economic benefits of the digital technology revolution. This is a great example of how technology can have a transformative effect on broader traditional industries. If Australia is to realise its ambition to be the food bowl for a rapidly-growing middle class in Asia and Africa, we will need to become a leader in AgTech.”

Ben van Delden, KPMG AgTech Leader & Head of Markets, said global venture capital inflows into AgTech were up 336% in 2015, and Australian agriculture was poised to nearly double to an AU$100 billion industry by 2030.

“Technologies such as autonomous

vehicles, precision sprayers, virtual fencing, smart gates, sensing devices and robotics are already transforming how we farm. The Internet of Things will draw consumers closer to growers and integrate supply chains to improve yield and reduce wastage.

“The question facing Australia is: do we want we want to be builders, buyers or bystanders in the AgTech market?

In countries such as Canada, England, Israel and New Zealand, government is already playing a key role bringing together researchers, producers, technology providers, startups and investors. It is our hope that this report can form a go-to-market strategy for Australian governments and corporates to work alongside each other to build and grow a vibrant, world-leading AgTech ecosystem.”

The global opportunity for AgTech’s impact in the private sector is estimated to be as much as US$189 billion between 2013 and 2022.

New robotics centre for University of Sydney The University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Field Robotics has launched a new research hub for horticulture robotics thanks to $10 million in funding from Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA).

The Centre has been running trials of agricultural robots for some times and expects its first inventions could be commercially available within a couple of years.

The government and grower-funded HIA said the new Centre would develop technology to help fruit and vegetable growers monitor, manage and harvest their crops.

Director of research at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, Professor Salah Sukkarieh, said farm robots would

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be able to do all these things even without an internet connection.

“The computational power that you put in a robot is sufficient to do all the processing and so forth for all the data that it collects, so you don’t need to sit there and try to pump up all the data into the cloud,” he said.

“That’s been one of the unique advantages that you have with robotic systems.

“Creating technology that will work in blackspot areas has been part of the whole design process.”

Professor Sukkarieh said the ATV-style robots were already being used in trials across 10 farms in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, but are only a couple of years away from

being commercially available.

The researchers are already looking at ways to bring the cost of the technology down once it does become commercially available.

Options being considered include the way that farmers might actually use the technology, and if sharing the tech across a number of farms is a good option.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

FUTURE FARMING Robot tractors tipped to save $150 million every year An autonomous tractor like the concept vehicle recently unveiled by Case IH is expected to overcome labour shortages that cost Australian farmers more than $150 million a year in lost productivity, according to the US tractor giant.

Case IH and parent Company CNH Industrial developed the Case IH Autonomous Concept Vehicle (ACV), which was first demonstrated at the Farm Progress Show in the USA in late August.

At the recent GrowAg Summit held in Albury, Case IH’s Marketing Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Pete McCann, said the ACV could create unlimited opportunities.

The ACV really does open a very big door into ‘what’s next, what can we do?’.

Well, we can do anything. We just need to build on the technology.”

The concept vehicle is a cabless Case IH row crop tractor that can operate autonomously with a wide range of paddock implements. It can move around the farm on private roads and follows a pre-set route. The ACV can be controlled either via a desktop computer or a portable handheld tablet.

An alert lets the operator know if inputs such as fuel, or fertiliser or seed are low, so they can plot a path to a refuelling point, where inputs are topped up manually. The refuelled ACV then returns to the last area worked, and resumes. Through the use of radar, lidar (light imaging, detection, and ranging) and onboard video cameras, the vehicle can sense stationary or moving obstacles in its path and will stop on its own until the operator, notified by audio and visual alerts, assigns a new path.

“The whole idea of bringing that tractor out of the ‘development shed’ was to show people what we’re working on,” Pete said.

“Case IH is not sitting there, waiting, we are progressing rapidly. As with Australia’s first tracked tractors, which we brought out in 1996, we’re leading development of this technology.”

The main benefits of autonomous technology are being able to use labour in value-added, rather than low-skill, tasks; for the possibility to work 24 hours with no variation in productivity; and options to overcome skilled labour shortages during critical times such as planting.

According to a 2012 Senate inquiry into higher education and skills training to support future demand of agriculture and agribusiness in Australia, acute labour shortages cost Australian farmers more than $150 million a year in lost productivity, as they struggle to find specialist workers and technicians.

“This sort of technology can help to overcome these shortages, and allow workers to focus less on manual labour and more on the science of farming, helping to attract people into the industry,” says Pete.

Brett Whelan, Associate Professor in Precision Agriculture at The University of Sydney, concurs. “Automated vehicles running broad-scale farming operations open up new linkages between agricultural science and engineering.

Combining an understanding of agricultural systems and high-tech engineering provides exciting new career pathways for the next generations to help feed and clothe the world.”

Pete says software developments featured in the ACV could enhance current Case IH models.

“Information and information control, rather than the actual hardware, are the biggest advances that I see in regards to where we’re up to with agricultural technology, and I think we’ll continue seeing this technology be incorporated into machines.

“Look at how far we’ve come already — with steering for 16 years, ISO 4 on balers to control matter feed in, and so on. Building on this, the ACV shows how farmers can remotely monitor and control machines directly, giving greater operational efficiencies for tilling, planting, spraying, harvesting to just mention a few.

“Some of the components of the ACV such as information control, could eventually be applied to standard tractors. These are very exciting times for farmers, as they — and Case IH — look at every avenue possible to optimise returns from every square centimetre of their farm.”

Pete says while Case IH will bring a concept vehicle to Australia to show farmers at some point, there are no current plans for local farm trials.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

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NEWS Govt offers lower borrowing rates for energy efficient farm equipment The Federal Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and Commonwealth Bank have launched a new $100 million Energy Efficient Equipment Finance program to provide Australian farm businesses with lower cost finance.

The new program enables businesses to benefit from reduced energy and fuel costs, while also lowering their carbon emissions.

The program will support business investment in energy efficient and lower emissions vehicles, equipment, machinery and fixtures that meet the CEFC’s investment guidelines.

The finance will provide a 0.7% discount on the bank’s standard asset finance rate for assets ranging of $10,000 to $5 million, where the asset’s technologies meet the CEFC’s investment guidelines. Eligible investments include a broad range of fuel efficient vehicles, energy efficient lighting and fittings, farm machinery, commercial lighting and rooftop solar panels.

CEFC CEO, Oliver Yates, said the program provided businesses with compelling reasons to invest in energy efficient and renewable technologies.

“In a world that is transitioning to cleaner energy through the rapid global uptake of technologies like solar, battery storage and electric vehicles, it is imperative Australian businesses position themselves to take advantage of technologies that will help them work smarter and save them money through reduced energy use and operating costs,” Mr Yates said.

“This new program financed by the CEFC and offered through the Commonwealth Bank provides a great opportunity for

businesses to invest now in energy efficient, low emissions and renewable energy technologies.”

The finance program coincides with new figures showing a strong swing by business towards energy efficient assets.

CommBank’s Asset Financing Australia (AFA) Index Report 2016 showed steady increases in both the number of businesses using, and planning to use, energy efficient vehicles or equipment.

One in five businesses (20.5%) plan to use energy efficient vehicles or equipment in the next 12 months (up from 14.7% from the beginning of the year), while one in eight businesses (12.5%) currently use energy efficient vehicles or equipment (up from 9.5% from the beginning of the year). The number of businesses who had no intention to use energy efficient vehicles or equipment fell (from 59.0% to 45.1%) in the 12 months to June 2016.

Commonwealth Bank Managing Director Asset Finance, David Farr, said: “We know energy efficient assets help reduce operating costs, but we’re seeing businesses increasingly aware of other benefits to their business, reducing their carbon footprint, adding value to their brand and improving their productivity.

“In particular, we see huge potential for the transport, agriculture and construction industries to realise major benefits from upgrading to energy efficient technologies, including fuel efficient vehicles, and energy efficient lighting and refrigeration,” Mr Farr said.

The coming cotton boom AUSTRALIA’S cotton industry is set for its biggest planting in five years thanks to widespread rainfall improving dam storages and crop prospects.

The improved season has led to a huge demand for seed from Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), with current seed orders now nearly double the June planting estimates. The Wee Waabased CSD plant is still producing seed against back orders, meaning that any new order will become available from mid to late October at the earliest.

Cotton Australia chief executive officer, Adam Kay, said estimates of the national area planted to cotton were growing with every rainfall event.

Copeton Dam, which supplies water for the Gwydir Valley, was at 48% of capacity in September, Namoi Valley water storages Keepit Dam and Split Rock Dam sat at 75.3% and 25.1% respectively. Queensland’s Glenlyon Dam, which supplies the Macintyre and Border Rivers valleys, was at 54.5% of capaicty.

There will also be an increase in dryland cotton, with many

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growers reporting full moisture profiles in time for planting next month.

Cotton Australia expects a much larger crop than last season, up from 265,000 hectares and 2.6 million bales in 2015-16, to more than 400,000 hectares and more than four million bales in the 2016-17 season.

“Recent and forecast rainfall in many valleys has added to water storages and improved soil moisture profiles, boosting hopes for a high-yielding and higher production crop,” Mr Kay said. “Rainfall will also see additional areas planted to rain-grown cotton in some of the northern NSW valleys.”

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

DEALER NEWS Kubota eyes WA Kubota is rumoured to be taking a close look at WA with a view to boosting its dealership network.

A stronger presence in WA, where grain farms are typically twice the size of those in other states, is a logical fit with Kubota’s stated aim to expand aggressively in broadacre equipment.

At last month’s Elmore Field Days, Kubota unveiled a new range of tillage gear, based on highly regarded Kverneland products that became part of the Kubota stable after the 2012 takeover of the Norwegian company.

Kubota also displayed for the first time its 167 hp M7

tractor, which elevates the company into the mid-power range, and talked about plans for a 250hp unit.

Australia is part of Kubota’s plan to become the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment. While that sounds ambitious, the Japanese company has doubled global revenues in the past seven years, and aims to double again with the help of recent major acquisitions.

Last month, more than 180 Australian dealers received a taste of the company’s plans with a nearly 100-product presentation with the promise of more to come.

AFGRI grows to 11 dealerships AFGRI Equipment Australia has successfully completed the acquisition of fellow John Deere dealership Greenline Ag for an undisclosed sum.

It gives AFGRI 11 dealerships throughout the Wheatbelt, strengthening its position as the biggest John Deere dealership in the southern hemisphere with a further 28 dealerships throughout Africa.

AFGRI’s new branches are located at Perth, Boyup Brook, Witchcliffe, Wagin, Lake Grace and Pingelly, adding to Carnamah, Geraldton, Moora, Wongan Hills and Dalwallinu.

AFGRI is a leading agricultural company that started more than 90 years ago in South Africa. Its core focus is on grain commodities.

Deere buyout hits snag John Deere’s proposed $US190 million takeover of Precision Planting is making a lot of waves in the US, with the ripples spreading as far as Australia’s shores.

The US Justice Department is challenging the deal, which it says would give John Deere close to 90% of the market of precision seeding equipment, thus reducing competition and costing farmers more.

The government said Deere and Precision Planting both introduced high-speed planting systems in 2014 after years of research and development, and their head-to-head competition has benefited farmers through lower prices and innovation. While Deere sold its technology attached to new

planters, Precision Planting’s equipment allowed farmers to retrofit their existing planters, according to the complaint.

That meant farmers could get the technology at a fraction of the cost.

To head off a possible blockage of the deal, Deere has vowed it would allow one of Precision Planting’s main competitors, Ag Leader, to sell its systems, including SpeedTube, vSet, vDrive and DeltaForce.

Precision Planting and Ag Leader both have a substantial presence in Australia, so the US Justice Department challenge will be closely watched here.

WJs wins trans-Tasman award Moree-based farm machinery dealership, WJ Matthews, has been recognised as providing the best after-sales service in Claas Harvest Centre’s Australian and New Zealand network.

Known as ‘WJs’, the third-generation family-owned business was recently named the 2016 After Sales Team of the Year in Landpower and Claas Harvest Centres inaugural Strive Annual Excellence Awards presented in Christchurch, NZ. One of the oldest farm machinery dealerships in northern

NSW, WJs was established in 1954 by W. ‘Jack’ Matthews, whose eldest son, Robert, took over in the 1970s before handing on the reins to his son, Jeremy, the current managing director.

Jeremy attributed the award to a service-based culture forged over more than six decades. “You can take for granted that farmers need quality machinery, but what they really want is the service that comes with it,” he said.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

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NEWS Growers in high spirits after record rains, but too much water in some areas The 2016 cropping season is presenting southern grain growers with a unique set of opportunities and challenges, according to the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Southern Regional Panel which has completed its annual spring tour.

Panel chair Keith Pengilley says that despite low prices for cereals, a high degree of positivity is permeating the southern cropping industry on the back of significant growing season rainfall which has promoted high yield potential.

“In the past when seasons have been good, we generally haven’t seen such levels of positivity. People in the grains industry are generally risk averse and rightly so, given the dry years we’ve experienced,” Mr Pengilley said after the Panel’s week-long tour through Victoria’s high, medium and low rainfall cropping zones.

“But this year, the mood is generally buoyant. Hopes are high for bumper yields and hopefully these will counter low grain prices. I expect that when we balance out yields and prices, most growers will achieve an average year, and that’s what we need after two failed years.”

Mr Pengilley said further substantial falls of rain occurred during the tour, especially in areas such as the Victorian Mallee where the rain was needed.

“The rain has fallen at the right time – during early grain-fill – providing crops with a massive boost. “It’s the year growers needed to have, particularly in those areas which have just come out of two dry seasons.”

Mr Pengilley said growers would be looking to extract as much as they can out of the season to offset low grain prices.

“In lower rainfall areas, this could be one of the two years in 10 where growers need to make massive profits to keep their system going for the next 10 years. It’s just unfortunate returns per tonne this year won’t be high.

12

“It’s therefore important they make every dollar a winner and so they must be equipped with the skills, ability and resources needed to push the envelope when conditions are favourable, as they are this year.”

Mr Pengilley said that the seasonal situation observed by the Panel in Victoria was mirrored elsewhere in the southern cropping region, including Tasmania and South Australia. While most growers have welcomed the wet conditions, above-average rainfall has created agronomic issues in parts across the entire southern region.

The Panel saw first-hand that waterlogging, especially in the high rainfall zone and into north-eastern Victoria, is a considerable issue this year and will take off top-end yield for some growers.

“How we manage waterlogging economically – be it through genetic tolerance in varieties and better agronomic management of crops and soils – is a research question that requires further attention, in addition to the GRDC-funded programs we already have in place, such as the one being conducted in Hamilton in south-west Victoria which is focused on nitrogen usage in waterlogging situations.”

The Panel, accompanied by GRDC southern regional staff and new GRDC Managing Director Steve Jefferies, was informed that aerial blackleg disease in canola is another major concern this year.

“Yield losses are likely, but for most growers canola will still be a profitable crop this year,” Mr Pengilley said.

Other constraints raised by growers and farming systems groups during the Panel tour included weeds and herbicide resistance. “This is still a major bugbear for growers, especially in terms of how we manage resistance economically,” Mr Pengilley said.

“In addition, a big question for a lot of growers in lower rainfall areas is around herbicide residues, and the impact that has on growers’ crop choice and their ability to capitalise on favourable situations.

“If you have chemical residue carryover, you are impeding next year’s crop growth or limiting your opportunity to select the most profitable option for your farming system in some cases.

“As an industry, we all need to better understand that so we can equip growers and advisers with information to enable them to be in a more informed position.”

Mr Pengilley said that in areas of low soil organic matter and low rainfall, herbicides appear to be behaving in a different way and persisting in the environment for longer compared with other agroecological zones.

And while growers are currently focused on managing diseases, pests, nutrients, weeds and the impact of waterlogging, the ramifications of season 2016 are likely to continue beyond harvest this year.

Mr Pengilley said cereal grain prices could force growers into recalibrating their farming systems next year, with increased interest in livestock, canola and pulses expected.

“There could be a change of focus from just growing wheat or barley for grain – we could see cereal crops being cut for hay or used for brown manure as weed control, and for people with livestock in their system, there could be an opportunity to plant crops early to capitalise on grazing value and counteract grain prices at the other end.”

Mr Pengilley said the tour had provided Panel members with a greater understanding of growers’ concerns and needs which in turn would help to inform GRDC investments in relevant research, development and extension, ensuring the best possible outcomes for growers.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS New research on getting more from harvest weed seed control Optimising the set up and operation of a harvester is vitally important in maximising the success of most Harvest Weed Seed Control (HWSC) systems used to collect or destroy weed seeds.

And ensuring that harvesters are not travelling too fast will help prevent grain losses worth as much as $20 per hectare.

These were messages delivered by Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher John Broster to the recent Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)sponsored Australasian Weeds Conference in Perth.

He presented findings from a GRDCfunded study aimed at determining the proportion of annual ryegrass weed seeds collected by a harvester – that then exit in the grain, straw and chaff fractions – under commercial wheat harvesting conditions.

The research was conducted in southeastern Australian wheat crops by the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation – an alliance between Charles Sturt University and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

An important factor in many HWSC systems is the proportion of weed seeds exiting the harvester in the chaff fraction, with chaff carts, chaff tramlining, chaff lining, the Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD) and the Integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD) targeting this fraction only.

“Cab settings of the harvester used in the 2015 trials were adjusted to maximise the efficiency of an attached iHSD, although no physical changes were made to concaves or grates,” Dr Broster said.

Simply adjusting the settings helped to ensure that grain and weed seeds were moved out of the concave and onto the sieves and resulted in a low percentage (3.4%) of annual ryegrass being lost in the ‘straw fraction’.

“This was a much better outcome compared with results from 2014 trials,

harvester with an Integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD) attached. A Photo by McIntosh & Son.

where the settings of five harvesters were not adjusted and were simply what farmers were already using,” Dr Broster said.

“In the 2014 trials, an average of 49.2% of annual ryegrass was lost in the straw fraction.”

Dr Broster said the most effective harvester set-up for HWSC might vary between different weed species, as trial results were different for annual ryegrass weed seeds and wild oats.

The effect of harvest speed was also investigated, with speeds of four, six and eight kilometres per hour tested in 2015.

“When harvester settings optimised the efficiency of the attached iHSD, as was the case in 2015, harvest speed did not influence the amount of annual ryegrass seed lost in the straw fraction,” Dr Broster said.

“However, increasing the harvester speed did result in increased loss of grain (5 per cent of the total amount harvested) through the straw, especially when the harvester was operating at full capacity.

“The average yield of the crop was 2.45 tonnes per hectare and at 8 km/h the harvester was at full capacity. If wheat is worth $200 per tonne the additional wheat loss at 8 km/h would be valued at $20 per hectare.”

Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative communications leader Peter Newman said improving the set up of a harvester included changing settings in the cab and ‘opening up’ hardware in the harvester to help clear grain from the rotor.

Mr Newman said a video demonstrating how to ‘open up’ a harvester, featuring WA grower and HSD inventor Ray Harrington, was available at www.ahri. uwa.edu.au/harvester-setup Dr Broster’s HWSC research paper – Harvest weed seed control: the influence of harvester set up and speed on efficacy in south-eastern Australian wheat crops – is available at www.caws.org.au/awc/2016/ awc201610381.pdf Information on HWSC is also available at www.weedsmart.org.au

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

13

NEWS Viruses pose ‘double barrel’ threat to feral rabbits in Australia

FARMERS and conservation groups are optimistic a “double barrel” of viruses could have the biggest impact on Australia’s feral rabbit population in two decades.

The calicivirus RHDV2 has been sweeping across Australia since it was first detected in the Australian Capital Territory in May 2015. It is not known how RHDV2 came to be in Australia.

Latest reports have suggested the virus is now present in Western Australia after crossing into New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia this year.

Meanwhile, every Australian state is preparing for the controlled release of a Korean strain of the calicivirus, RHDV1 K5 in 2017. It will be the third deadly strain of the calicivirus to sweep across Australia.

The first calicivirus, RHDV1, was released in 1996 with devastating success, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. Although the virus is still having some effect on rabbit numbers, the population is recovering as resistance to it grows.

Livestock South Australia president, Geoff Power, said some areas were already noticing a lack of rabbits since the arrival of RHDV2 last year.

He said farmers were looking forward to the release of the RHDV1 K5 strain next year.

“Hopefully it has a double barrel effect. When the first

calicivirus got out it just had a huge impact … it was just amazing. From an environmental point of view, when the numbers are down in this area, the country certainly does change for the better.”

The rabbit problem on mainland Australia dates back to the release of 24 wild rabbits for hunting purposes in Victoria in 1859. By 1920 it is thought there were 10 billion rabbits in Australia.

Following the success of biological rabbit controls including the release of the myxoma virus in 1950 and the first calicivirus (RHDV) in the mid-1990s, rabbit numbers have been significantly reduced. The population is still estimated to be about 200 million, costing Australian agricultural industries more than $200 million every year.

Biosecurity SA senior research officer, Greg Mutze, said it was so far difficult to predict the impact of RHDV2 or the effect it could have on the success of the RHDV1 K5 roll out next year.

“We have heard people report that the numbers of rabbits have dropped quite suddenly – it’s the type of reports we received when the original strain of RHDV first spread,” he said.

From an environmental point of view, when the numbers are down in this area, the country certainly does change for the better.”

14

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS New fire survival guide Aussie Pumps has released an updated version of its Fire Survival Guide to help home owners be better prepared for what is shaping up as one of the riskiest summers in decades.

Aussie Pumps’ Brad Farrugia said record rainfall in many areas over winter meant the level of undergrowth was much greater than ever before, with continued growth over spring.

“This means there is more fuel for the sweltering hot fire season, which authorities have predicted could be disastrous. We have bumped up production and begun an active

education program for dealers, farmers and home owners.

“Aussie Fire Ready Safety posters will also be readily available helping to spread the basic rules on preparation, in line with very proactive programs run by firefighting authorities in all states!”

Aussie Fire Ready Survival Plan, a 24-page document packed with invaluable information, is available free of charge from Aussie Pump distributors or by contacting Aussie Pumps on (02) 8865 3500 or going to www. aussiepumps.com.au.

Even if you decide to ‘get out of the way’ of oncoming fire and leave, a well prepared home is more likely to survive and is easier to protect.

www.afdj.com.au

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR FREE!

 J osie Robertson, from NSW checks out the new Aussie Survival Guide.

“Even if you decide to ‘get out of the way’ of oncoming fire and leave, a well prepared home is more likely to survive and is easier to protect. The guide also illustrates on how to prepare your home so that you have substantially better protection if you are prevented from retreating,” Brad said.

Your Subscription Order Form or online at www.afdj.com.au/subscribe To become a registered reader of AFDJ, please complete details below of your farming, horticulture or agricultural contracting business and post or scan email to AFDJ. Alternatively you can complete a subscription form on our website www.afdj.com.au, or call (08) 8369 9522.

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NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

15

MARKETS Farm outlook continues to improve: NAB with the AUD tracking higher at the end of 2016 than we previously forecast.

This presents less support to local prices, exposing increased risks from challenging global grain markets. Cattle prices are likely to come under pressure in 2017 in response to higher US supply and improved South American access, although we note that good rainfall in Australia is pushing restocker demand higher (and prices with it). Dairy has seen quite a rebound of late, although risks to the outlook remain.

Our outlook for agricultural production is highly reliant on the climate outlook.

The Bureau of Meteorology is still on La Niña watch, but recent data show the likelihood of La Niña lessening and a move to neutral conditions and even slightly towards to El Niño in mid-2017.

Nonetheless, the season has been generally very favourable so far and the three-month outlook continues to forecast almost ideal conditions.

By Phin Ziebell Agribusiness Economist, NAB

growth is expected to ease, most clearly in 2018 after the dwelling cycle has turned and resource exports no longer contribute to growth.

Our forecasts are for real GDP growth of 3.0% on average in calendar year 2016, followed by 2.8% in 2017 and 2.6% in 2018. The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady through the forecast horizon at around 5.6-5.7%, which suggests spare capacity in the labour market. There is some downside risk to our near-term forecasts given the recent loss of momentum in indicators of household spending in particular, but also business conditions. These bear close watching. Globally, we do not expect much improvement in economic growth, which should remain below trend.

Spring has brought not only considerable rain to parts of the country but also a further uptick in the NAB Rural Commodities Index. The index was up 1.5% in August and is on track for a moderate increase in September. This steady increase masks discrepancies across commodities, with weakness in major grain markets offset by strength in red meat and a rebound in dairy prices. Dairy has been standout performer following considerable weakness over the last two years – the NAB weighted dairy export indicator gained 6.8% in August and 21.5% in September.

Rain across eastern Australia has put winter crops on track for a bumper season, Dollar and rate forecasts although flooding and waterlogging in September Fed inaction has re-enforced some areas is a real concern, as is frost the AUD/USD range (0.7450 - 0.7750 damage in Western Australia. The Bureau on the wide). While the AUD remains of Meteorology’s outlook is for a neutral overvalued on most metrics (including to wetter than average finish to spring, National economic outlook NAB’s short term value model estimate) which could pose some risk of quality How one assesses Australia’s economic we see it likely to remain so for the time downgrades depending on how late the performance at present depends in large being.

Our expectations for prices in the coming year have been revised in Our outlook for agricultural production is highly reliant on the rainline persists.

Good rainfall has continued part on which industry or geography one into 2017, ouronforecasts with the AUD tracking higher at the end of 2016 than we climate outlook. The BureauLooking of Meteorology is still La Niña show previously forecast.

This presents less support to local prices, watch, but recent data show the likelihood of La Niña lessening to drive restocker interest in red meat, with looks at and whether the benchmark is in the AUD falling to 0.72 by midyearand and exposing increased risks from challenging global grain markets. a move to neutral conditions and even slightly towards to El Niño in cattle prices remaining at record levels and real or nominal terms. mid-2017. Nonetheless, the0.70 by end-2017.

We see the AUD season has been generally very Cattle pricesthe areusual likely spring to come under pressure in The 2017Australian in responseeconomy grew at a lamb defying price drop fallingmonth into the highcontinues 60s in 2018.

We favourable so far and the three outlook to forecast to higher US supply and improved South American access, although almost ideal conditions. as producers retain more lambs. year-ended rate of 3.3% in Q2, the fastest expect two 25bp cuts to the cash rate in we note that good rainfall in Australia is pushing restocker demand higher (and pricesfor with it). Dairy has seen quite pace a rebound late, The table our latest production, Our expectations prices in the since of mid-2012, thanks to below a surgeoutlines in May andoutlook Augustfor 2017 (to a newprices low of although the outlook the value exports. These coming yearrisks havetobeen revisedremain. in line government spending. and In future, realofGDP 1%). estimates are contingent on

PRICE, PRODUCTION AND EXPORT FORECASTS

estimates for production and export volumes, prevailing global prices and NAB’s foreign exchange outlook.

PRODUCTION, PRICE AND EXPORT FORECASTS (AUD) Production change

Price change

Export value change

2015-16

2016-17

2015-16

2016-17

2015-16

2016-17

Wheat

▲ 1.9%

▲ 13.9%

▼ 2.7%

▼ 14.5%

▼ 7.8%

▼ 1.6%

Beef

▼ 12.0%

▼ 9.5%

▲ 43.7%

▲ 14.3%

▼ 6.5%

▼ 9.5%

Dairy

▼ 2.0%

▼ 2.3%

▼ 5.0%

▲ 12.0%

▲ 4.5%

▲ 9.4%

Lamb and mutton

▼ 1.2%

▼ 6.4%

▲ 4.7%

▲ 2.1%

▼ 6.9%

▼ 5.8%

Wool

▼ 5.4%

▼ 1.0%

▲ 14.4%

▲ 7.0%

▲ 4.1%

▲ 6.0%

Sugar

▲ 7.6%

▲ 3.7%

▲ 13.1%

▲ 25.1%

▲ 15.2%

▲ 28.4%

Cotton

▲ 12.1%

▲ 51.2%

▲ 11.2%

▲ 10.3%

▼ 18.7%

▲ 43.6%

Source: NAB Group Economics, ABARES, Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Bloomberg and Profarmer.

4

16

Rural Commodities Wrap

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS There’s no business like grain business: ABARES With wheat prices hovering around 10-year lows, many graingrowers will be tempted to change their mix of farm income in favour of livestock.

But the latest annual snapshot of farm financial performance by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) makes it clear that grain growers do better when they specialise in their core business. And the bigger they go in grain, the better.

The new ABARES report is the latest in an annual series on grain farm performance that has been running for 38 years.

The data is based on in-depth surveys of grain farmers in Australia’s Northern, Southern and Western grain districts, with 1,600 interviewed for the latest report. The length and depth of data behind the series make it a powerful tool for boosting grain farm profits.

The report highlights a wide gap in farm profits between specialist and non-specialist grain farms (defined as those with more than 50% and less than 50% of their total receipts from crop sales respectively).

Specialist grain farms recorded an estimated average cash income of $304,000 in 2014-15, which is predicted to rise to $337,000 in 2015-16.

By contrast, non-specialised grain farms achieved estimated average farm income of only $85,000 in 2014-15. This is expected to improve sharply in 2015-16 to an average of $124,000 thanks to higher livestock prices, although specialist grain growers on average are still earning almost three times more than non-specialists.

The superior financial performance of specialist grain farmers is also highlighted by figures calculated by ABARES on the rates of return on farm investment. Specialist growers are expected to boost their average return (excluding any appreciation in land value) from 3.7% in 2014-15 to 4.3% in 2015-16. Average returns for non-specialists will jump from 1.1% to 2.0% because of higher livestock prices, but they are still achieving on average less than half the rate of return of the specialist growers (Table 1) While greatly improved beef prices have provided a boost for the non-specialists in the past year, these growers would have been even better off if they had directed more at their efforts at growing grain. In other words, growing crops is a much better business for grain growers to be in than livestock, even when grain prices are around 10-year lows and prices for some livestock are strong.

For the sceptics who think grain specialists are only outperforming because they have enjoyed a couple of good growing seasons in a row, think again. The ABARES data, summarised in the chart on page 18, shows that specialists have out-earned the non-specialists every year since 2000-01, and have widened the gap considerably since the end of the » Millennium drought.

 T able 1. Average per farm financial performance by farm group, Australia, 2013-14 to 2015-16 Performance measure

Unit 2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

Grain farms Total cash receipts

$

720 000

739 000

785 000

Total cash costs

$

506 000

509 000

527 000

Farm cash income

$

214 000

229 000

258 000

Rate of return

%

3.4

2.8

3.5

Total cash receipts

$

978 000

962 000

1 024 000

Total cash costs

$

666 000

659 000

687 000

Farm cash income

$

312 000

304 000

337 000

Rate of return

%

5.0

3.7

4.3

Specialist farms

Non-specialist farms Total cash receipts

$

381 000

422 000

455 000

Total cash costs

$

296 000

298 000

306 000

Farm cash income

$

85 000

124 000

149 000

Rate of return

%

0.3

1.1

2.0

Note: 2015–16 figures are estimates.

Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

17

NEWS The advantage in farm cash income for specialists has ranged from around $44 000 in 2005–06 to more than $235 000 in 2013–14. On average, from 2000–01 to 2015– 16, specialist farms recorded farm cash incomes around $125 000 higher than non-specialist farms (see figure 1).

A breakdown of financial results from all grain farms (specialist and non-specialist) by region adds more to the story. It suggests the bigger the grain farm, the better the financial returns.

The data is split into the three Grains Research and Development Corporation regions (Northern, Southern and Western). In 2014–15 around 45%, 36% and 19% of grain producing farms were in the Northern, Southern and Western regions, respectively. While having fewer grain farms than other regions, the Western region had a much higher proportion of farms growing large areas of crops. In 2014–15 almost 50% of grain farms in Western region cropped more than 1,200 hectares, compared with only 15% in the Northern region and 21% in the Southern region.

The bigger grain farms in the west produced easily the best returns of any around the country. Western region average farm cash income is forecast to reach $398,000 in 2015-16, compared with only $189,000 in the Southern region and $257,000 in the Northern region.

Importantly, the bigger profits in the west are not just a result of bigger average farm size; the average return on investment is dramatically better at 4.8%, compared to only 2.1% in the Southern region and 3.8% in the Northern region.

The ABARES data also suggests that Western region farms outperform because they are typically more focused on grain farming than livestock compared to other regions, and have been for a long time.

From 2000–01 to 2014–15, wheat receipts in the Western region made the biggest contribution to total cash receipts, accounting for 43% of total receipts on average. Livestock enterprises made the secondhighest contribution at 24%.

In the Northern region, livestock receipts were the most important contributor to total cash receipts, averaging 38% over the period 2000–01 to 2014–15. In the Southern region, wheat and livestock were almost equal as contributors to total receipts, averaging 30% and 28% respectively (see Table 2).

So why do specialist and bigger grain farmers do so much better?

The ABARES reports suggests the grain specialists do better because they have been improving their productivity at a significantly faster rate than the mixed crop-livestock farmers for a long time.

Cropping specialists across all regions have lifted annual productivity by an average of 1.5% since ABARES began compiling data back in 1977-78, compared to an annual

18

 F igure1. Average per farm cash income by group, Australia, 2000–01 to 2015–16

 T able 2. Average per farm financial performance, by region, 2013–14 to 2015–16 Performance measure

Unit

2013– 14

2014– 15

2015– 16

Farm cash income

$

154 000

185 000

257 000

Farm business profit

$

29 000

55 000

134 000

Rate of return (excl.

%

1.9

2.4

3.8

Farm cash income

$

207 000

202 000

189 000

Farm business profit

$

79 000

48 000

45 000

Rate of return (excl.

%

3.3

2.3

2.1

Farm cash income

$

378 000

390 000

398 000

Farm business profit

$

249 000

176 000

215 000

Rate of return (excl.

%

6.4

4.3

4.8

Northern region

Southern region

Western region

Note: 2015–16 figures are estimates.

Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

average of only 0.9% for the non-specialists over the same extended period of almost four decades.

The latest report cites a 2010 study that gives credit to both the specialist growers themselves and the machinery industry, which has developed larger equipment with new technology to significantly reduce unit costs. It’s a conclusion buried deep in a lengthy report. But make no mistake, years of data farm profits shows that dedicated grain farmers and their machinery suppliers can take a bow.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS Naming and shaming Australia’s most unwanted pests ​Crippled plant industries, trade suspensions and a devastated environment—Australia’s Top 40 National Priority Plant Pests have damaging potential, from vine-attacking bacteria to a giant snail.

Australian Chief Plant Protection officer, Dr Kim Ritman, said the Top 40 pests include a range of exotic invertebrates and pathogens that pose the most significant threat on a national scale.

“These 40 most unwanted pests are not yet present or not widely established in Australia and we want to keep it that way.

Our strong biosecurity system does most of the work, but everybody has a role to play too,” Dr Ritman said.

“If these pests were to come to Australia, our $30 billion broadacre and horticulture crops and forestry industries could be devastated and our environment and economy would be severely affected.

“While by no means the only plant pests of biosecurity concern, the Top 40 serves to highlight the serious plant pest threats Australia faces.

“The risks these pests pose are real and growing. Number one on our Top 40 is Xylella fastidiosa, which is currently destroying olive tree groves in Italy and is known to infect more than 350 plant species in 89 plant families.

“A study has also estimated that a Xylella incursion into an iconic wine growing region like the Barossa Valley or the Hunter Valley could cost up to $4.2 billion in losses over 19 years.

“While the biosecurity work we do in Australia—off-shore, at our borders, and on-shore—helps manage the risk, support from the public is crucial in making sure these pests never get here.

“By not bringing plants or seeds into Australia through the airport or mail and keeping an eye out and reporting

any unusual pest or disease symptoms, we can work together to safeguard Australia’s industries and unique environment.”

The Top 40 pests were recently endorsed by Plant Health Committee, Australia’s top committee for plant biosecurity. They were identified through a national expert elicitation process, which considered the economic, social and environment threats the pests posed to Australia.

They will be used to guide future work to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system, by identifying any gaps in prevention and preparedness and regularly reviewing the nation’s capability to manage each of the pests.

More information on Australia’s Top 40 National Priority Plant Pests is available at www.agriculture.gov.au/priority-plantpests.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

19

NEWS Australian beef industry’s $6 billion dollar bind The Australian cattle industry is faced with a critical choice between re-building herds to meet growing global beef demand or continuing to sell to capitalise on historically strong beef prices, according to an ANZ report on Australia’s beef sector.

Launched last month during an ANZ beef industry delegation to China, the agricultural insights report ‘Cattle Call’, outlines a AU$7 billion growth opportunity by 2025 if the nation’s herd size can be increased significantly.

“Australia’s beef industry finds itself at a critical crossroad that requires a call for serious consideration of some opportunity cost,” said ANZ’s Head of Agribusiness, Mark Bennett, who is currently leading the ANZ delegation of beef industry producers, processors and industry advisors to China.

“There is the risk of jeopardising longterm earning capacity unless as an industry we can adapt to surging global demand for beef. It’s a balancing act for Australia’s beef producers as they understandably look to capitalise on today’s market with the current high-price cycle, while also understanding that as an industry we could look for longer-term prosperity that comes from rebuilding a larger national herd that brings more valuable output for the longer-term,” Mr Bennett said.

The report suggests a 10-year timeframe to lift Australia’s herd size, which sits at a

20-year low of 23.3 million. The report also concludes that the herd number could potentially fall further before it rises, pressured by recent drought conditions in key production regions and continued high demand.

Mr Bennett said that export markets remain the driving force behind demand with 84 per cent of the total Australian beef and veal production heading overseas in 2014-15.

“Australia’s global reputation for producing safe, clean beef is a major selling point for our industry. Despite the drought conditions felt mainly in the north, the strong demand from the United States and China in the last five years – along with traditional markets such as Indonesia and Japan – has set us on a profitable course. But it’s a course that will see our herd number continue to erode.”

Mr Bennett added that without considered focus on productivity gains and arresting the declining herd number, Australia risks losing market share.

“The Australian beef industry has a bright future and a significant role to play in our country’s agricultural sector.

However if we are to continue to supply and grow strong overseas markets – the key will be to ensure greater output and focus on value, as well as adopting an increased focus on production, processing and trade productivity,” Mr Bennett said.

Australia’s global reputation for producing safe, clean beef is a major selling point for our industry.

ANZ INFOCUS REPORT

CATTLE CALL

Key findings from Cattle Call • Keeping herd slaughter rates high in the short-term will provide immediate returns to farmers, however lower slaughter rates and herd building could be the difference between a A$16.4 billion and A$9 billion industry • But if the beef industry continues on its current path it will be worth A$11.8 billion with only 21.6 million head of cattle in 2025 • Australia’s beef cattle herd has declined from 26.5 million in 2013 to 23.3 million in 2016 due to drought conditions and high prices leading to high cattle turnoff rates • Australia exported 84% of its total beef and veal production in 2014-15 • Since 2011, Australian exports to the United States have increased significantly, and the US is now Australia’s largest and most valuable export market – worth over A$3 billion in 2015 • Exports to China have increased rapidly since 2011 and are currently worth around A$1 billion per annum • Australia is facing increased export competition to China, but Australian beef quality and safety gives it a significant advantage.

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AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

F I E L D D AY S E X P O G U I D E

Machine of the Year puts farmers outside the danger zone A remotely-operated cattle crush and cattle handling system that completely removes people from the “danger zone” while increasing efficiency and reducing animal stress, has taken out The Land Machine of the Year title at the Australian National Field Days.

The Silencer Hydraulic Cattle Crush and Flight Zone Avoidance System also picked up a National Australia Bank (NAB) Award of Excellence.

The system is designed and manufactured in the US and distributed in Australia by the Hammond family’s Catagra Group from Caloundra in Queensland.

Catagra manager Sean Hammond said the win was great recognition for the work that has gone into the design of the system and the fact it is technology whose “time has come”.

“Labour shortages, inexperienced labour, staff safety and animal welfare are all challenges faced by the beef industry,” Sean said.

“This system addresses all those issues – it’s a game changer.”

NAB Awards of Excellence were also presented to five other entries: a labour-saving, air-operated endassembly driver, developed by the Quattromani family from Horsley Wholesale; a world-first, solar-powered, set-and-forget, small-scale travelling irrigator, developed by greenPRO; the Solid Eco-Foam wetting agent dispenser, which can turn any farm spray unit into a firefighting unit, developed by Quik Corp; a modified Woods slasher, developed by machinery suppliers TISCA to increase operator safety and machine durability; and, remote-controlled livestock handling equipment, developed by National Stockyard Systems.

ANFD chairman Dan Toohey said there were 12 machines vying for awards this year, which was double the number of entries received in 2015.

“Many of the ideas, concepts and dreams seen in this competition have gone on to improve the lot of farmers throughout Australia and the world,” Mr Toohey said, before thanking the

atagra Group manager Sean C Hammond with the cattle handling system that took out The Land Machine of the Year title and a NAB Award of Excellence at the Australian National Field Days.

entrants for their ongoing efforts to improve and advance agriculture.

Mr Toohey said the non-competitive awards were judged against a number of criteria, which included innovation, application to agriculture, standard of construction, value for money, and ease of use.

Farm Expo’s unique format draws big turnout Royal Adelaide Show’s Farm Expo enjoyed a high turnout of visitors in September, with its unique “one stop shop” format drawing many people who would not otherwise discover rural equipment, products and information.

Farm Expo was located under the same roof as the hugely popular IGA Taste Pavilion, which helped bring more foot traffic to Farm Expo. Visitor appeal was also strengthened by TAFE SA’s decision to make Farm Expo the hub for its show-wide promotion of training courses related to agriculture.

For Allan Ashmore from Victor Motorcycles, it was his seventh consecutive year as a Farm Expo

exhibitor. “As rural dealers, it is important to stretch our customer base as far and as wide as possible. The Royal Adelaide Show gives us the ability to physically reach people in a real handson way.” This year, Allan displayed the latest models of farm bikes from Kawasaki and Suzuki, and some showstopping road bikes as well.

Aldinga Mowers is another SA business that exhibits at Farm Expo. Sales manager Brenton Welk said Aldinga Mowers had traditionally taken space in the Goyder Pavilion but switched the Farm Expo last year to showcase their new farm machinery range. “Taking a stand at Farm Expo allows us to take

a bigger product range to the Show, including larger machinery. This year, Aldinga Mowers presented a compact Massey Ferguson tractor fitted with a front-end loader and mower deck.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

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UPCOMING FIELD DAYS PULLUp-to-date comprehensive Field Days Events Calendar.

Also available at www.afdj.com.au. To lodge your event contact Debbie Schnelle Phone: (03) 9810 3262 or Email: admin.afdj@ryanmediapl.com.au JANUARY 2017

MARCH/APRIL 2017

15-19 Dairy Farm & Machinery Field Days Robyn Barber 9 Hastie Street,Tatura,Victoria 0418 656 082 info@internationaldairyweek.com.au www.internationaldairyweek.com.au

30-2 Farm World Mark Cockerell Burnt Store Road, Lardner Park, Warragul, Victoria 03 5626 1373 office@lardnerpark.com.au www.lardnerpark.com.au/FarmWorldmain

FEBRUARY 2017 8-10 Sungold Field Days Emma Cavanagh Allansford, about 12 km east of Warrnambool, Victoria 03 5565 3142 0407 724 552 sungoldfielddays@wcbf.com.au www.sungoldfielddays.com.au 17-19 Seymour Alternative Farming Expo Calvin Maude Kings Park, Tallarook Street, Seymour, Victoria 1300 178 881 03 5799 1211 admin@seymour-expo.com www.seymour-expo.com

MARCH 2017 7 King Island Show Cynthia Stellmaker Currie Showgrounds, Currie, Tasmania 03 6462 1117 tanya_arnold@bigpond.com www.ascti.com.au 7-9 Wimmera Machinery Field Days Murray Wilson Wimmera Events Centre at Longerenong near Horsham, Victoria 03 5384 7210 info@wimmerafielddays.com.au www.wimmerafielddays.com.au 10-11 Wagin Woolorama Murray Wilson Wagin Showgrounds, Wagin, Western Australia 08 9861 2242 08 9861 1611 tradefair@woolorama.com.au www.woolorama.com.au 17-18 South East Field Days Lyn Crosby Yakka Park, 3293 Avenue Range Road, Lucindale, South Australia 08 8766 7001 sefds@bigpond.com www.southeastfielddays.com.au

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31-1 Karoonda Farm Fair Ray Bald District Football & Netball Club, Railway Terrace, Karoonda, South Australia 08 8538 2860 0408 813 452 info@farmgair.com.au www.farmfair.com.au

APRIL 2017 1 Coonamble AG Field Day Sandra Harrison Coonamble Showground,Castlereagh Hwy, Coonamble, New South Wales 02 6822 4420 0428 312 630 sandra@coonamblertc.org.au www.coonambleagfieldday.com 4-5 Agfair - Broken Hill Erica Malloch Broken Hill Racecorse, Broken Hill, New South Wales 08 8088 1844 secretary@agfairbrokenhill.com.au www.agfairbrokenhill.com.au 6-19 Sydney Royal Easter Show Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales 02 9704 1111 callcentre@eastershow.com.au www.eastershow.com.au 28-29 East Gippsland Field Days Sue-Ellan Latham Bairnsdale Aerodrome, Bairnsdale, Victoria 03 5153 1398 0412 523 408 info@egfielddays.com www.egfielddays.com

MAY 2017 4-6 Agfest Field Days Quercus Rural Youth Park 415 Oaks Road, Carrick, Tasmania 1300 243 378 admin@agfest.com.au www.agfest.com.au

5-6 Agrotrend Field Days Bundaberg Col Reynolds Bundeberg Recreation Precinct, Queensland Opposite Bundaberg Airport 0488 197 400 event@agrotrend.com.au www.agrotrend.com.au 5-7 Tocal Field Days Carol Cairney 815 Tocal Road, Paterson, New South Wales 02 4939 8820 fielddays@tocal.com www.tocalfielddays.com 12-13 Riverina Field Days Roly Zappacosta Griffith Showground, Griffith, New South Wales 02 6962 1180 0408 432 676 roly@coroclub.com.au www.riverinafielddays.com 24-26 Rotary FNQ Field Days Lesa Pershouse Mareeba District Rodeo Association, Kerribee Park, Mt Abbott, Queensland 0427 998 203 info@fnqfielddays.org.au www.fnqfielddays.org.au 6-9 Farmfest Field Days Barry Harley Bruxner Highway, Casino, New South Wales 02 6768 5800 farmfest@fairfaxmedia.com.au www.farmfest.com.au

JULY 2017 14-15 Mudgee Small Farm Field Days Steve Garland Mudgee, New South Wales 02 6372 3899 info@arec.com.au www.arec.com.au 14-16 Australian Wool and Sheep Show Steve Coles Prince of Wales Showgrounds, Holmes Road, Bendigo, Victoria 03 5443 9902 secretary@sheepshow.com www.sheepshow.com

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

-OUT GUIDE AUGUST 2017 22-24 Commonwealth Bank AGQUIP Field Days Barry Harley 8 kilometres west of Gunnedah on 134 Blackjack Road, Gunnedah New South Wales 02 6768 5800 agquip@ruralpress.com.au www.agquip.com.au 30-31 Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days Jeanne Friend Dowerin, Western Australia 08 9631 1021 info@dowerinfielddays.com.au www.dowerinfielddays.com.au

Pin me up and never miss an event TBA "Kilfera" Field Day Clive Linnett "Kilfera", Ivanhoe, New South Wales 2878 02 6995 1315 0428 951 315 kilfera1@bigpond.com

OCTOBER 2017 26-28 Yorke Peninsula Field Days located at Paskerville Elaine Bussenschutt PO Box 162, Kadina, South Australia 5554 08 8827 2040 ypfd@netyp.com.au www.ypfielddays.com.au Biennial

36th annual Sungold Field Days

SEPTEMBER 2017 1-10 Adelaide Royal Show Adelaide Showgrounds, Goodwood Rd, Wayville, South Australia 08 8210 5211 info@adelaideshowground.com.au www.theshow.com.au

Talk to us about how we can help grow your business Trusted and recognised – covering news, information and products from manufacturers, importers, suppliers and dealers, producers and contractors, plus their industry representative bodies for 32 years.

Industry guide for Field Days, expos and rural conferences.

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Editorial Ph: 08 8369 9555 Email: edit.afdj@ryanmediapl.com.au Advertising Ph: 0407 600 282 Email: s.craig@ryanmediapl.com.au

Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th & Friday 10th February 2017 SITE BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN Ph: (03) 5565 3142 Fax: (03) 5565 3158 Email: sungold.fielddays@saputo.com Website: www.sungoldfielddays.com.au

FEATURES INCLUDE: > the latest technology in milk harvesting equipment > motor vehicles and farm bikes > machinery display & demonstrations > soil and fertiliser advice > farming information > financial advice > tools & hardware supplies

SOUTH WEST VICTORIA’S ONLY DAIRY FIELD DAY

Major Sponsors:

F I E L D D AY S E X P O G U I D E

Biggest site area ever at 2016 Henty Machinery Field Days

n aerial shot of the 2016 Henty Machinery Field Days, which drew 55,000 A visitors.

Strong commodity prices have resulted in a 55,000 strong crowd at the Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD) to inspect the “agribusiness supermarket’’ of 868 exhibitors on the biggest site area in the event’s history.

Held on September 20-22, the event drew record crowd numbers on the first day, but wet weather dampened numbers for the remainder to result in the final tally.

Despite waterlogged winter crops in some areas, visitors responded by travelling from every state in Australia, armed with their shopping lists.

Exhibitors reported buoyant sales and solid follow-up leads.

This year featured the largest site area, cementing Henty as the single

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biggest outdoor and agriculture event in Australia.

HMFD chairman, Ross Edwards, said the hot ticket items this year were sheep and cattle handling equipment, and chaser bins.

Mr Edwards said planning for the 2017 event was already underway with a vision to build on the agronomy display

by Baker Seed Co. He said the new 120-metre Country Lifestyle pavilion, filled with more than 100 exhibitors, was a drawcard for field day visitors.

The pavilion was officially named the Taylor Wood Pavilion in honour of long-serving field day volunteers Milton Taylor, Henty, and Colin Wood, Table Top.

“Farm Gate was a hit again with good feedback on the quality of the locally grown produce. The agronomy trial plots were outstanding and Baker Seed Co to their credit had done a great job there. Exhibitors that I have spoken to by and large are happy, with many making good sales.”

The 53rd annual field days marked 50 years of voluntary service for Mr Edwards since first working as a car park attendant with Pleasant Hills Rural Youth at the 1966 field days.

“I won’t be leaving the field days but I believe we must bring younger people into the executive positions, and I will be there to support them without getting in their way,’’ he said.

The field days were officially opened

by Australian Dairy Farmers deputy chairwoman, Simone Jolliffe, of Wagga.

A highlight of this year was the coveted Henty Machine of the Year Award being presented to Urana woolgrowers Charlie and Tana Webb for their sheep handling solution, Back Up Charlie.

Highly commended was the Miller Nitro 6365 with Spray Air from McIntosh Distributors, WA. In other awards, the Landaco Maxispread bulk spreader from Landaco Equipment, Wagga Wagga, won the Tractor and Machinery Association Award for best new Australian designed and built agricultural machine.

Always a crowd favourite, the Exelpet/ Pedigree three sheep field trial drew 105 entries and their handlers from around the nation.

Paul Elliott, Eumungerie, NSW, took out the event with his dog Elliotts Georgie.

Drawing a record 130 entries, the Exelpet/Pedigree Murray Valley Yard Dog Championships were dominated

by Dale Thompson, Winton, Vic, and his nine-year-old bitch, Roustabout.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

F I E L D D AY S E X P O G U I D E

Efficient bulk spreader takes judges eye in TMA Award A Riverina designed and manufactured bulk spreader has won the coveted Tractor and Machinery Association Award at the Henty Machinery Field Days.

The TMA award recognises the best new Australian designed and built agricultural machine and is judged by a panel of independent judges.

It was presented by TMA chief executive officer Gary Northover and Henty Machinery Field Days director Nigel Scheetz to Landaco Equipment principal Peter Connor on September 22.

Mr Scheetz said the winning machine, the Landaco Maxispread TS12000, was well engineered.

“A lot of thought has gone into the utilisation of the machine for both lime and urea applications,’’ Mr Scheetz said.

“It has the capability to spread out to 3m centres for controlled traffic and other variable widths the customer needs to have.

“It can be used for both lime and urea applications, and tests have shown it is capable of accurately spreading 100kg/ha up to 30m.

“There are a lot of options including load cells and variable tyre sizes – its serviceability is good.’’

Peter Connor, of Wagga, said the 12 tonne Maxispread was set up for full variable rate control to top dress urea, and

featured large 700mm spinners.

It can also double as a field or chaser bin, boasting good ground clearance.

The spinner assembly can be detached to allow for feeding grain, laying gravel on roads or shifting material.

“The machine is set up with weight scales, to be compatible with a multitude of electronic controllers on tractors and has large flotation tyres on 3m controlled traffic,’’ Mr Connor said.

“Our 25 tonne crop cruiser is built on the same 3m controlled traffic spec.

“The machine is designed so the precision urea spinners can be taken off and a new 800m dished four-blade spinner disc attached for lime and gypsum.’’

Mr Connor said the machine had been tested in the range of 18 to 24 km/h at 60-120kg/ha.

“We have a Mark 4 divider for around the 100kg/ha and an adapter guide for up to 300kg/ha,’’ he said.

“All of that is interchangeable – there are cameras to monitor the feed of the product off the back of the machine from the tractor cabin.

“The machines do have an access ladder on the front for viewing, and safety bars on the back.

“There are options on the 10 tonne and over Maxispread machines where the

eter Connor P

auto door closes automatically when the spinners shut down.’’

Mr Connor said the majority of the machine was made from stainless steel to increase the longevity.

“Everything is grit blasted and painted in high grade two pack enamel as an individual part, and then assembled in our Wagga factory,’’ he said.

“We have had good feedback at Henty with growers liking the constant development of the product and adaptation to the new technologies available.

“We are changing out of basic mechanical ground drives to full electronic drives.

“People like the simplicity of the machine and the modular concept where the machine can adapt to different wheel bases and tyre specs, spinner systems for various widths and controlled traffic.’’

Three days of innovation, inspiration, food and fun at Sungold The Sungold Field Days, from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th February, has grown to become one of Victoria’s premier agricultural events showcasing a vast range of agricultural machinery, the latest in dairy innovations and plenty of entertainment for families.

Now in its 36th year, this year’s event is the biggest in its history. Last event saw the 245 sites at full capacity, with over 50 new exhibitors never seen before at the Field Days, and about 25 new product releases and we expect the 2017 field days to be even better.”

It’s the only dairy-focused field days

in the region. Visitors can spend the days leisurely wandering through stalls spreading over 7.5 hectares, talking to exhibitors, many of whom will be showcasing the latest technology in the dairy industry.

Learn and talk with the experts and of course grab yourself a bargain while you are there! Or if you are after something a little different, come and watch local, award-winning Chef Brenton Banner from the world-renowned Pickled Pig restaurant, located in Warrnambool, cook up a storm and share some of his secrets as to why his restaurant was recognised by

the 2016 Good Food Guide with a One Hat Award.

And of course there is much more for all to enjoy! The event is conveniently located opposite the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford, about 12km east of Warrnambool on the Great Ocean Road.

Don’t miss out, the event is on 8 – 10 February and tickets will be sold at the gate.

For more information, visit sungoldfielddays.com.au or call 03 5565 3142.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

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F I E L D D AY S E X P O G U I D E

Swedish farmers impressed by scale It’s official — whether they farm on 4000ha in central western NSW, or 40ha in Sweden, farmers love big machinery!

The Australian National Field Days played host to 30 Swedish farmers last month, in town as part of an Australian tour stretching from Sydney in the south to Dalby and Fraser Island in the north.

The tour is being run by Sweden’s oldest agricultural newspaper Lantmannen, and guided by Kees Van Haasteren from Quadrant tours.

Lantmannen editor-in-chief, Anna Nilsson, said the farmers were excited to be in Orange, viewing new technology and meeting other producers who operate in a very different environment to themselves.

“Some of these farmers are cattle producers, some are dairy farmers, all are croppers and some are involved in forestry,” Ms Nilsson said.

“In Sweden the average farm size is 40ha and, due to the climate, our animals spend most of their lives inside, so our agriculture is very different to Australia.

 L antmannen editor-in-chief Anna Nilsson (centre) with members of the Swedish farm tour checking out some of the agricultural equipment on show at the Australian National Field Days.

“We also have much more water so our wheat yields are much higher – six to seven tonnes per hectare compared to about two tonnes in Australia.”

Ms Nilsson said the Swedish farmers were looking forward to learning more about large-scale irrigation, drones, direct-drill farming methods and, of course, big machinery.

“All farmers love big machinery, even though they might not be able to use it in their small fields,” she laughed.

“But really, getting an international viewpoint is just very useful and will give them ideas to improve their own production as well as know what the competition is doing.”

Wandin Silvan Field Days draw thousands Wandin Silvan Field Days in the Upper Yarra Valley attracted thousands of visitors last month, including many who once again made the short trip from Melbourne to experience the best of the country.

This year’s Field Days featured a number of new events catering for diverse interests, including a wildlife display and snakepit

arren Storey in the New Holland W T5.105 Tractor

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talks by Black Snake Productions and a rare demonstration of Peter Humphris’ “Mad Max” tractor, which is fitted with a V12 engine from a tug boat.

For many people, the real stars of the show will always be the farm equipment on display, and this year included a huge range of the latest vehicles, products and innovations.

 Leo Schoonderbeek of Konnigs Shepparton with the new Ferrari Skyjump V95 Duel steer tractor.

 Shane Duggan from Dandenong Mowerpower with a Walker mower

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS Prioritising safety this harvest Grain growers are being encouraged to implement strategies to ensure harvest 2016 is a safe one.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is backing calls by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety for the prioritisation of the welfare of all those involved in harvesting this year’s crops.

GRDC Manager Grower Services, Alan Umbers, said harvest was a testing time of the year for the nation’s growers so being well prepared was critical.

“It is important that growers remain firmly focused on planning for a safe and successful harvest, especially after having to contend with numerous challenges during the 2016 growing season, from frosts in the west through to flooding and waterlogging in the southern and northern cropping regions,” Mr Umbers said.

Director of the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, Dr Tony Lower, said now was the time to make sure that growers and their most important resource – the people who work with and for them – were safe and up to the tasks ahead.

“Growers experience intense pressure and fatigue during harvest, and there is usually a higher number of inexperienced seasonal workers employed – all factors that expose the industry to a heightened risk of danger,” said Dr Lower, whose work is supported through the Primary Industries Health and Safety Partnership, of which the GRDC is a partner.

Dr Lower said risks could be reduced by growers employing key strategies, such as: Making sure all guards on machinery and equipment (harvesters, tractors, chaser bins, silos, field bins and auger), are in place; Ensuring all people working during harvest – whether employees, contractors or family members – are inducted into the way safety will be

 Grain growers are being encouraged to implement strategies to ensure harvest 2016 is a safe one. Photo: Chris Stacey

managed during the harvest, including fatigue. Expectations for safety should be made very clear to everyone; Having a standard policy where all harvester/machinery engines are stopped and keys removed from the ignition during maintenance. Before working under raised hydraulics, header fronts and combs, ensure hydraulic and ram locks have been fitted and that the comb is chocked and supported. Replace all guards after servicing/repairs; Making everyone aware of electrical hazards and where they exist on the property. Consider having no go areas, if practical. Look up and live; Fire is always a risk at harvest. Check that the water trailer is full, regularly clean down headers to keep trash and straw away from pulleys, belts and bearings, and fit a fire extinguisher on headers, tractors and fuel trailers.

Dr Lower said the mix of people, machinery, extended working hours and fatigue made for a potent cocktail increasing the risk of injury and downtime during harvest.

“It is in everyone’s interest to manage fatigue and while there is no one-size fits all solution, there are things that you can do. Talking with all workers and family members about fatigue and how you will manage fatigue during the harvest as part of the induction is vital.”

To help start this discussion with workers and contractors, a self assessment fatigue checklist poster has been developed and can be downloaded from the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety website’s Resources for Farmers (Fatigue Management) at http://sydney.edu.au/ medicine/aghealth/.

“One error made in tiredness can have tragic consequences for individuals or others working on the harvest. Let’s make this harvest a productive and injury-free one,” Dr Lower said.

Further information on harvest safety is available by phoning the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety on 02 6752 8210.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

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NEWS New campaign encourages producers to boost Merino ewe base The Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders has launched a campaign encouraging producers to increase merino breeding ewe numbers in their enterprise mix.

The campaign acknowledges the merino ewe as the backbone of the Australian sheep industry and that there are many industry businesses and organisations which have a common interest in the breed’s continued success.

It is the first national, industry-supported campaign of its type in the merino industry and targets the whole supply chain, from producers to exporters, to ensure there is a critical mass of the meat and wool supply that is integral to the industry.

The first two sponsors, partnering in the campaign launch, are Australian Wool Innovation and ProWay Livestock Equipment, with more to be announced as the campaign progresses.

AASMB President Georgie Wallace said the campaign was sparked by the fact that merinos have a great story to tell in profitability and performance.

“There are many producers achieving outstanding financial returns in terms of dollars per dry sheep equivalent or per

hectare through best practice flock management and business planning.

“We know that merinos have the capacity to outperform other livestock enterprises and be competitive with returns from grain growing enterprises. Financial analysis is proving their profitability in different rainfall zones right across Australia.

“For example, for Tasmanian producer David Taylor – who benchmarks his operation through Holmes Sackett – merinos are generating an income of about $70/DSE for wool, compared with $60/DSE for prime lamb and $50/DSE for beef, while in the six-year sheep profitability trial at Elmore, Victoria, Merinos had the highest dollars per DSE return at up to $70, compared to other groups at up to $61.”

Campaign sponsor Australian Wool Innovation chief executive officer Stuart McCulloch said the organisation was quick to support the campaign because of the need to increase the merino ewe flock to take advantage of the enormous global fibre and food opportunities in future.

Support for growers planning to store grain on-farm With yield potential high and prices for cereal grains low, growers in the southern cropping region are expected to store large volumes of grain on-farm after the 2016 harvest.

That likely scenario has prompted new advice to growers about the need for storage systems that are suitable and safe.

Chris Warrick, who heads up the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Grain Storage Extension Project, said early preparation is the key to ensuring successful storage with existing permanent on-farm infrastructure and temporary storage such as bags, bunkers and sheds.

“Planning ahead for effective storage of grain from this year’s crops is so important.

Growers need to consider factors such as cleaning and repair of storage structures, pressure-testing silos before the grain goes in, site preparation for temporary storage, securing protectants which will be in high demand this year, and sound hygiene and safety practices – all of which contribute to minimising losses of grain held in storage.”

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To support growers with their on-farm grain storage preparations, the GRDC has released a new Stored Grain app for iPhones and iPads. It can be downloaded for free from the iTunes store, or via https://grdc.com.au/Resources/Apps.

Mr Warrick said the app offered two main features.

“The first is a series of ‘how to’ guides and videos on silo buying, fumigation, hygiene and structural treatments, aeration cooling and aeration drying, as well as pest identification. Growers and advisers can use the app to send experts photos of pests for assistance with identification.”

The second key feature is a log for storage and monitoring records.

“Growers can record details at the storage site, regardless of mobile reception or data speed. They simply enter the records they wish to keep and the next time they are back in mobile reception range, records can be synchronised between multiple mobile devices and/or exported to a spreadsheet.”

Storage details such as grain type, variety, grade, quantity, paddock/source, date filled, date emptied and who it was sold to can be recorded, making for easy quality assurance tracking.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT'S NEW - QUAD SAFETY Quad bike rollover alert could save lives

Commercial GPS tracking company, Austracker, has announced the launch of the Rollover Rescue Tracker, an automated alert based system designed to drastically reduce the time taken to rescue farmers if their bike rolls.

Quad bike rollovers are currently the leading cause of farm deaths in Australia. There were 22 quad bike fatalities and 70 injuries in Australia last year, according to a study by the Transport and Road Safety Research Centre at UNSW. In response to the high death rate, the Victorian state government recently announced a $6 million roll-bar subsidy scheme, to be administered by the Victorian Farmers Federation.

General Manager of Geelong-based Austracker, Richard Mason, encouraged farmers to make use of the rebate and think of the Rollover Rescue Tracker as an additional part of their overall safety plan.

“Wherever possible we want to prevent accidents from happening. But unfortunately accidents can and do still happen, even to the best of riders. The roll-bars are essential. But as an added layer of safety the Rollover Rescue Tracker means that even if an accident happens, a rescue team can get to riders faster.”

The tracker works by automatically sending out an alert to the rider’s chosen network. It might be neighbours, family or co-workers. Once the bike tilts more than 45 degrees the message will be sent by text or email alerting the network that the rider has rolled and their co-ordinates. By clicking the coordinates the exact location will show on a map. A siren will also sound to help rescuers find the rider in difficult conditions. If the rider doesn’t need assistance they can press a button on the bike to let the network know they are OK. Richard said some farmers often worked in very remote or solitary conditions.

“If there is an accident and they are injured it can be hours before family and friends even realise something is wrong. And then there’s the time it takes to locate the rider to rescue them. As

paramedics say, the golden hour, that first hour after an accident, can mean the difference between life and death.”

Austracker supplies GPS and tracking solutions to the field service, insurance and logistics industries. Their development team works closely with agricultural partners to develop tools utilising GPS tracking for safer, more efficient farming.

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WHAT'S NEW - MACHINERY Monduran Orchards rely on Farmall B fleet

Orchardist Jim Mullett and his family have tried three tractor brands in their Queensland business, Monduran Orchards — and decided they can’t go past the compact Case IH Farmall B. “Every little thing about them ticks the box, like no other tractor has done beforehand. We have 14 Farmall B’s now and are looking to increase the fleet. We also have a Farmall C on order for the more narrow rows.”

The Mulletts farm 1,214 hectares at Gin Gin, some 370km north-west of Brisbane.

The property, “Monduran Station”, is now also home to the sixth generation — Jim’s son Alastair’s children.

One of Queensland’s largest producers of early-market citrus and one of Australia’s biggest producers of red grapefruit, the enterprise grows seedless lemons, limes and grapefruit, as well as Imperial, Murcott and Taylor-Lee mandarins.

Jim, chairman of the Bundaberg Health Services Foundation, and founder and patron of the Monduran Aero Club, says the move to Case IH happened over time.

“Most orchardists buy small tractors second-hand to pull trailers and bins for picking. But increasing buying competition from hobby farmers means you’re buying 50-year-old tractors for $10,000. For not much more, you can buy a brand new Farmall B, and it’s economically sensible to buy new.

30

“We’ve tried other tractor brands, and while we found them good, the maintenance is too much — particularly with plastic parts. We found the expense of replacing them was (a) not cheap, and (b) we had to do it regularly.

“So when we went back and looked at all the brands, we were most impressed with Case IH. With their steel bonnets, they’re built to last. The tractors came with canopies and three remotes and fourwheel drive — everything that we wanted for a price you couldn’t better anywhere.

They’re not much more than a lesserquality import and yet you’ve got a very reliable tractor.”

Peter Elias, Product Manager – Tractors for Case IH says ease of operation is often a factor in orchardists, viticulturists and small-block farmers choosing these reliable tractors whose efficiency leads to increased production.

Jim concurs: “We find they’re so easy and their systems are very light to use.

We have to keep the fruit in pristine condition, so it’s very good to be able to drop them into low range.

“And they’re an adaptable and strong, tractor — we’ve even designed lemonpicking aids to big trailers that fit on behind our Farmall B’s, and we use them to apply herbicide at very low rates under our trees to keep the rows clean.”

“We just can’t fault the Farmall B, to be honest. They’re very sound, and the

simple fact is by sticking to the one brand, any maintenance is easy. We’ve had no maintenance issues, yet we’ve got other tractors with 10,000 hours that just have their third front-end rebuild.”

Jim recounts what “would have been a catastrophe in another brand”.

“A large limb came out of a 70-foot tree and fell onto a tractor roof and bonnet.

It didn’t even bend the bonnet down to the engine! If that had been plastic top or bonnet, it would have broken much of the engine. But we continued using it, and got it repaired when the season finished. That’s the strength of the Farmall B. Our staff, many of whom have been with us for 20 years, just cannot get over how good they are to operate and how versatile they are. My farm manager recently said to me, ‘These act like tractors that are worth twice the amount we’re paying.’.”

Jim says with season-peak staff at 170 — and growing — Monduran Orchards is looking to build its Farmall B fleet to 30, to accommodate 90 pickers.

“We’re blessed in Bundaberg that the McDonald Murphy Case IH dealership in is the best tractor dealership I’ve ever dealt with. We cannot stress strongly enough how they’ve looked after us with old-fashioned service. We can’t afford downtime, and they keep spares on the shelf all the time, which minimises it at any stage. They have approached rebuilding our business in a real partnership-type way with us.”

Jim says Monduran Orchards has moved away from tradition with its marketing.

“We’ve gone into the 21st century and that attitude is really why we went for the Case IH Farmall B: we believe you’re not meant to spend half your life repairing old tractors. It’s our belief that the Farmall B is an exception to the saying, ‘you only get what you pay for’ — you get a hell of a lot more than you pay for with these. We’re super pleased.”

For more information see your local Case IH dealer or visit www.caseih.com.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

TILLAGE & CROPPING Grizzly’s Tiny range takes everything thrown at it Grizzly’s ironically named Tiny range of tandem offset discs has ploughed some of Australia’s toughest country and taken anything customers could throw at it in the almost three years since launch.

The Tiny range has multiple sizes and configurations to choose from and includes the biggest and heaviest model that Grizzly has ever built.

Grizzly Marketing Manager, Skye Poltrock, said it was certainly a testament to Australian engineering to have such a well-built, tough and beautifully finished agricultural implement designed and made in Australia.

“Tiny is turning heads because it covers such a broad application and has features that farmers want such as narrow transport width, high clearance and options such as non pneumatic wheels and hydraulic hose protection.”

She said the ironic name was one of several across Grizzly’s product range.

“A lot of our models have names that poke a bit of fun such as the Grumpy. When the name Tiny got thrown out around the office during the design process it seemed to stick. It rings true with the good old Aussie slang for the biggest guy in the group that gets called Tiny so it seemed to be a perfect match for the heaviest and most robust plough we have ever made.”

The Grizzly name has become synonymous with the rural and agricultural sector of Australia since its beginnings in 1982. Maintaining its head office and manufacturing facility in the North Western Victorian town of Swan Hill, Grizzly employs over 35 local people in the regional town.

Specialising in ground engaging tractor drawn equipment, Grizzly design and manufacture disc ploughs, grader blades and deep rippers.

Skye said the the huge range of tandem offset disc ploughs was where Grizzly really set themselves apart.

“If you want to cultivate soil, then Grizzly are the people to speak to. We have small machines like the aptly named ViniDisc, which is suited to tractors down to 35hp, right up to the Tiny with 42” discs, designed for tractors no smaller than 500hp. And there is something for just about everything in between.”

The Tiny range has five key models types to suit the intended application.

Tiny 230 has a 9” disc spacing and some with 28” discs and is ideal for general heavy cultivation for both dryland and irrigation applications. It is the most popular due to its versatility.

Tiny 230H has a 9” disc spacing but has the ability to take a 32” disc for operators that want great clearance and great depth.

Tiny 290 has 11 ½” disc spacing with the ability to take up to a 36” disc. With a huge weight per disc, it is great for new country with growth and suckers as well as existing country.

Tiny 390 has 15” disc spacing with a 36” disc for new and existing farming country where maximum depth is of prime importance. This model features high disc clearance for maximum weight per disc.

Tiny 460 has 18” disc spacing with 42” discs. It has maximum weight and maximum clearance to achieve a consistent working depth of over 300mm where mixing soils is of prime importance.

You can contact Grizzly on 1800 637 250 or email sales@ grizzlyag.com.au for more information

Rippers

Wheel Track Renovator

Tandem Offset Discs

Grader Blade

Call us today to find out more information on Grizzly’s quality range

1800 637 250

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

www.grizzlyag.com.au

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TILLAGE & CROPPING SA tillage innovator making a big impact A TILLAGE system developed by Kelly Engineering in South Australia is set to slash the cost and boost the productivity of cover crop planting.

The system combines a diamondshaped tiller with an air seeder to allow the entire sowing process to be completed in one pass.

The patented Diamond Harrow tillage machine fitted with a Cover Crop Seeder begun testing in the United States last month and is expected to be commercially available next year.

The launch comes at a time when the planting of cover crops in the United States is on the rise again as farmers look to increase crop yields while reducing their reliance on pesticides and nitrogen fertilisers.

Kelly Engineering Managing Director, Shane Kelly, said the company’s focus was to build highly efficient products that were also affordable.

He said the addition of the Cover Crop Seeder to the Diamond Harrow successfully achieved this.

“There are government incentives for farmers in the US to get involved with a cover crop program for environmental benefits, whether it be nutrient recycling, erosion control, soil improvements or water runoff,” Kelly said.

“In the US, as here in Australia, there is recognition that maintaining live plants year round helps soil health and productivity.

“Farming on a global basis should be sustainable and we know that soil degradation, weeds and water-use efficiency are things affecting agriculture – we know that the tillage tools we provide can help address all of those issues.”

The Diamond Harrow uses four chains lined up in a diamond formation to allow the machine to prepare the seedbed in rough fields. The Cover Crop Seeder is integrated into the machine, which is towed by tractor.

Each chain is fitted with a crop-specific row of metal discs that rotate and 32

 The new Diamond Harrow model and Cover Crop Feeder with (left to right) US Sales and Marketing Manager Wayne Rosenbaum, Kelly dealer and farmer George Quinn and Kelly Engineering Managing Director Shane Kelly.

penetrate the soil. The design also allows the machine to work the soil, attack crop residue and manage weeds.

The machines initiate better microbial action in the soil by decomposing residue in the top layer. This allows it to access more sunlight, which dries the soil and helps kill weeds.

Cover crops are increasingly becoming an accepted technique to improving soil health and crop yield.

The North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) in the United States estimate there was an almost 40 per cent increase in the number of farmers planting cover crops from 2012 to 2013.

According to the US Census of Agriculture more than 130,000 farms used cover crops on 10.3 million acres in 2013. SARE has set a target of 20 million acres of cover crops in the US by 2020.

Some of the most common types of cover crops in the US include rye, wheat, barley, field pea, canola and mustard.

Previously, cover crops were viewed by some farmers as being too expensive because of the requirement to maintain fields and machines year-round.

Kelly said the new Diamond Harrow would not only save time, its precision seeding would lead to more accurate germination and deliver higher crop yields in all types of weather.

He said the machines also helped farmers save on additional maintenance costs.

“One customer related that he spends $15,000 a year rebuilding his no till planter. He spends $7000 annually as a direct result of cover crops,” Kelly said.

“Wear costs on the Kelly Diamond Harrow are in the order of 30 cents per acre and the machine will go for many years without spending anything significant.

“A new set of chains (on the Diamond Harrow) after 100,000 acres would cost around $25,000.”

More than two-thirds of Kelly Engineering’s business is in the US, where it has generated more than AU$50m in sales.

The family-owned South Australian business also exports to Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom and is gearing up to grow its business in Africa.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

Phone: (08)

MANUTEC PTY. LTD.

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M ANUTEC HAS A LARGE OF PRESS OF P WHEELS, PLANTER WHEELS, GAUGE WHEELS MANUTEC HAS A RANGE OF PRESS MLARGE ANUTEC HAS ARANGE LARGE RANGE MANUTEC ANUTEC HAS LARGE RANGE OFPRESS PRESS M HAS AALARGE RANGE OF AGRICULTURAL WHEELS, PLANTER WHEELS, GAUGE WHEELS AND WHEELS, DISCS TO SUIT MOST AUSTRALIAN AND PLANTER WHEELS, GAUGE WHEELS WHEELS, PLANTER WHEELS, GAUGE W WHEELS, PLANTER WHEELS, GAUGE WHEELS WHEELS, PLANTER WHEELS, GAUGE WHEEL AND DISCS TO SUIT MOST AUSTRALIAN AND IMPORTED FARM MACHINERY, INCLUDING AND DISCS TO SUIT MOST AUSTRALIAN AND PARTS AND AND DISCS TO MOST AUSTRALIAN AND AND DISCS TOSUIT SUIT MOST AUSTRALIAN AND AND DISCS TO SUIT MOST AUSTRALIA HD & LD AGRICULTURAL IN-FRAME SEEDINGNEW PRODUCT IMPORTED FARM MACHINERY, INCLUDING RANGE JOHN DEERE, FLEXICOIL, BOURGAULT, GANG CONVERSIONS HUB, STUBS, AXLES & IMPORTED FARM MACHINERY, INCLUDING IMPORTED FARM MACHINERY, INCLUDING IMPORTED FARM MACHINERY, INCLUDING TRAILER PRODUCTS IMPORTED FARM MACHINERY, INCLU HD & LD WHEELS AGRICULTURAL IN-FRAME SEEDING JOHN DEERE, FLEXICOIL, BOURGAULT, MORRIS, EZEE-ON, STUBBLEKING AND ASSEMBLIES HD HD & LD AGRICULTURAL TRAILER PARTS HUB,AXLES STUBS, & TO IN-FRAME SEEDING& COULTERS JOHN DEERE, FLEXICOIL, BOURGAULT, SUIT FLEXICOIL, STUBS, & AXLES & LD HUB, HUB, COULTER CULTIVATOR AGRICULTURAL AGRICULTURAL IN-FRAME SEEDING IN-FRAME SEEDING Phone: (08)• 8260 2277 JOHN DEERE, FLEXICOIL, BOURGAULT, MANUTEC PTY. LTD. JOHN DEERE, FLEXICOIL, BOURGAULT, AGRICULTURAL Phone: (08) 8260 2277 & IN-FRAME SEEDING MANUTEC PTY. LTD. STUBS, AXLES & AXLES & JOHN DEERE, FLEXICOIL, BOURGAU MANY MORE. Low maintenance press MORRIS, EZEE-ON, STUBBLEKING AND ASSEMBLIES CATALOGUE HUB, STUBS, AXLES TRAILER PARTS COULTERS WHEELS MORRIS, EZEE-ON, STUBBLEKING AND ASSEMBLIES TRAILER PARTS COULTERS Fax: (08) 8260 2399 WHEELS 30 JONAL DRIVE CAVAN SA 5094 BOURGAULT, MORRIS, Fax: (08) 8260 2399 DISCS 5094 COULTERS, DOUBLE PRESS SA WHEELS, DISC MORRIS, EZEE-ON, STUBBLEKING AND ASSEMBLIES MORRIS, EZEE-ON, STUBBLEKING AND A ASSEMBLIES UBLE DISC 30 JONAL DRIVE CAVAN TRAILER TRAILER PARTS PARTS MANY MORE. COULTERS WHEELS MORRIS, EZEE-ON, STUBBLEKING ASSEMBLIES TRAILER PARTS MORE. wheel range MANY WHEELS manutec@manutec.com.au www.manutec.com.au OPENERS & OEMAFTERMARKET AGRICULTURAL PARTS EZZEONRANGEmanutec@manutec.com.au MANY MORE. JOHN DEERE RANGE MANY MORE. RAL PARTS www.manutec.com.au JOHN DEERE 1870 AFTERMARKET PRESSWHEEL NEW MUD RAZOR MANY MORE. • Mudrazor tyres for1870 DBSAFTERMARKET andPRESSWHEEL PSS PRESSWHEEL JOHN DEERE AFTERMARKET JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE AFTERMARKET RANGE RANGE JOHN DEERE 1870 AFTERMARKET

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EATS

NEW

WHAT'S NEW - TRACTORS All new flagship JCB Fastrac launched in 25th anniversary year To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the JCB Fastrac tractor, Australian distributor JCB Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) is bringing the all-new innovative 8330 Fastrac to our shores, after the launch of the model in the UK last week.

According to Dave Moselen, JCB CEA National Product Manager for Fastrac, the new 8330 adds to the appeal and performance of the current 4000 series, which was launched earlier in the year, but builds on the already popular features.

“The most obvious changes are the distinctive styling and new Command Plus cab, but under the skin, the 8330 has an engine with more power and torque, a new high speed hydrostatic steering system and new tyre options.

“A more compact front linkage and PTO package as well as a larger deck area behind the cab add to the tractors’ versatility and productivity potential,” Dave says.

“The new Fastrac 4000 Series has been very well received by seasoned and new Fastrac users alike, but now we are introducing several of that tractor’s appealing features to our biggest Fastrac model to increase their versatility and further improve the operator experience

34

while also raising performance levels.”

The Fastrac 8330 continues to use an 8.4-litre six-cylinder engine but it now meets Euro Stage 4 / US Tier 4 Final emissions standards.

The revised engine specification not only meets emission standards, it delivers more power and torque, using a twin turbocharger installation that delivers quick responses when the operator requires increased power.

“The new 8330 model takes the Fastrac to new performance heights with a rated speed output of 250kW (335hp) rising to 260kW (348hp) under full load, which represents a significant increase in power of 14%,” Dave says.

“At the same time, peak torque goes up by 10% to 1440Nm at 1500rpm, which gives the tractor even greater ability to ‘hang on’ as conditions become more challenging or the tractor faces a climb, whether in the field or on the road.”

The new 8330 also comes with JCB ACTIV TRACTION, a key feature that the machine’s Continuously Variable Transmission’s (CVT) retain grip during heavy draft applications.

“The JCB ACTIV TRACTION draws information from a radar speed sensor, hydraulics position control and cruise

control to manipulate engine torque and maintain traction for the most cost-efficient performance, making the most of Fastrac’s unique balanced weight distribution,” Dave says.

The new Command Plus cab in the 8330 provides space, comfort and practicality for the operator, with a supportive driver’s seat that can swivel fully 50 degrees to the right and 20 degrees left so that an eye can be kept on rear-mounted and trailed equipment in comfort.

A unique hydrostatic dual steering system is used in the Fastrac 8330, which replaces the power assisted mechanical system used on previous models. The system is predominately two hydrostatic systems in one, using an advanced control valve to continuously monitor pressures and flows in both systems.

“The new system meets the crucial failsafe requirements for a tractor capable of the Fastrac 8330 - 70kph top speed in the event of hydraulic or engine failure, while the operator has the crucial combination of precision, feel and low effort whether on the road at speed or repeatedly manoeuvring,” Dave says.

“On top of that, it introduces the new feature of selectable Rapid Steer, which halves the number of turns lock-to-lock from four to just two, making life easier for the operator during headland turns and other manoeuvres below 10kph.”

JCB CEA was also honoured last week for their contribution to the Fastrac brand at a prestigious award ceremony in the UK, continuing on the celebrations of the tractor’s 25th anniversary. The award was for their work towards the sales, marketing and contribution to product development of the Fastrac since JCB CEA began distributing the product in Australia in 2004.

To enquire about the new Fastrac 8330, visit jcbcea.com.au.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT'S NEW - INNOVATION Hi-tech tomato source launches in SA A TOMATO farm that relies on the sun and seawater to produce more than 15,000 tonnes of fruit a year has been officially launched in South Australia.

Sundrop Farms’ sustainable facility in Port Augusta includes four five-hectare climate controlled greenhouses, a desalination plant and concentrated solar power system comprised of a 127-metre high tower and more than 23,000 mirrors to reflect the sun’s energy.

The $200 million commercial facility is the first of its kind in the world, employing about 175 people and producing more than 15,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually using solar power and seawater.

A ceremony was held at the plant, which is about 300km north of the South Australian capital Adelaide yesterday.

Sundrop Farms Founder and CEO Philipp Saumweber (pictured below) said the Port Augusta development demonstrated the company’s unique agribusiness model that benefitted people, planet and long-term, sustainable profits.

“With growing resource constraints our innovative model harnesses renewable inputs, such as seawater and sunlight, to de-couple food production from the finite inputs of freshwater, fossil fuels and land,” he said.

Sundrop Farms has secured a 10-year deal to supply Coles supermarkets with truss tomatoes nationally.

Since the first week in June, Sundrop Farms has delivered tomatoes to supermarkets in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Now up to eight trucks a day are leaving the facility to freight tomatoes to supermarkets across Australia.

Founded in 2009, Sundrop Farms is a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, growing high-value fruits and vegetables using renewable inputs.

Construction of the commercial facility began in March 2015 following a five-year pilot project in Port Augusta from 2009.

Port Augusta’s proximity to seawater at the top of Spencer Gulf coupled with its warm climate and abundant sunlight make it an ideal location for the project.

The commercial plant integrates solar power, electricity generation, fresh water conservation and production, climate control, and hydroponics to enable the year-round production at high yields.

The 18-month project included construction of the four greenhouses each comprising of more than 20,000 panels of glass; a 127-metre solar tower, a solar field consisting of more than 23,000 mirrors; and storage for 115 million litres of water.

The 127-metre solar tower consists of five shaft sections, each weighing over 80 tonnes. To complete the tower, the biggest lift ever undertaken in Australia raised the 234-tonne solar receiver to its pinnacle.

All 23,000 mirrors were ready to concentrate the sun’s power on the solar tower in June. This produces steam to drive onsite processes, and heat to run the desalination unit to

create 1 million litres of fresh water a day.

In 2014, global private equity firm KKR partnered with Sundrop Farms, investing more than $100 million to enable the expansion in Australia and abroad.

The opening was attended by South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, who said the project highlighted the state’s appetite for commercialising world leading technologies.

“This state-of-the-art development is a massive boost for Port Augusta and the Upper Spencer Gulf, creating almost 200 jobs and heralding the start of an exciting new industry for the region,” he said.

“It is yet another example of a world-leading company making a long-term investment in this state and I look forward to seeing the wide-scale benefits the project will bring over coming years.“ The South Australian Government supported the project through a $6 million grant from the Major Projects Program of the Regional Development Fund.”

Sundrop Farms has offices in London and Adelaide, and farms in Australia, Portugal and the United States.

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

35

YH Series

4 Pole, Single Phase, Silent type Generator output 6.6 – 29.2kVa

WHAT'S NEW - GENERATORS Yanmar expands range with new single phase models The renowned Yanmar YH series of fuel access, engine oil drain pump for easy diesel-powered commercial and industrial maintenance, emergency shutdown and three phase generators has been expanded more. with five new single phase four pole At the heart of the Yanmar YH series (1500rpm) models, ideal for a wider range of water cooled generators is the world of settings – including residential. leading Yanmar TNV series engine, a fuel tank available (LT) Optional large capacity Like their premium quality three phase robust Japanese-manufactured workhorse  YH Series 4 Pole, Single Phase, SPECIFICATIONS YH series counterparts, the new single that meets all current Australian non onSilent type generator.

Model YH110DSLS YH170DSLS YH220DSLS YH280DSLS YH440DSLS phase four pole YH series generator sets highway emission standards.

Generator Phase and Pole SINGLE PHASE, 4-POLE • YH220DSLS-5F rated at 15.3KVA feature quality, fuel-efficient Yanmar Voltage The new YH series single phase four pole 240 Output(Stand

By Rating)generator kVa sets are available 6.6 10.8 15.314.1KVA 17.9 29.2 S/By & Prime (optional engines manufactured in Japan.

(1500rpm) Output(Prime Rating) kVa 6.1 10.1 14.1 16.4 26.6 190-litre fuel tank base) The generators are ideal as standby and in stock now, and can be purchased Revolutions min-1 1500 Hz 50 • YH280DSLS-5F rated at 17.9KVA for businesses or households using solar Frequency via Power Equipment or its network of Excitation SELF EXCITED, BRUSHLESS S/By & 16.4KVA Prime (optional power, plus other uses such as back-up in Socketsauthorised dealers.

2 X 15A 1 X 15A, 1 X 32A 2 X 15A, 1 X 32A TBA Engine Type YANMAR VERTICAL WATER COOLED, 4-STROKE DIESEL 190-litre fuel tank base) the case of power cuts or as electricity for The units are easy to transport via forklift Model 3TNV76-GGEH 3TNV88-GGEH 4TNV88-GGEH 4TNV84T-GGEH 4TNV98-GGEH rated at 29.2 3.318 KVA those who are unable to access the grid. Displacement or, alternatively, can be installed by crane. 1.642 • YH440DSLS-5F L 1.116 2.190 1.995 8.1 12.2 16.426.6KVA 19.1 30.7 S/By & Prime (optional All models available are, as standard, fullyRated output(PRIME) Power Equipment Business Manager, Revolutions RPM 1500 190-litre fuel tank base) enclosed and sound proofed with industryCombustion NoelSystem Heritage, said Yanmar INDIRECT units were DIRECT INJECTION System leading sound attenuation. For example, Coolingthe gold standard in terms of longevity, SinceRADIATOR the Yanmar YH three phase series TURBOAspiration NATURAL NATURAL the new YH220DSLS-5F soundproof reliability and ease of use. was introduced to Australia CHARGED at the end of Lubricating System FORCED LUBRICATION WITH MULTI-STAGE TROCHOID PUMP model emits only 59db(A) at seven metres.

“The market has been telling us there’s 2011, Yanmar now continues to build Starting System ELECTRIC START The new single phase four pole a need for a quality single phase Yanmar on its long heritage and reputation for Fuel DIESEL (BS2869 A1 or A2) oil API GRADE:CD GRADEreliability and longevity (1500rpm) models range from 6-26kVA Lubricating option, and that demand can now be premium quality, Charging Dynamo V-A 12V-40A prime power, with larger high capacity fuelRecom filled,” he said. with the new YH single phase four pole Battery Capacity V-AH 12-66 12-92 (75% Load)5 L/HR 1.77 2.50 models. 3.29 3.75 5.70 tank bases optional – and all tanks are fullyFuel Consumption The following models are available: Unit Dimensions L-mm 1475 2100 bunded.

• YH110DSLS-5F rated at 6.6KVA S/By Yanmar and exclusive distributor W-mm 750 975 Technically advanced, the YH series & 6.1KVA Prime Power Equipment1217 are(1277-LT) committed to H-mm(optional 100-litre 1010 (1183-LT) Fuel Tank Capacity Standard L 22 100 generators remain easy to operate, with Fuel Tank Capacity fuel tank base) L offering quality Yanmar diesel generators, Optional 100 190 user-friendly design and safety features Dry Weight • YH170DSLS-5F rated at59110.8KVA providing a comprehensive all KG (656-LT) 609 (674-LT) 775 (841-LT) 785 (851-LT) range 870for (936-LT) dBa @ 7m 61 62 61 60 (±2,3 dBa) including a turn-key start, digital control Noise LevelS/By & 10.1KVA Prime (optional applications from 2.2kva to 62kVa.66 panel, rain cap for outdoor use, key-lock 100-litre fuel tank base) Head Office

GRDC award set to lead to frost maps

10-12 Commercial Drive Lynbrook, Victoria 3975 p: 03 9709 8500 f: 03 9709 8544

Graingrowers in WA could soon have maps showing areas of their property most likely to be hit by frost thanks to new research sponsored by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

The new research has been developed

by Murdoch University atmospheric scientist Jatin Kala, who was last year’s recipient of $22,000 grains innovation award sponsored by GRDC. He used the funding to study the link between frost and topography at the farm scale.

Dr Kala said that although Australia’s

36

southwest was becoming warmer and drier, many farms in the grainbelt were actually experiencing an increase in frost.

“It’s something we don’t fully understand. The idea is that under a warming and drying climate with fewer clouds and calmer conditions, one actually gets very cold conditions at night.”

Frost, along with rainfall and heat stress, is one of the biggest challenges faced by the grains industry.

If growers know which parts of their properties are most susceptible, they

Free Call: 1800 069 469 www.powerequipment.com.au e: info@powerequipment.com.au

 Murdoch University atmospheric scientist Jatin Kala.

might be able to mitigate the risk by adopting management practices to minimise frost damage in these areas.

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT'S NEW - EQUIPMENT New spray gun reduces fatigue and wrist stresses Silvan Australia has released the Jetpro Spray Gun following requests from contract operators of herbicide and similar spray rigs for a more ergonomic, comfortable and less stressful spray gun.

A common use for this type of gun is in blackberry and noxious weed herbicide spraying at the end of long hoses and often in rough country.

The Silvan R & D team set out to produce a more comfortable spray gun that relieved the stresses on wrists in particular.

Silvan engineer Leigh O’Rielly said the group came up with their preferred design, which was 3D printed as a prototype.

“Then we commissioned their manufacture in a relatively small number and with excellent acceptance, feedback and reports from spraying contractors the Jetpro Spray Gun is now a new product in the Silvan range”.

O’Rielly says a key feature is a better design for the trigger and increased balance that works to reduce wrist fatigue and operator fatigue.

“The major body construction material is highly impact resistant heavy duty polypropylene with a durable and corrosion resistant 1200 mm length stainless steel lance.

 A better balanced, ergonomic design of the new Silvan Jetpro Spray Gun by Silvan Australia is giving spray operators increased comfort, less wrist strains and injuries especially from blackberry and noxious weed spray assignments.

Another feature is-the brass adjustment screws that allow the spray pattern to be fixed at the preferred pattern of choice together with a drip free shutoff.

The Jetpro Spray Gun is rated to a capacity of 40000 kPa or 600 psi and as a high pressure gun is suitable for atomising for the best coverage.845) or by emailing info@silvanaust.com

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

37

WHAT'S NEW - TRACTOR China’s YTO launches new tractor range YTO chose the Henty Machinery Field Days to introduce its range of 35-220hp tractors to the southern Australian market and debut the company’s first powershift model.

Henty was attended by a YTO international delegation including Kejun Wang, president of YTO Group Corporation, and Les Clarke who is EveryMach YTO Tractors Australia general manager.

YTO opened its first official service facility in Toowoomba last year followed by a second southern facility in Melbourne at Pakenham.

YTO is primarily focusing on the tractor range of 70 horsepower and above.

Mr Wang said YTO Group was the largest tractor manufacturer in China and wished to expand in Australia.

“At this field days, we have introduced our new horsepower model which is a direct rival to the US brands. At Henty, we were really pleased to see our customers were happy with the product we had on display.’’

Mr Wang said the next phase for YTO would be to focus on the powershift models, including the LF2204 220hp 4wd aircab.

“In the future, we are looking to build a central hub in order to provide better products and training for the service centres. We are already in the preparation stage and it will be probably some time next year. Our team in Australia is already working on that.’’

Mr Wang said the Chinese product range would be continually

modified to suit Australian conditions.

“Our high clearance model is particularly designed for the Australian market. “Our models are just as powerful as the US and European brands. We are looking to maximise the efficiency of our models for the Australian market and price wise we are competitive. It is our primary goal to make our models affordable.’’

YTO has reported a 50% increase in sales volume since opening a northern Australian service facility, and has identified six strategic areas in the world for expansion.

The tractors are complemented by a range of Mateng implements.

Mr Wang said Australia was on the company’s radar, with efforts focused at developing a repeatable system.

“We are starting to build our sales and service centre, and spare parts,’’ he said.

New sprayer for under-tree and mid-row weed control Silvan Australia has designed and built two trailed herbicide sprayers that are exactly suited to the under-tree and midrow weed management needs of the major Aroona Farms almond grove near Lyrup in the South Australian Riverland.

The Aroona almond grove of almost 600,000 almond trees over an area of 2,000 hectares is owned by an international investment group, headquartered in Adelaide.

The units feature a 2,000 litre Silvan Polytuff tank with a six metre width spray boom that can be individually folded and to break away on contact with any unforeseen obstruction.

The sprayer is also designed to automatically stop spraying in the event of the boom being folded to prevent herbicide being sprayed on the trees.

The final 600mm section of each side of the boom is shrouded for direct herbicide 38

application along the tree line and to avoid any spray application to the almond trees.

The sprayer pump has a maximum flow rate of 350 L/min and is hydraulically powered from the tractor remotes so there is no use of PTO shafts for increased safety.

An additional feature is a two-metrewide spray boom that is fixed to the rear of the trailed spray tank.

Silvan’s general manager spraying and

machinery, Gavin Wheatcroft, said this was an option for mid-row weed control if seasonal conditions or weed growth warrants.

“In short the principal function of the two sprayers is to obtain weed control beneath each almond tree line with the option to use the sprayers for mid-row weed control if needed.

“Australia now stands second as a producer behind the immense almond plantations of California with rapid expansion taking place in both the Riverland and Sunraysia regions and elsewhere where land and water resources are suited to large scale plantings.

“The almond industry continues to seek out best practices for successful plantings and almond production and Silvan welcomed this opportunity to create an appropriate solution for effective undertree and mid-row weed control.”

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT'S NEW - ENGINES New Hatz engine tailormade for ag work Hatz Diesel’s new H50 series diesel engines deliver long running hours, fuel efficiency and extended service life, making them ideal for on-farm applications in remote areas.

Hatz Diesel Business Manager, Ian O’Callaghan, said Hatz industrial engines were well known for their reliability and performance when teamed with a generator.

“From powering water pumps and travelling irrigators to alternate power supply systems, Hatz engines are small enough to be easy to use on-farm and powerful enough to do the job well.”

Ian said the company has done a lot of work to ensure their latest diesel engine range continued to offer dependable power sources for people in remote areas.

“People in regional and isolated areas need low cost, reliable power. With the new H50 series, Hatz delivers a water-cooled engine that is light weight and compact, yet high on performance and efficiency, particularly as part of a generator set.”

Like the rest of Hatz’s industrial engine range, the H50 series is built to last.

“I’ve met farmers who have been running a Hatz engine on the farm since the late 1970s. That’s the same engine still going strong for almost forty years,” said Ian. Hatz engines go the distance, but when service is required, Hatz has an extensive national network of 70 dealers and service agents and can provide quick delivery of parts and service to customers Australia-wide.

Another key benefit for those operating in rural areas is the extended service intervals of a Hatz diesel engine. The new generation H50 series promises 500 engine hours between standard maintenance intervals.

The H50 series engines come standard with ‘electronic governing’ which means when connected to a generator, synchronisation and load sharing with other Hatz generator sets is completely streamlined.

“When it comes to load sharing, precision equals maximum fuel savings.”

The H50 series is the world’s smallest in their power range and are up to 90kg lighter than their nearest competitors. This leads to a very low power-to-weight ratio and unsurpassed fuel efficiency.

The 4H50 variant is the most efficient engine in the 37-56/62 kW class, with fuel consumption a mere 210 g/kWh. The “ultra-green” H50 range uses a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) to satisfy strict EPA Tier 4 standards.

“Increasingly, we are seeing ‘hybrid systems’ on-farm, where our generator sets load share with renewable energy sources like PV solar or wind turbine system. This means the generator acts as a backup and only kicks in when required. It’s incredibly efficient,” said Ian. In addition to fuel efficiency, the H50 range was designed to increase usability and reduce down time.

The H50 was engineered with very few moving parts, which keeps internal friction to a minimum. Plus, Hatz engines do not require a DPF (diesel particulate filter), which reduces maintenance and downtime.

“The simplicity means less wear and tear and less that can go wrong. You just turn the key or push a button and it starts, which is important on-farm,” said Ian. The simplistic design, in conjunction with roller tappets and a lower camshaft, reduces installation space and provides a compact, but high-performing engine.

For further information go to www.hatz.com.au

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

39

WHAT'S NEW - BALER CLASS ties itself in knots

CLAAS claims the new QUADRANT 5300 and 5200 – the replacement models for the popular QUADRANT 3300 and 3200 – are the fastest square balers on the market.

The QUADRANT 5300 produces 1.2 x 0.9 metre bales, while the 5200 produces 1.2 x 0.7 m bales.

Product Manager – CLAAS Greenline, Luke Wheeler, said the drive trains of both models had been extensively upgraded to maximise performance, bale density and driver comfort in all conditions.

“In the 5300, rotor speed has increased by 13% to 180rpm, rotor clutch torque has increased by 10% to 14% and the packer clutch torque has increased 13% to 9500 Nm. “Likewise the packing performance of the 5200 has been increased by 30%, while the ram frequency has increased by 10%. The bale chamber has been extended by 40cm to 3.85m to achieve greater bale densities and more stable bales at high throughputs.”

QUADRANT 5300/5200 are the first large square balers available with an infinitely variable, hydraulicallydriven reversible intake.

40

“Combined with the power feeding system and rear roller crop press, this feature allows the intake speed on the 2.35m wide pick-up to be perfectly matched to suit conditions,” Mr Wheeler said.

CLAAS has been designing and manufacturing its own knotters since 1921, “The intake speed can be increased to maximise throughput in lighter conditions or decreased to minimise leaf loss when baling sensitive crops, such as lucerne. In the event of a blockage, the intake can be easily reversed from within the tractor cab.”

Feed options include Roto feed (no knives), Roto cut (25 knives) and Fine cut (51 knives).

The addition of a new automatic pressure control system means the QUADRANT 5300/5200 can be

operated at its maximum capacity, regardless of operator experience.

“The driver simply enters the desired bale density and the quality of twine being used in the ISOBUS terminal before starting,” Mr Wheeler said.

“The baler automatically regulates the baling pressure based on measurements provided by three sensors mounted on the knotters and one on the main frame. This means even an inexperienced driver can maximise production and produce uniform bales, irrespective of the quality of the baling material”.

The optional knotter control system features sensors on all six knotters for even greater control and knot miss tie detection.

QUADRANT 5300/5200 both feature the new CLAAS HD knotter.

“CLAAS has been designing and manufacturing its own knotters since 1921,” Mr Wheeler said. “Its patented single knotter is known throughout the world for its reliability without producing unwanted twine residue and waste. In developing the 5000 series, CLAAS revisited its oldest patent and developed a completely new high-performance HD knotter.”

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT'S NEW - ENGINES Deutz launches 'plug-and-play' engine DEUTZ Australia today launched its latest technology innovation - DEUTZ Drive, confirming its position as leaders in engine technology and design.

DEUTZ DRIVE is a turnkey engine package that has been designed locally and specifically for the Australian market and conditions. It is the latest in the successful DEUTZ Australia Power-Pack series.

DEUTZ Australia Managing Director Craig Chamberlin said this latest Australian innovation was a result of extensive discussions and feedback from the agricultural and industrial sectors.

“Our customers told us that they wanted a product that was more cost-effective, simpler and easier to use. So we listened and developed a plug and play option which customers can customize to meet their specific needs”, he said.

“Essentially we are supplying a product that doesn’t have to re-engineered or require extra money to be outlaid to ensure our customers end up with the product they need.

“DEUTZ Drive takes all this hassle and cost away by allowing customers to couple our engine to their stationary platform, quickly and efficiently,” Mr Chamberlin said.

The DEUTZ DRIVE Power-Packs are based on the proven 912 and 914 series for air cooled engines, on the 2011 series for air-oil cooled engines, and on the 1013 series for water cooled engines.

They have been designed for long-term durability, are extremely economical due to their low fuel consumption, long oil change intervals and low maintenance.

The design is slick, sophisticated and compact.

The craftsmanship that has gone into building DEUTZ Drive has delivered a superior product that confirms DEUTZ as the leaders in building world-class engines.

Some of the main attractions of DEUTZ Drive include: Complete Power-Pack solution for industrial and agriculture applications.

Complete with: mounting feet, engine mounted exhaust system, muffler & aircleaner and a wide selection of engine control panels.

Total finger protection & guarding system that complies with Australian standards.

Compact Design with standardised components and exactly specified connection points.

Cost Effective offering reduced installation work and cost allows a faster assembly time.

SERAFIN MACHINERY PH: 02 6964 4777 | NICK: 0488 644 777 | ROD: 0459 757 881 | www.serafinmachinery.com.au

SPRAYERS

TILLAGE AND SEEDING

Goldacres Prairie

Semeato SHM

5000lt broadacre sprayer c/w 36m hydraulic lift and fold boom, electric over hydraulic controls, raven controller and hydraulic drive pump.

17 rows fitted with disc/tyne combination seed row, parallelogram spring system. Fantastic for pasture renovation.

$42,000

+ gst

$44,000 Serafin Offset Discs

From

$9,500 + gst

Serafin Ultisow Narrow Fold

$75,000

Serafin L60

+ gst

40ft folding frame, 48x SB2010 single disc units in 10” spacing, air kit and individual small seed tubes. Just traded.

TRACTORS & HEADERS

6m working width, 3m transport width, 200mm spacing.

Gason bin, Farmscan 7500 controller, complete air kit, powder coated frame. Call for more information.

Case STX

105HP, PTO, 6570 hours, PowerQuad transmission, 480/70R38 tyres, fair condition.

550hp Iveco engine, full power shift transmission, full front weight kit, premium cab suspension and hydraulic case drain. Machine in excellent condition.

+ gst

$225,000

+ gst

$41,800

+ gst

Hardi Navigator 5028 5000lt, 28m boom with hydraulic lift & fold, 4 section controls, 500L flush tank, granni pot, handwash tank, axle suspension, 18.4 x 38 tyres, Hardi PTO driven pump.

$31,000

+ gst

$167,000 + gst

Massey Ferguson 8470

John Deere 6330

$38,000

Croplands Pegasus 28m Tilt boom, PTO drive compressor, foam marker, chemical induction hopper, air bag suspension, 5 section electric valve, 18.4 x 42 tyres, croplands spray controller.

235mm spacing, 26” discs, oil bath bearings, square shafts, mud scrapers, fully assembled.

Available in 24, 28 and 32 plates models.

+ gst

260HP engine, Vario transmission, front axle & cab suspension, rear duals, rear PTO & remotes and front weight kit. Tractor in excellent condition with super low 2,400 hours.

$108,000

+ gst

New Holland 9282 Articulated 270HP tractor approx 5000 hours. Synchro shift transmission, air seeder hydraulics and LED lights. In good condition.

$54,000

NOVEMBER 2016 - AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL

Gleaner R52 Header with Front 230HP, approx 1650 rotor hours and 1950 engine hours. AGCO tin front with comb trailer - excellent condition.

Fresh engine service, also comes with spare belts

$45,500

+ gst

41

WHAT'S NEW - SPRAYERS Precision and comfort makes a case for Patriot sprayer The efficiency of precise jet control, reliability, a rear engine and operator comfort are among the reasons Southern Mallee farmer Garry Summerhayes bought another Case IH Patriot® 4430 sprayer.

“This one has AIM Command PRO, so is an upgrade on the model we had before. The advantage with this is that instead of the machine being operated by spray jets grouped into seven sections, this has 72 sections. So every time you go across a diagonal on a headland it turns off individual jets, not whole groups.

It’s far more precise and a big saving in inputs, and I can see that by looking at the litres on the screen. It’s good.”

But there’s another feature the Malleeborn-and-bred operator equally likes: turn compensation.

“As you turn a corner or around a tree, the outside of the boom speeds up to put more litres per hectare out, but the inside turns down really low, or even off, so you don’t get scorch in the corners. It’s a tremendous feature.”

Garry, his son (who is a fifth generation farmer) and son-in-law dryland farm in Victoria’s Berriwillock region. They use the Case IH Patriot 4430 across 6,075 hectares, on their own crops and also when contracting for a neighbour.

“We’d done 2,500 hours with our first Patriot 4430, and had very little trouble – very little. I really liked the features of the AIM Command PRO, so it was an opportune time to upgrade. We found

Having a little bit of individual control is a great feature and so is the productivity, but the attention to detail of the Patriot Sprayer are a standout.

42

very good resale value when we sold the first one, too. It’s very good.”

Besides the efficiency, Garry says there are several reasons he uses Case IH Patriot sprayers. High on the list is the ease of operation and design.

“It’s just logical to have the engine away from you at the rear of the machine. It’s quiet in the cabin compared with some of the oppositions’ front-mounted engines.

As an owner-operator, I can spend many hours on the phone making business calls, and as the cabin is so quiet, I can do this easily on the sprayer.

“My son and son-in-law do drive it, but I do the majority. The well thoughtout cabin comforts are really good. It’s fitted with a heated leather seat, and the positioning of the control panels make for easy operation. It’s a well-considered, purpose-built machine designed for the long hours farmers spend in the cabin.”

Garry — who also has a Case IH Steiger, Magnum and two Axial-Flow combine harvesters — says he’s very happy with the Case IH brand, and sees no reason to change.

“I’m very impressed with the Case IH machines. I encourage anyone who asks me to have a serious look at them.”

Having said that, Garry says the relationship with the dealer is paramount.

“If they didn’t look after me I’d consider going elsewhere. I get tremendous dealer backup from O’Connor’s group. As far as service goes, they’ve sold enough to know

what to look for; they’re very good that way.”

Garry says the sprayer never sits in the shed. “Take a lentil or pulse crop, there are probably five trips over the field in a cropping season. Cereal crops aren’t as intense in their applications, but with everything we do, we’re always spraying.”

So far, the Summerhayes family has done 1,000 hours in the new Patriot — with no issues.

“Some of the operational features this AIM Command PRO gives you with individual control have proven to be really handy. For instance, there’s the flexibility to individually control jets for individual jobs, like putting a stronger concentration in the dust in summer behind the wheels. Also, there was a particular job I did spraying some windrows that had been left to burn; I wanted to put Roundup on the windrows but not on the rest of the paddock, and using the preset buttons — a bit like on a car radio — I was able to set a group of six or eight nozzles on one end and in another spot to match up with the windrows, but leave all the rest of the ground unsprayed. Setting the jetpack to spray different types of patterns is very handy and efficient.”

Garry says, “Having a little bit of individual control is a great feature and so is the productivity, but the attention to detail of the Patriot Sprayer are a standout.”

AUSTRALASIAN FARMERS’ & DEALERS’ JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2016

ADVERTISER INDEX Aussie Pumps ............................................................................39

Sungold Field Days..............................................Centre Lift Out.

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Brown Brothers Engineering Pty. Ltd......................................... 7

Trailco..........................................................................................19

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Case IH........................................................................Back Cover

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics................... Inside Front Cover

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bit.ly/WWLcases

Grizzly Engineering Pty. Ltd............................. Front Cover & 31

www.grizzlyag.com.au IB International ..........................................................................37

www.ibinternational.com.au Manutec Pty. Ltd........................................................................33

www.manutec.com.au Serafin Machinery......................................................................41

www.serafinmachinery.com.au

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28.02.17 THE AXIAL-FLOW COUNTDOWN IS ON

FORWARD ORDER BY 28 FEBRUARY

FOR OUTSTANDING VALUE ON 2017 COMBINE HARVESTERS Your combine is a big investment so why not get it how you want it. Order your Case IH Axial-Flow combine before the end of February, to build your combine to best suit your requirements.

There’s never been a better time to get a hard-working Case IH Axial-Flow combine. Contact your local Case IH dealer today.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE:

ROCK TRAP TRACKS LEATHER SEAT

GRAIN TANK COVERS FEEDER DRIVE STRAW CHOPPER

140 SERIES

For the warranty & support you deserve, always purchase new Case IH machinery from an authorised dealer, don’t be tempted by grey imports! *Terms and conditions apply. Factory orders subject to availability; extended delivery time may apply. Talk to your Case IH dealer for more information.

240 SERIES