Dairy News AUSTRALIA september 2013
32 // machinery & products
Arion ideal for dairy jobs “It has manual Lancey reckons is very remotes and we find it Gippsland a couple of weeks ago, we useful. an easy tractor to operThe engine is a 6.8 litre caught up with Chris and Leanne ate and excellent for Lancey at Nyora, not far from Poowong. six cylinder 24-valve turhired labour.” Together with Chris’ parents, bocharged intercooled The week before we Graeme and Trish, they milk 1000 Hol- diesel which meets Stage visited, they had also steins on a 12-year-old 70 unit rotary 3B emissions standards. taken delivery of a secwith automatic cluster removers, The radiator has been working clothes ond-hand Claas Arion boosted milk meters and retenchris dingle 540 with 135 hp, also by 35% tion bars on their main fitted with a Stoll front from pre400ha farm, and a furvious models to handle end loader. ther 300 on a separate “It’s only done 10 hours so far, but the greater demands of property with a 24-stall it’s doing everything that we expected. the system. swing-over herringbone The ‘Claas Infor- We’ll use it for feeding out and carting shed. mation System’ allows silage. Which tractor we use for that “Cups go on at 5am adjustment of key trac- depends on the load and how far it has and 3pm, throughput Who: tor functions such to move it.” on the rotary is between Chris and Leanne Mr Lancey is effusive about the supas transmission and 400 and 450 cows per Lancey port from the Claas Harvest Centre and engine settings. hour,” Mr Lancey told Where: Nyora, via Poowong Like most new trac- said one of the main reasons that they us. What: tors these days the have chosen Claas is because of the In February of this Claas Arion 640 tractor Arion 640 comes stan- level of service they receive. year they bought a new “Personal service is paramount and dard with a cab and airClaas Arion 640 tracAllan and Paula Slater give that because tor fitted with a Stoll front end loader conditioning. It has done 400 hours and Mc Lancey they have a personal interest in the through Claas Harvest Centre in Warragul (formerly Trac Mac) run by Allan said that although it is a pretty basic dealership. “Plus LandPower back up is phetractor it is the ideal unit for hay feedand Paula Slater. The 155 hp four wheel drive trac- ing, and outstanding for tillage and hay- nomenal. The back-up service is 24/7!” They make all their own pit silage tor has 50kmh transmission, which Mr making. and this season plan to cut 400ha of their own, plus 400ha for neighbours. Chris and Leanne also lease a 2000ha property near Henty in NSW for their own feed, growing triticale, wheat and lupins. That property provides grazing for 450 heifers. Other machinery on the Nyora property includes a Claas Jaguar 890 precision chopper which dumps the silage into a couple of silage wagons converted into trailers and three tip trailers. Two Claas 3900 contour mowers look after the hay and silage cutting – “we mow one day and chop the next.” Chris Lancey and A Lely rake, John Deere 467 round family milk 1000 Holsteins at Nyora. baler and Massey-Ferguson MF187
On a very wet morning in central
Chris Lancey with the Claas Arion 640 tractor purchased in February.
large square baler make up the haymaking equipment. “We take the Massey up to NSW to bale straw there and bring it back here, mainly for the calving shed,” Mr Lancey said. They have four Fendt tractors, including one that is used both at home and up north. At Nyora a three-point linkage Landaco fertiliser spreader is used for following cows. They employ nine full-time staff and the Lanceys say they all get on well
together. “Our staff perform above expectations and we have no worries about rostering. Without them the job would be impossible.” Mr Lancey admitted the dairy job has been “pretty ordinary recently” and generally supply of milk in the industry will be an issue. But he loves dairying. “Right at the moment we are comfortable with the feed around the place, as long as the rain doesn’t hang around for too long.”
Case IH balers lift capacity by 20% The Case IH LB4
Series large square balers are more efficient than previous models, boosting productivity on-farm. Geoff Rendell, Case IH product manager for Hay and Harvest, said the new design has increased capacity by as much as 20%. “We are very excited to bring a new level of baling technology and performance to Australian producers,” said Mr Rendell. “We know the importance of maximising short baling windows - the LB4 series gearbox runs at an astonishing 48 strokes per minute to put crop through the machine
quicker and more efficiently. “The high-speed baling means producers can get more done in a day without compromising the quality of the bale.” Inside, the LB4 Series baler features a new, high inertia flywheel that is 19% larger than previous model, resulting in improved performance. The new, high-capacity pickup features a roller windguard, feed-assist roller and faster RPMs to maximise crop flow into the baler. “The LB4 large square baler has been put to the test, baling more than 200,000 bales, and it has excelled across a variety
of crops and conditions,” said Mr Rendell. “The baler’s sleek new look and curved design also improves its functionality, allowing it to shed debris more easily.” The LB4 has also been redesigned for better wear and longer life, including the all-new, heavy duty frame on the pickup and reel. Two feet narrower than previous models, the new design provides better visibility around the baler and makes transport easier. LB4 large square balers also come equipped with steering sensors that interface with the intuitive AFS Pro 700 display to more
efficiently help producers build the perfect hay bale. A GPS logger is available for recording bale moisture, and together with a bale weighing system, offers complete bale documenting. With GPS data logging and computer mapping software, all data relating to the baling process can be viewed at any time and can be exported onto a USB drive. The LB4 is available in a choice of single axle or steerable tandem axle, in standard configuration or rotor chopper. “The new design elements create a product that is not only more efficient and reliable but also
easier to use and maintain,” said Mr Rendell. “We are very excited
about the performance of this baler - I’d encourage you to visit your local Case
IH dealer to ensure you get the most out of your next bale.”