RURAL NEWS // MARCH 4, 2014
10 CENTRAL DISTRICTS FIELD DAYS
Hi-tech tractor makes learning easy and work faster GA RE T H G I LLAT T
A NEW Fendt tractor is allowing a Northland farmer to work faster and easier, and its technology is not ‘doing his head in’. Nick Vinac, his partner
Stephanie, his father Velko and uncle Boris Vinac milk 220 cows on 91ha near Kaitaia. With a heavy cropping regime of a winter crop and summer crop, and a soil structure of peat and
offered a Fendt 512, a tractor in a range not seen before in New Zealand or Australia. One in the 125165hp Fendt 500 range launched at the Northland Field Days, Vinac’s tractor was the first sold in
marine clay, Vinac says the operation needs to replace tractors after 3000 hours for best resale value and less repairs and maintenance. Long an AGCO tractor fan, Vinac says he was
Australasia. Until then he had owned Massey Ferguson and John Deere, but he decided to try Fendt because of its reputation for hardiness and performance.
. . . c a v i r Va another winner !
Northland farmer Nick Vinac is impressed with his new Fendt machine.
And though he had heard the ‘learning curve’ was prohibitive in driving Fendt tractors, he was pleasantly surprised. “I heard Fendt was hard to get used to – people saying it was full of buttons.” But it turned out to be easier than his John Deere, he says.
“We had high SCC (somatic cell count) and needed to fix the problem. With Varivac, our situation has changed - so much so that we were recently delighted to win second prize in a major competition that our local dairy co-op ran for the quality of our milk.
“Headland management with the touch screen is straightforward.”
To get a trophy for farm excellence and milk quality was just marvellous.” - Oubaas and Renee Pretorius
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tion-capable tractor is crucial, Vinac says. Year-round 8-15ha is worked up, with 15ha of maize or 8-10ha turnips and chicory as a summer crop. A 3m Kuhn power harrows and 3m Celli Rotospike are used to cultivate the soil. The tractor’s extra power has been
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With all controls mounted in the right armrest and a 7 inch Vario terminal, Vinac says cultivation work is easy. “Headland management with the touch screen is straightforward.” The farm grows two crops a year on marine clay and peat, so a cultiva-
handy working up paddocks for a winter turnip crop. The Fendt’s front loader, built specifically for the 500 series, has proven easy to use, Vinac says. It has valves and dampers built into the loader frame. www.fendt.com.au
Plunket on hand SMALL CHILDREN and their parents will be catered for at the field days by Central Districts Plunket, supported by CB Norwood Distributors. The CB Norwood Plunket Family Zone (site L37) will offer a kids’ play area and other activities, a baby changing and feeding area, car seat services (advice, information and a car seat installation competition) and information about Plunket’s free parenting education courses. And because March is the month of Plunket’s annual appeal, to help raise funds it will run a ‘Human Pedal Pull’ fundraiser event on Saturday March 15. With the support of businesses including MR Curd Accountants, Molesworth Tours, Programmed Property Services and Bromley Dairy and Pumps, competitors young and old will be able to use their leg power to pull a sled the length of the course, racing against the clock using either a child’s ride-on pedal tractor or a youth/adult trike. Category winners will get fabulous prizes and bragging rights! Tickets will also be on sale for the Plunket Central Districts monster family raffle – heaps of prizes including 10 family prize packs. Funds raised will support Plunket Manawatu and Wanganui community services such as parent support groups, playgroups, car seat services, parenting education and toy libraries.