Victorian farmer Nathan Williams has praised the new Morris Quantum air drill despite “bone dry” conditions
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Nathan Williams, Beulah, Morris Industries President and Chief Executive Officer Ben Voss and Justin Ward, of Belle-Vue Trading at Warracknabeal in Victoria
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The 21m (70-foot) Morris Quantum air drill was hitched to a Morris 9550 air cart and Case IH Steiger and put to the test on Williams’ 5,000-hectare property near Beulah, Victoria.
The air drill was set up on 250mm (10-inch) shank spacings with the Morris single chute boot and point.
“They varied their seeding depth a little due to mice concerns, however most crops were sown at a depth of 1.5-2 centimetres,” Australian distributor McIntosh says.
The Williams farm contains an array of soils, from heavy clays to non-wetting sandy loams, but says there were no issue getting into the ground.
The Quantum’s standout feature is its new patent-pending, interlocking frame technology that has made the Quantum 154 per cent stronger than previous drills. That, combined with its increased weight and stronger openers featuring 2.5cm (one-inch) chrome pins, makes for deeper tilling.
New 10x15cm (4x6in) tubular frames with the Quantum are connected with chrome pins that are 27 per cent larger than those used on previous machines.
“Growers might have situations where they may want to rip a paddock to open it up a bit,” Williams says. “The Quantum is four-tonne heavier, so it will probably hold in the ground better in certain situations – and it gives you confidence in its durability over time.”
Williams also highlights the Quantum’s’ constant hydraulic system. It is compatible with Topcon X35 controllers – which adds Morris autolift, a feature that automatically lifts and lowers openers at headlands, and autopack – this allows users to change opener packing force on the X35 monitor.
Other features of the new Morris Quantum air drill include improved shank spacing options; three-metre controlled traffic capability with metric spacings and a 5.4m transport width; 75 per cent fewer parts and 60 per cent fewer weldments.
“Fewer parts and bracing is a good thing, also when you consider requirements for freight,” Williams says.
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