New Holland tractors are helping cane farmers in Far North Queensland to improve productivity and help the environment
Through optional inclusions such as the SuperSteer FWD axle and IntelliSteer system, New Holland’s T6 and T7 range of tractors continue to offer further benefits for cane farmers in Far North Queensland.
These inclusions help place farmers at the forefront of agricultural innovation and automation in support of their sustainability efforts.
Improving water quality in Far North Queensland is one of the most important ways to support local farming industries and their communities, while looking after the Great Barrier Reef.
FNQ’s sugar cane farmers are adopting modern farming systems including controlled traffic to boost productivity and improve environmental outcomes while overcoming some of the adverse impacts caused by conventional management practices.
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New Holland’s T6020 tractor
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Mackay cane farmer and New Holland sales manager for Northern Queensland, Damian Wirth, says he has reduced soil compaction levels at his 160-acre cane farms in Mackay North by converting from 1.5m to wider 1.8m rows.
“I’ve noticed a big difference since converting to wider rows and a GPS-mapped controlled traffic system,” he says.
“Controlled traffic improves soil health and nutrients by reducing soil compaction and the potential for run off by better aligning farm machinery wheel spacings.
“Reducing soil compaction around the cane’s root zone improves crop health and, in time, the potential for higher yields.
“There are also the fuel savings with less trips up and down the field, less stool damage by the machinery, and more precise planting placement and spraying of fertiliser and herbicides.”
Wirth says controlled traffic, combined with New Holland’s SuperSteer FWD axle and IntelliSteer system offered on New Holland’s T6 and T7 range of tractors, has the potential to offer further benefits for cane farmers in the region.
“SuperSteer increases the standard 55-degree turn angle to an unmatched 65 degrees for a sharper and faster turn without needing to do a keyhole or three-point turn,” he says.
“All that extra turning churns up headland and can increase soil erosion.
“You can achieve a 35 per cent reduction in headland turn time, further reducing time in the field and reducing fuel consumption.
“The IntelliSteer GPS-guided control system ensures parallel pass-to-pass swaths to eliminate skips and overlap. It minimises soil compaction and further improves agronomic performance using controlled-traffic patterns.
“Another new feature is IntelliTurn, an intelligent end-of-row turn system, which is coupled to the IntelliSteer auto-guidance system. The system responds by plotting the most efficient turns, delivering even more automation.”
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New Holland’s 7270 tractor
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New Holland is focused on automating farming operations using artificial intelligence and foresees future joint research and development collaboration.
The manufacturer has an ongoing commitment to investing in advanced technologies to strengthen its entire product range and help customers to preserve the land for future generations.
This offers customers rapid and easy access to agricultural innovations, which enhances both farming productivity and brings sustainability benefits.
Sustainability is a key global measure for New Holland’s parent company, CNH International. New Holland has implemented sustainability and clean energy initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint but reduce the impact the agricultural industry can have on the world’s natural resources.
New Holland says a culture of innovation and sustainability is important for the company, from farming automation experts to clean energy leaders and everything between.