Barossa Valley winegrower Paul Georgiadis his wife Mara recently bought a Case IH Farmall 95C tractor to replace the 4210 that they had been using since the late-1990s.
The couple began planting their 14ha Barossa Valley vineyard at Marananga, South Australia, back in 1995.
They are also partners in another 25ha property in the same area, which has 8ha under 50-year-old vines.
“I certainly checked the market to see what was out there before we bought the new Farmall,” Paul says.
“A friend of mine even owns a franchise for another brand, but one of the main reasons we chose Farmall again is the complete package that’s offered in the size tractor you need for vineyards.
“It’s narrow enough to fit easily down our three-metre vine rows, yet has enough horsepower for any activity, including a front-end loader. It’s really suitable for vineyards.
“A lot of new equipment is a little bit too electrical and computerised, which may cause problems when things go wrong, but this isn’t too technical.”
Paul is not a small man and says he likes that the cabin isn’t too cramped.
“I’ve seen a lot of narrow tractors where you feel like a sumo wrestler trying to get into the small cabin,” he adds. “You’re going to be in it for hours, so you need room.”
Paul sometimes uses the tractor as an outdoor office, while consulting other winegrowers across the Barossa and McLaren Vale regions.
“What’s also important to me is that it’s soundproof,” he says. “I don’t do it all the time, but when I do need to take or make phone calls, I can actually drive and communicate with my clients at the same time.”
He bought the tractor off local Case IH dealer Lyndoch Motors, which has two branches in the in the Barossa Valley at Lyndoch and Angaston.
If you’re looking for used Case IH Farmall tractors for sale, check out our listings.