Wimmera magic 2020 | Field Days Australia

Plenty of new pieces of equipment were on display at this year’s Wimmera Machinery Field Days

A Fendt on display

Now in its 58^th year, the 2020 Wimmera Machinery Field Days brought farmers from all across Victoria and South Australia to see some of the newest agricultural equipment and machinery to hit the local market.

This year’s event also saw the first ever evening Ag Machinery and Equipment auction take place, with more than 75 per cent of items cleared and all vendors happy.

The WMFD Committee also recognised Melbourne-based start-up outfit Alterratech and its Yass optical sprayer technology with the 2020 Ag Business Innovation of the Year award.

The Yass sprayer combines the latest in artificial intelligence processor technology and compact sensing to build an optical sprayer that get smarter over time – with the potential for upgrades to detect plant diseases and conduct crop health analysis and weed mapping.

Here are some of the other highlights of the event.

Agrifac’s Condor Endurance II won the 2020 WMFD Machine of the Year award

AGRIFAC CONDOR ENDURANCE II

The winner of the 2020 WMFD Machine of the Year award, Agrifac says its Condor Endurance II is the most innovative sprayer in the world, able to vary a spray dose on plant level through its DynamicDosePlus system.

Equipped with booms of up to 55m long, the Condor Endurance II has an 8,000 litre tank and comes equipped with the Stabiloplus chassis system to run smoothly on uneven surfaces, ensuring every drop hits the right spot.

The company also redesigned its GreenFlow Plus pump and spray system to ensure the liquid fully circulates, with none left to rest in the tank.

Each of the two new Gason planter bars fold to a 6.5m transport width

GASON T12000 PLANTER BAR

The 10m T10000 and 12m T12000 planter bars were developed to complement the 8m model released in 2019, with each of the planter bars folding to a 6.5m transport width to comply with new NHVR rules.

With an overall length of 9.6m, the nine-tonne planter has five toolbar rows with between 40 and 60 tines, depending on the tine spacing selected.

The planter features a single row of 500/50-22.5 high flotation tyres and can reach a maximum road speed of 20km/h, with a 250mm road clearance and a maximum recommended working depth of 150mm.

The DRR-30H is designed for major chores on rocky paddocks

SHOULE DRR-30H DOUBLE AUGER ROCK RAKE

Measuring 10.6m across and weighing over six tonnes, the DRR-30H is designed for major chores on rocky paddocks.

With two 4.3m floating augers, the unit unfolds to a 120 degree angle to create an 8.2m working area, channelling rocks into a 760mm pile in the centre.

The unit also comes with hydraulic depth control and hydraulic drive activated by a tractor’s power take off system.

TITAN TL30 WHEEL LOADER

The TL30 has a 3,000kg rated operating capacity with a maximum lift height of 4,400mm, which Titan says is perfect for stacking hay, feeding mixers and loading and unloading trucks.

Equipped with a 125hp (93kW) Weichai Deutz Engine and with a top speed of 36km/h, the TL30 also comes with a hydraulic quick hitch, pallet forks, a reverse camera and passive boom suspension, along with a 4-in-1 bucket with a rated capacity of 1.6 cubic metres.

The TL30 is also fitted with a four-speed ZL15 powershift transmission with a direct linkage system from the operator cabin to the transmission.

EASY FIELD BIN

This compact 70 tonne field bin is designed to be easily moved by a 100hp (75kW) tractor, with a power take-off drive, hydraulic lift and 300mm road clearance.

The bin measures about 10m long, 3.8m wide and 4.2m high to the top of the 300mm auger, which is able to dispense 3.5 tonnes of grain per minute.

The bin also has auger flow control, a manhole for internal access and multiple sight glasses throughout, as well as a large access area for filling and a roll-over tarpaulin.

The Rock Monster is designed with a fully open back that means any collected topsoil falls back onto the ground rather than into a trailer

SHOULE ROCK MONSTER RM-8090 ROCK PICKER

With a 2m rock picking width and a dump height of 2.3m, the Rock Monster is designed with a fully open back that means any collected topsoil falls back onto the ground rather than into a trailer.

The Rock Monster bucket has a capacity of 3.6 cubic metres, which manufacturer Shoule says is 30 per cent larger than its competitors, while a clearly placed rotor means the machine can also be moved while dumping.

Able to collect rocks of between 5 and 61cm in diameter, the machine can fold to a 3.45m transport width and requires a minimum of 100hp to operate, though 150hp (112kW) is recommended.

The new frame for Serafin Machinery’s Ultisow single disc seeders have 1,600mm of under-frame clearance

SERAFIN ULTISOW HILIFT FRAME

The new frame for Serafin Machinery’s Ultisow single disc seeders can be lifted one metre higher than the standard, providing 1,600mm of under-frame clearance and making row units easier to access for maintenance and other adjustments.

The frame is offered in 9m and 12m versions, with this 12m version having 48 SB2019 single disc row units mounted on 250mm spacing over two rows.

It also has 3m wheel centres available for those using controlled-traffic farming methods.

PATON CATTLE CALLER

The Cattle Caller stock feeder is pioneering a new technology that gives cattle producers a way of rationing grain and pellets, controlling how much is released and how often during the day.

This allows farmers to feed livestock frequently during the day to optimise the rumination and digestive processes of cattle and to help increase weight gain.

The technology also allows the farmer to call up cattle when feeding time begins, meaning wastage from moisture and rain is avoided, as well as measuring which rations are unfinished, deducting them off the next feed dump.

Paton says this makes overfeeding ‘virtually impossible’ and helps save money on both feed and labour costs.