As of 1st January 2024, Netherton Tractors Ltd will exclusively sell Ovlac’s range of ploughs and cultivation machinery. The area in agreement is north of the Forth coast to coast.

“I am extremely optimistic about this new venture and the opportunity of working with a formidable company, who’s vast knowledge of ploughing ingrained in all the members of staff, combined with the engineering excellence from Ovlac, will further advance our foothold into the Scottish market,” commented Nick Clark, Ovlac UK sales manager.

“Having sold Ovlac for over a decade, I can honestly say that Scotland is regarded as the Holy Grail for ploughs – one reason, pretty well all of Scotland is ploughed, second reason, the standard of ploughing in Scotland is extremely high.”

Jorge Calvo, CEO of Ovlac Spain said: “We are excited and proud to start what I am sure will be a very long and fruitful journey with such a renowned company as Netherton Tractors Ltd.

“We at Ovlac will work in close cooperation with Netherton supporting them with our expertise as a plough and tillage specialist to provide the highly demanding Scottish farmers with the highest quality machines and service.”

Netherton Tractors says it is extremely proud to be entering into an agreement with Ovlac. It gives the company a great opportunity to further develop the brand with equipment it feels is a perfect fit for its area.

“Ovlac’s build quality and design detail were two of the things that particularly impressed us, along with their very comprehensive warranty,” commented Netherton Tractors’ general manager Garry Smith.

Ovlac offers a full range of mounted and semi-mounted ploughs, along with a wide range of primary cultivation equipment.

Netherton Tractors has depots at Perth, Glenrothes, Finavon (head office), Turriff, and Nairn.

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The Amazone event was held on land adjacent to the Amazone sprayer factory in North Germany. Working demonstrations of most machines were planned but, like many other European press events so far this year, inclement weather prevented field work. However, there were plenty of new products on show, and the Amazone team was kept busy throughout the event explaining new features and their benefits for users.

140th anniversary

This year, Amazone is celebrating 140 years since the company was founded in 1883. The German press event started with an introduction by managing director Cristian Dreyer, who talked about the company’s recently acquired experimental and demonstration farm, which also includes the fascinating Amazone museum. The site is 120ha of which there are 32ha of trial plots where techniques such as companion planting, wider row spacing and controlled row farming are being evaluated.

Cristian said that the company’s sales for 2022 totalled €804M, contrasting with €650M the previous year. Exports account for 80% of production and, at the sprayer factory, nothing is manufactured unless it is sold.

Future farming

Joint managing director, Dr Justus Dreyer talked about future innovations, including automated machine operation, and he said that the ability to pre-plan work and load applications onto the machine before arriving at the field, as well as automation in the field using features such as Amazone WindControl for spreading, all contribute to increased precision and the ability to maximise efficiency and work rates.

Larger Pantera

One of the highlights for larger UK farms and contractors: a new, higher capacity Pantera self-propelled sprayer is joining the line-up. The new 7004 model has a 7,000-litre glass fibre-reinforced plastic tank – an increase of 2,500 litres over the current 4504. Like the current Pantera, the new model features an extremely efficient liquid circuit developed to minimise residual fluid. There is a 500-litre clean water tank at the rear of the sprayer, positioned to help maintain a low centre of gravity even with an empty main spray tank.

The new sprayer’s unladen weight is approximately 12t, and Amazone explained that a priority during its design was achieving similar ground contour following capability to the smaller version. A new chassis keeps the weight low for stability and pneumatic suspension keeps the machine level on side slopes. The new running gear featuring independent trailing arm suspension is unique, says the company. The hydro-pneumatic suspension is adaptive and intelligent control maintains maximum stability and comfort.

Hydraulic track width adjustment from 2.00–2.75m is standard, but the Pantera-W version can achieve wider 2.25–3.00m track widths. Ground clearance for both versions is approximately 1.3m.

The hydraulic axle adjustment also allows offset track operation, helping spread the weight so that only one wheel passes over each piece of ground. This is particularly suitable for operation on stubbles, and in wet conditions where plants are small enough to withstand the wheels.

The slope compensation activates automatically responding to angle information from sensors.

There are three levels of cab equipment, all with Cat 4 filtration as standard. The control armrest is new and tailored specifically for the self-propelled sprayer application, and the AmaDrive terminal operates the base vehicle while the spraying system is controlled through Isobus.

The engine is 306hp and drive to the wheels is hydraulic. The piston diaphragm spray pumps provide 710 litres/min total output, and the injection principle achieves filling rates of 700 litres/min.

Boom widths of 24–48m are available with ContourControl active boom guidance.

DirectInject is an option, allowing additional spray products to be added as and when required at the touch of a button, and it is also a new option for the smaller 4504 models.

Future technologies

Amazone is working with Claas and AgXeed to accelerate development of autonomous and semi-autonomous tractor and implement combinations. At the event, a Cenio 3000 Super tine cultivator with AutoTill technology was displayed. This makes it possible for the cultivator to record its performance automatically as soon as it engages the soil, in accordance with pre-defined parameters. Integrated sensors across the working elements monitor the conditions and change settings as required.

The Cenio 4000-2 4m folding mulch cultivator will be shown for the first time at Agritechnica. It joins narrower 3.0 and 3.5m models in the line-up, and the new 4m hydraulic folding variant is suitable for tractors from 105–275hp.

Convenient adjustment

New Catros+ 03-2 compact mounted disc harrows are available in folding versions of 4, 5, 6 and 7m working widths. There is also a trailed TS variant of the same models.

The Catros is ideal for shallow tillage and intensive mixing. The complete third generation range includes models from 2.5–12.0m.

The Smart Frame System frame concept means that the Catros only needs aligning with the field surface once. Working depth is adjusted by rotating the disc carrier arms, so that they rotate away from the frame for deeper working and towards the frame for shallow work. The design means the frame is always parallel to the soil, so all discs maintain the correct depth, and hydraulic control means there is no need for the user to leave the cab.

Schmotzer manufactures mechanical hoes and weeders, and the company was acquired by Amazone in 2019. A new compact VR 2 Linear Shift Frame which provides side travel across 600mm was displayed at the event, along with a mounted hoe.

Larger spreader and CurveControl

The mounted spreader range has been expanded with the addition of the ZA-TS 5000 model. Precise spreading up to 54m at rates up to 650kg/min can be achieved. Previous maximum capacity was 4,200 litres, but the new model’s hopper takes up to 5,000 litres to reduce filling frequency and increase daily output.

The Ultra frame and Profis weighing system are standard. Intelligent integration of the Profis weighing system within the Isobus software enables the user to monitor fill levels and residual volumes, to define target weights and to fill precisely at any time.

CurveControl is in development as a new software option for all ZA-TS mounted and ZA-TG trailed spreaders. Like CurveControl on Amazone sprayers, the system automatically adjusts application rates across the spread width when turning, to compensate for relative difference in travel speed and application rate across the turning radius.

Hydraulic-driven pump option

As an alternative to DistanceControl automatic boom guidance, the ContourControl system is now available for UF 1602 and 2002 sprayers with boom widths above 27m. The advanced system allows operation closer to the crop down to 50cm with 25cm nozzle spacing.

The UF 1602 and UF 2002 sprayers are also available with hydraulic pump drive as a new option, completely integrated within the hydraulic system as part of the Comfort-Pack. The hydraulic pump drive is controlled through the Load-Sensing system, and operation is through the Isobus software of the UF 02 sprayers. Different pump speeds can be achieved for filling, agitating and spraying, and pump speed control is independent of the tractor engine or travel speed. Minimum oil flow requirement is just 50 litres/min, allowing use with smaller tractors.

Drill news included the Centaya-C Special harrow-mounted seed drill with a twin-chamber hopper.

The new drill has a 1,500 litre capacity with the hopper divided 70:30, enabling two different materials to be metered separately and precisely. Infinitely-adjustable metering allows seed rates of 0.5–400kg/ha at up to 10kph.

Read more seeding, fertiliser, crop-care and cultivation machinery news from Farmers Guide here.

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A 3m ‘Less’ Lift Low Disturbance Soil Loosener with 6 Step Change Legs and rear Shark Fin Packer.

Cambridgeshire-based Cousins of Emneth has introduced price reductions on its full range of Cambridge rolls, having made savings on some of the main machine components, which are now being passed straight on to customers, said managing director Laura Cousins.

Cousins’ Contour rolls are available in working widths from 6.3m to 18.4m, weighing up to 15.9 tonnes and making them Cousins’ heaviest and widest rolls. However, there is more to big rolls than weight alone, the company says. Confronted with large acreages, drivers are often inclined to go as fast as possible to complete the job, but it is much more effective to set a steady pace with a heavier, wider machine, according to Cousins. The working widths on the Contour are also ideal for farms operating within a controlled traffic tramlined system.

An 18.4m Contour HD HZ Roll, complete with 24in plain Cambridge rings.

Cousins of Emneth says it always strives to offer its customers the best value for money. Another good example of this is the offering of low disturbance legs Step Change Legs and Shark Fin Rollers to be fitted to existing machines.

This is an ideal option for customers considering a move to a low disturbance system, offering a cost-effective conversion option before investing in a bespoke machine, the company reckons.

The Step Change Tine and Shark Fin Roller are offered as standard on the Less Lift Low Disturbance Loosener and as an option on all V-Form and Patriot models.

Cousins is a family run, agricultural engineering business founded on reliable, field tested designs and good old fashioned customer service. For over 70 years it has built tough cultivation equipment for British and overseas farmers and helped solve their problems in the field. Designs are continually reappraised and new systems developed to meet the changing needs of today’s farming industry.

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The Sumo product range consists of trailed and mounted seeding and cultivation equipment, covering min and zero till.

Established in 1992, Sumo and its product offering have developed greatly over the years, however the determination to make machines that are different has always been the same. The first mounted Sumo Trio was introduced in 2002. Although not the first implement of its type, it was the first that was designed for tractors of all sizes, compared to just larger, higher horsepower tractors.

The Sumo product portfolio is sold through an extensive dealer network, which extends across the UK and Ireland, Central Europe, the Baltics, New Zealand and Australia.

Sumo says it is pleased to be attending Tillage-Live 2023, at Atherstone in Warwickshire, where it will be demonstrating the Sumo Vaxio 6m, Sumo Multipress 6m and Sumo DD 3m.

You also be able to see more Sumo machines including the Quatro 4m, DTS 3m and LDS 3m on the static stand hosted by Sumo dealer, Sharnford Tractors.

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Simple, reliable, and efficient machinery has never been more important. Protecting and maintaining the soil structure, tackling blackgrass and weed control, and battling increased fuel and labour costs, are only some of the challenges of modern agriculture.

With a simple, straightforward concept, the Güttler Supermaxx could be exactly what you need.

Standard tine arrangement across the board

Standard to the whole range of Güttler Supermaxx models is the tine and tine arrangement. The 45 x 12 x 660mm sprung tines are all fitted with reinforced helpers and are tough and durable but, most importantly, allow a high frequency vibration. This produces an even tilth, will bring loosened weeds to the surface, and incorporate stubble, chopped straw and any other crop residue.

Tines can be set to work in very shallow conditions and increase incrementally by 1cm with a simple pin arrangement. Tine depth is maintained with front-mounted gauge wheels if there is no rear roller or by a rear mounted Güttler Rollfix Roller.

Whilst the tine spacing between the tines is set to an optimum 12.5cm, the tines of the Supermaxx machine are set over five or seven rows and it is this spacing between the rows that spaces the tines to allow trash and stubble to pass seamlessly through.

Customisable design sets machine apart from the rest

Rollers: The Güttler lightweight synthetic ultra-roller for soil consolidation. Well-known throughout the market, the unique hard wearing but lightweight option of the synthetic ultra Güttler roller can be fitted to all the five-row versions of the Supermaxx machine. Depth control of the tines will be controlled by the roller – if no roller is fitted, the depth of tines is accurately controlled by gauge wheels and the rear levelling tines.

Levelling boards and additional harrows: Whilst standard machines are supplied with a single levelling harrow of 12mm sprung tines mounted behind the tines, options are available to fit an additional harrow or parallel levelling board behind the tines in any configuration to suit. This may be directly behind the existing harrow giving a ‘double row’ effect, between the tines and roller or directly behind the roller.

Hydraulic ripper boards and paddles: Hydraulically operated paddle boards are fitted in front of the tines on the trailed 9m, 10m and 12m versions of the Supermaxx as standard. These can be modified and fitted with 12mm ripper board plates if desired, and hydraulically operated ripper boards can be fitted to mounted machines.

Tine options: A wide range of tine points are available for the tines:

• 8mm thick reversible points are fitted as standard
• Hard wearing, reinforced tungsten tipped points – approx. 5–6 times the longevity of standard points
• 200mm wide stubble point with double bolt attachment
• New hard wearing GF200 forged stubble point with double bolt attachment now available.

Patented lock washer: Patented Wox ‘lockwashers’ are available for the fitment of tungsten tipped points to ensure secure fitment of the point to prevent loss during cultivation operations as tine vibrations can easily loosen standard bolt and washer fitments.

Seeder options: Convert this machine to a tine seed machine by fitting a Güttler hydraulic seeder unit. The 410-litre seeder as supplied on the Greenmaster system is ideally suited to the Supermaxx system. Simple fitment of seeder and access platform will result in a system perfect for establishing cereal and cover crops. New patented direct seed coulter boots are now available to deliver seed directly into the tine slot.

Compatibility with the Güttler range: The Güttler range of consolidation rollers are a perfect complement to the Supermaxx range. In particular, the trailed Master and Magnum range fitted with 45/50cm cast iron rings in unique ground contouring framed – giving complete soil coverage, leaving an ideal loose crumbly finish with firm consolidation beneath.

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New cultivation techniques require new machinery

Changing weather patterns, an increase in the level of organic matter generated by cover cropping and the use of farmyard manures, along with a reduction in the availability of active ingredients in agrochemicals, has led to a need to adopt new cultivation techniques – in a bid to combat soil erosion caused by heavy downpours, as well as weed and disease carryover within the newly established winter crop.

Generating good weatherproof stale seedbeds in order to start the straw rotting process and yet, at the same time, leave the weed seed bank on or near the surface, has seen the depth of cultivation fall. Nowadays the trend is to move enough of the soil surface to encourage germination and yet leave a good carrying capacity for traffic within the soil.

Catros X-Cutter ultra-shallow compact disc harrow

Amazone is offering a choice of ultra-shallow compact disc harrows now in the form of the Catros X-Cutter. Available in working widths from 3m to 9m, the 480mm wavy-profile disc stamps down on and shreds the soil surface – intensively working the top couple of centimetres to increase seed/soil contact of volunteers and weed seeds – to be able to control these mechanically and chemically prior to drilling. The X-Cutter can be equipped with a front knife roller which shreds the surface residues allowing the wavy discs to evenly mix and distribute those residues thus interrupting slug habitats and reducing any toxin-release issues that could affect the cash crop germination potential.

Cobra shallow tine cultivator

The second option from Amazone, for those soils that don’t like a disc, is the Cobra shallow tine cultivator. Able to work from 4–13cm, the six rows of Eco leaf spring tines on a 16.6cm spacing shatter the immediate soil surface, leaving a broken top structure enabling good rain infiltration to prevent erosion. The tine design as well as the physical numbers means that there is an intensive mixing and crumbling effect across the working width.

The Cobra has a choice of 50mm chisel points for leaving a weather-safe stale seedbed, or the 220mm duckfoot share which is designed to cut the full surface allowing the loosened green material to dry out and die off ahead of the drilling operation. Again, the knife roller can run in front of the Cobra to shred any longer, laid material to allow good passage of the drill.

The Cobra is available in both 6m and 7m working widths.

This year’s Tillage-Live event will enable Amazone to showcase both machines, as well as the range of low-disturbance and direct drills from 3–15m.

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Megant 602R

Watch Kuhn machinery at work

Working machines on the day will include the Venta 3030 drill combined with the CD 3020 disc cultivator, the Espro 6000R drill, Striger 600R strip till machine, Prolander 6000 with TF 1512 distribution head, Optimer L12000 stubble cultivator, Performer 4000 Select cultivator and the VML Smart Plough.

The working machines will be joined by further products on the Kuhn stand including the Megant 602R drill, Maxima RXE maize drill, Cultimer L300T stubble tine cultivator, and the Aero 32.1 pneumatic fertiliser spreader.

The product selection represents Kuhn’s breadth of machinery featuring both min-till and conventional tillage machinery choices. Product specialist Edd Fanshawe suggests that the popularity of shallow cultivators reflects the desire to reduce soil disturbance. However, he says many systems still rely heavily on conventional ploughing methods.

“Kuhn has expanded the min-till range in recent years, with wider widths for the Optimer and Prolander. However, we are also focused on providing new solutions for those seeking to plough more efficiently. The VML Smart Plough is an example of how ploughing precision can be enhanced using GPS and Isobus to adjust working width, offset, working depth and levelling.”

The drills on show include the lightweight Megant 602R that can be operated by tractors with as little as 150hp. The latest Maxima RXE has electric drive and offers precision maize sowing at 10km/h. The 6m Espro 6000R will be working at the event to demonstrate how the versatile drill can work after the plough, min-till or directly in residues.

“The Kuhn drill range is one of the most comprehensive available, offering diversity for varying farming systems. We will also be demonstrating the 6m Prolander with a TF 1512 distribution head, which is suitable for the shallow incorporation of stubble and mixing in a break crop whilst also seeding the following crop in the same pass,” he adds.

Megant 602R

Kuhn’s lightweight Megant drill features new tine coulters, an updated terminal, and the option to add a second hopper. The Megant 602R shares functionality with the previous 600 model, but features half width shut off and can be specified with an additional SH 1120, 110-litre hopper to drill two crops in the same pass.

Due to its lightweight design, the Megant can be operated by tractors with as little as 150hp. Three types of tines can be specified on the Megant, including reversible forward action, straight, and a new narrow 12mm straight tine coulter which reduces soil displacement through improved penetration and also reduces wear on the tine thanks to the addition of carbide plated points.

The 602R has inherited some features from the larger Espro drill, including spring loaded nonstop track eradicators and side markers that are better suited to dry conditions. A new welded 1,800-litre hopper capable of holding 1,200kg of wheat and drilling 60ha a day replaces a riveted hopper on the previous model. The new hopper also includes internal steps to improve access to the distribution head.

The Megant has been fitted with Kuhn’s Vistaflow valves which can be configured and controlled from the terminal. This enables operators to program the flow of seed with the option to save settings for future use. Vistaflow also records tramlining configurations such as the working width and wheel track to enable more accurate use of sprayers and fertiliser spreaders which will help to reduce input costs.

Aero 32.1.

Aero 32.1

The Kuhn Aero 32.1 pneumatic fertiliser spreader is equipped with a 24-nozzle boom and is available in working widths of 27, 28 or 30m. The mounted machine application rate is precise and modular over four sections, and it has an integrated weighing system.

The 3,200-litre hopper (1,900 litres without the extension) and working width of up to 30m make the Aero suitable for heavy use operators. It is also easy to operate, with hydraulic booms that are easy to control from the tractor cab and fold to the rear for safety on the road, Kuhn says.

Each metering unit is connected to six nozzles which can be switched on or off and be adjusted individually. It is therefore possible to modulate up to four spreading rates and to shut off individual sections, in a single pass.

The Aero 32.1 provides precision application up to the field border. This includes fine, light, or compound fertilisers, such as urea, and bulk mixtures that are usually more difficult to spread over large widths with centrifugal spreaders.

Prolander

Prolander

Kuhn’s Prolander has the versatility to perform multiple cultivation operations, working at speeds of 12kph and with a power requirement of just 25–35hp per working width metre. It features five rows of staggered vibrating S tines with progressively increasing spacings to ensure unimpeded trash flow. The robust frame strength allows work in stubble or seedbed and tines can be fitted with 60mm shares (seedbed preparation) or 180mm duck-foot shares (shallow cultivation).

The Prolander comes with a choice of rollers, with the double-U being suited to stubble and general tillage work whilst the tube roller (with the option of levelling harrows) is ideal for fine tilth work on light soils for root crops.

Coupled with Kuhn’s TF 1512 distribution head, the Prolander can also plant crops, cover crops and apply fertiliser. The front mounted hopper is available with 1,500 or 2,000-litre capacities and can be controlled with Kuhn’s Isobus CCI terminal or a tractor Isobus terminal.

The post Kuhn unveils product line-up for Tillage-Live 2023 appeared first on Farmers Guide.

With the harvesting season upon us, now is the perfect time to examine the risks of processing and storing grain.

Machinery has revolutionised farming by increasing production and reducing the number of hands needed. It has also created some of the highest risks of injury and/or death. The farming industry has a high rate of workplace accidents, so health and safety should be at the front of everyone’s mind.

With the harvesting season upon us, now is the perfect time to examine one of the lesser-known risks – processing and storing grain. Here are some of the main risks to be considered when working with grain.

Confined spaces – grain silos

Grain silos are dangerous due to the high risk of engulfment, a lack of breathable air, and the mechanical hazards of sweep augers. If possible, you must avoid entering these spaces. If the hazard is unavoidable e.g. for essential maintenance, a detailed risk assessment and Permit to Work are necessary to anticipate the many risks a worker would face.

A rescue plan should be outlined and rehearsed ahead of emergencies occurring to prevent rescuers from being overcome.

Grain goes through a vigorous process before it is ready for distribution, including ensuring the temperature is kept constant to dry the grain out. Climbing up onto the silo to check grain temperature carries high risk and even a small mistake could prove fatal.

Although the grain may seem solid, anyone stepping onto it risks being engulfed as the grain cannot support an average person’s weight. People have also slipped and fallen to their death while checking grain temperature. These incidents, although rare, have a high fatality rate. The suction-like action and weight prevents victims from resurfacing and makes rescue incredibly difficult.

Before inspecting grain silos, a rescue plan should be outlined and rehearsed.

Falls from height/slips and trips

Ladders and stair access to equipment present a high injury risk – falls from height are the most common type of fatal injury at work with 40 deaths in 2022. Added to this are slip/trip risks from obstructions and uneven floors.

Good housekeeping and regular maintenance of access equipment plus staff training on working at height safely reduce the risks considerably.

Harvest machinery

Machinery, such as screw conveyors, rotary valves, roller mills and mixers, can all cause serious injury if operators don’t follow all health and safety procedures.

Hazards with machinery usually occur during maintenance, cleaning or when refilling the silos. A detailed risk assessment must be carried out to identify risks and controls before anyone operates any machinery. These should be regularly revisited and updated. We recommend annual risk assessments as a minimum to ensure any damage is identified and additional controls are put in place where needed.

All machinery during harvest season can pose a danger to you and all others on your farm.

Transporting grain

Lift trucks and trailers when moving around site or tipping grain present high risks to pedestrians. A site-specific traffic management plan including vehicle/pedestrian separation and sufficient banksmen on site will control significant risks.

Manual sack handling

Heavy sacks should be mechanically lifted/handled wherever possible with manual handling kept to a minimum.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)

Noisy machinery and equipment can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss for workers. Aim to reduce exposure to as low as reasonably practicable by reducing shift lengths and modifying the plant, machinery, and working environment. Ear protectors are a last resort as the least effective measure.

Are protectors are the least effective measure to reduce hearing loss.

Hazardous substances

Commonly used chemicals such as chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and sulphur dioxide can harm workers. Tight controls and high awareness of how to handle, store and dispose of hazardous substances is essential.

Bottles require clear labelling with the relevant icons identifying the danger, i.e. ‘corrosive’ or ‘flammable’. This is a legal requirement.

Grain dust

Exposure to excess grain and flour dust can cause occupational asthma. This is a big one. 33% of all food industry compensation cases are to do with asthma contracted as a result of working with flour and grain dust. If not properly controlled, milling and other manufacturing processes can generate a lot of airborne dust. This is easily inhaled by workers, who are then vulnerable to asthma, rhinitis (runny/stuffy nose), conjunctivitis (watery or prickly eyes) and other irritant effects.

Good ventilation at source will prevent excess generation of dust.

Regular monitoring of dust levels is vital, as is maintenance of associated machinery and equipment. Health surveillance should be put in place for all workers exposed to dust hazards.

Plenty to think about

If you have made it this far, you’ll know that there are dangers in every part of the harvesting process. Make sure that the handling of grain is at the top of your priority list during this harvest season.

The post Handling grain – 8 hazards and dangers to consider appeared first on Farmers Guide.

To ensure exact field contour, the NZ Extreme has a five-section frame, able to adapt to the field surface and maintain the selected depth.

Setting the standard in seedbed preparation

NZ Extreme is a high-performance heavy-duty tine harrow that levels the field and creates an ideal seedbed for the coming crop. Available in working widths of 12.5 to 14.25m, the machine is able to perform high-quality seedbed preparation in a wide range of field conditions – from ploughed to cultivated land.

By combining unmatched capacity with a high-intensity work result, NZ Extreme reduces the passes needed and helps retain moisture in the ground. Its five-section frame is able to adapt to the field surface and maintain selected depth, which is further enhanced by an innovative weight transfer, ingenious wheel setup and heavy-duty machine design.

Meanwhile, wide wheels distributed across the machine length and width enable high carrying capacity and ensure equal conditions for each tine, which penetrate the ground up to a depth of 10cm. Mounted on 6 axles with a tine spacing of 7.2cm, the Extreme tine concentrates its intense vibration forwards, with minimum sideways movement.

Peak performance of the Extreme tine is preserved by carefully selected raw materials, while a unique construction enables the tines to focus all the power where intended, that is crushing clods and sorting the soil to create ideal conditions for the coming seeding operation.

Whereas, the machine’s front CrossBoard Heavy tines were designed to shift large amounts of soil, providing aggressive cultivation and ensuring that clods are crushed and the soil is levelled. A double-acting stabiliser bar ensures that all CrossBoard tines work together as one unit, preventing individual tines to move forward or backward.

The result is an extremely level outcome, saving passes and providing ideal conditions for the seed drill. The five axle models can be equipped with a rear CrossBoard for additional levelling, and working intensity is easily controlled hydraulically from the cab.

Last but not least, the rear working zone on the NZ Extreme offers the possibility to add features for improved finishing. The machine is suitable for operating with tractors of 300hp and above.

Combining precision with quality performance

Väderstad’s 12m pneumatic seed drill Inspire 1200C/S offers a high-capacity output at a low draught force requirement. Available as a seed-only or seed and fertiliser model, Inspire features an adaptive double disc seed coulter system which, paired with the highly advanced Fenix III metering system, results in even emergence and strong crop growth.

The machine’s double disc seed coulter system has an excellent ability to adapt to any irregularities on the field, thereby maintaining a constant seed depth. The result is precise seed placement and an even crop emergence across the field.

A unique precision feature in the 12-metre seed drill segment is the ability to control seed output in eight separate sections, enabling sectional control down to 1.5m sections.

Inspire 1200C/S is designed for high performance with minimised downtime in the field and features a large hopper with a low filling height and large opening.

The seed-only version, Inspire 1200S, is equipped with a 5000-litre hopper for seeds, while the combi version Inspire 1200C has a 7200-litre hopper holding both seeds and fertiliser in two separate compartments. Moreover, a large platform and open machine design allows for good access to all components throughout the machine.

Inspire 1200C/S is also equipped with hydraulic wing pressure, which transfers weight from the inner section of the machine to its outer wings. This enables the machine to respond to any irregularities on the field and ensure an even emergence.

To provide an aggressive working angle but with maximum penetration force, the seed discs are mounted in an OffSet position. As a result, Inspire is able to reach the desired working depth irrespective of soil type or conditions on the field while maintaining maximum precision.

Meanwhile, row spacing has been set to 125mm for maximum yield, with research showing that this results in 20% less weeds than 150mm. Moreover, a narrow row spacing allows for a larger seed spacing, thereby lowering the fungi pressure.

In addition, Inspire 1200C/S is equipped with the iPad-based control system Väderstad E-Control. Väderstad E-Control wirelessly connects to the Väderstad machine, enabling full access to its functions and data. Farmers benefit from a user-friendly remote setup and calibration, as well as real-time monitoring and control.

Inspire 1200C/S can be operated with tractors of over 170hp.

Väderstad’s 12m pneumatic seed drill Inspire 1200CS in action.

The post Väderstad NZ Extreme and Inspire now available to demo appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Now available in working widths from 2.45m to 5.25m in both mounted and trailed formats, the Combi-Disc employs two leading rows of soil-loosening legs followed by two rows of serrated Sabre discs to provide a surface chopping and mixing effect. This is all followed up with a V-profile roller to produce a corrugated, weather-proof finish.

It is this combination of soil-engaging elements that makes the Combi-Disc such an adaptable tool. In normal circumstances the tines, discs and press are used in partnership to turn previously uncultivated ground into a seedbed in one pass. When conditions require it, the discs can be lifted completely out of work, enabling the unit to be used as a straightforward subsoil loosener/pan-buster.

Likewise, with the legs lifted out of contention, the machine can be put to work as a straightforward shallow disc cultivator.

The addition of new ‘Stealth’ soil-loosening legs add further to the Combi-Disc’s versatility, making it a true low disturbance subsoiler with the added ability of being able to provide some surface tilth creation at the same time.

“With the increased focus on regenerative practices, we’re seeing a need for cultivation kit that can reduce soil disturbance but still deal with compacted layers in the soil profile to ensure decent drainage and rooting to maximise crop potential,” explains OPICO’s HE-VA product manager Glenn Bootman.

“With this new leg option for the Combi-Disc we are answering that requirement. The basic principle is medium-depth, low disturbance soil loosening combined with shallow surface cultivation. I believe that now makes the Combi-Disc one of the most adaptable tillage tools on the market.”

The 15mm wide Stealth low disturbance leg and low disturbance point are the product of many years of development. Whilst large numbers of growers are now moving towards reduced tillage systems they appreciate that drainage is key to crop development, allowing timely field operations and preventing the relentless progress of grass weeds such as blackgrass. The Stealth leg and point that HE-VA has developed allows deep soil loosening whilst minimising surface disturbance and preventing mixing of the soil profile.

The narrower legs are made from ultra-strong Hardox steel and can be interchanged with standard 25mm wide subsoiler legs as necessary. However, it is the point that really makes the difference. The Stealth standard 120mm low disturbance point has a shallower wing angle and shorter nose that has been designed to open up the soil to create drainage fissuring without mixing the whole soil profile.

Those wanting increased soil loosening across a wider profile can opt for a wider 200mm point. Both widths are available with and without long-life tungsten facing.

Visit OPICO at Cereals on the 13th and 14th June for more information.

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