Richard has been farming for about 20 years in the region. The Waikato region had the largest share of dairy cows in New Zealandnat 22.4%. Indeed, the Waikato climate which tends to have warm, humid summers and mild winters is particularly suited for dairy farming with a good average grass growth rate.

Richard’s 220 dairy cows are milked on a once-a-day (OAD) system. This milking regime relatively common in New Zealand, used either as the overall farming system or tactically as a short-term response to adverse seasonal conditions.

Richard has owned another brand of bale feeder in the past, but there were a lot of moving parts and he broke the chain several times. He got tired of having to spend time in the workshop or at his dealer’s to fix the machine. So, he recently bought a Unrolla LM105 mounted bale feeder from his local Hustler dealer, Power Farming Morrinsville.

“I changed to Hustler because my other bale feeder had a lot more moving parts and would break chains fairly frequently.”

Richard has already adopted his new Hustler bale feeder, which was very easy to get to grips with. He is delighted with it, noting that it is robust and has far fewer moving parts. Richard only needs to grease the four nipples of the self-aligning, fully sealed block bearings to maintain his machine.

“The Hustler brand seems to have a lot less moving parts, (and) just seems very robust.”

Richard particularly likes the time-savers that come as standard on the machine. For instance, the unequal length tynes are a handy feature for quick and easy alignment when reconnecting the cradle, even on uneven ground.

“It just makes it so much easier to back the tractor and to hook up the buggy part of the bale feeder,”

Richard explained.

“Previously, I used to have to come on on a bit of an angle with my old bale feeder that forks were the same length.”

With a 100% hydraulic system, there’s not much that can go wrong with this unrollabale feeder. Moreover, the drive system is very simple: the hydraulic motor is located on the headstock and drives a pin that connects to the drive shaft when reconnecting the cradle to the headstock.

Investing in a Hustler bale feeder was also about additional peace of mind for Richard. It is a machine with a very robust chassis that is built to last.

The Unrolla range all come with strong 40 x 40 mm feed bars and zinc-plated chains rated to 24,000lbs. Not to mention the single piece fully enclosed floor in polyethylene, it’s non-corrosive, impervious to UV and very shock resistant.

“I would definitely recommend the Hustler LM105 bale feeder to any other dairy farmer.”

Source: Hustler 

The post [Job Story] A New Zeland Farmer Switched to the Hustler Bale Unroller appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Running 500 acres, he prefers to invest in his own field equipment for independence and flexibility rather than rely on custom applicators for fertilizer and spraying.

Over the years, Elliot has become a loyal customer, purchasing Salford tillage machines to manage his field work. He says he’s been happy with his I-1200 and I-5100 machines, reporting their field performance measures up to his expectations and deliver his ideal field finish. Elliot’s experience with Salford equipment meant he had high expectations when he invested in a BBI Liberty.

“I saw a model at a local farm show and knew it was what I was looking for – stainless steel with simple drive components and a roll-top cover,” he says. “I was looking for something to stand up to the harsh wear and tear fertilizer causes on a spreader and was happy to find the Liberty unit.”

Getting Started

Spring 2020 was the first year Elliot operated his new fertilizer spreader. And while he was pleased with the unit’s performance, he had to work out a few kinks first. Like any new machine, it took some field time to get his spreader working to his standards.

“My local Salford territory manager was on hand to help set up the spreader from the start, he was able to set my desired fertilizer spread pattern and was on hand for any questions or follow up concerns.”

Salford’s service commitment came through for Elliot last spring as he placed some follow up calls to Hank, his local territory manager. Together, they resolved some minor concerns to make sure the machine was performing up to Elliot’s standards.

“The machine works great, the Liberty is part of my fleet and I expect it will stay in my equipment lineup for rest of my farming career,”

says Elliot, noting one of the biggest benefits of the machine is its ideal size for his fields and nutrient application requirements.

No Limitations

The name of the machine, Liberty, is a reflection of its break through design that no longer restricts general broadcast application, but rather a more targeted, precise nutrient application. Salford’s BBI Liberty spreaders are available in mechanical and hydraulic drive options that have been manufactured to meet every grower’s economic and performance needs.

Proven Results

“Fertilizer is important, but it’s hard to tell just what difference it makes on yield and crop quality at harvest time, especially on rented land,”

says Elliott.

It can be hard to measure fertilizer performance, especially when it comes to assessing the impact of application, but Elliot believes he’s seen a difference in using the Liberty spreader after just one growing season. He includes flexibility and convenience as performance measurements in his operation.

“The Liberty spreader is convenient; it is a low maintenance machine that is just the right size for my fields and it delivers consistent spread patterns. And I put a high value on anything that saves me time and offers flexibility.”

Elliot expects his Liberty spreader to continue to perform to his standards in the field, while providing him the time-saving, low maintenance requirements he desires.

“I’d recommend this machine to anyone,”

he says.

“It’s a good quality spreader that comes with quality service.”

Source: Salford

The post [Job Story] Salford BBI Liberty Fertilizer Spreader Experience on a Canadian Farm appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Mark is thrilled to have chosen a Hustler Applic8r mounted boom sprayer a few months ago and thinks it’s a “wonderful machine”. Mark farms on 5,500 effective hectares with about 46,000 stock units comprised of sheep, cattle and deer.

Mark was looking for a versatile and compact mounted boom sprayer that would handle a large variety of applications, from fertiliser to herbicide and insecticide on both crops and grass paddocks. He explains that with the Hustler Applic8r LX1150,

“we can use it all through this machine. All around, it’s just a good machine to use, for everything.”

The Hustler sprayer range is ideal for livestock farmers or crop farmers willing to use a sprayer in tight paddocks and small to medium size areas, especially on rough terrain or rolling hill country. Mark chose to equip his sprayer with a Hustler SonicBoom which is hydraulicly folded as

“you don’t have to get out and fold anything away,”

Mark said.

Some other time-savers make the Applic8r very easy to use according to Mark, such as the handy storage container on the side of the main tank or the extra freshwater tank.

For Mark, one of the key benefits is the GPS guidance unit he decided to add to his sprayer configuration.

“You can outline your paddock where you go it’ll paint the paddock for you, if you overlap or anything, that part of the boom is shut off itself automatically,”

Mark detailed.

Hustler Applic8r sprayer helped Mark to “save on chemical” and to get the perfect application for his operation.

“Hustler is a wonderful product, well made, the backup service and the people at the factory are just wonderful to deal with.”

Before buying his Hustler sprayer, Mark has done his homework, asking fellow farmers. Mark has received good feedback about the brand, whether it is the sprayers or other machines manufactured by Hustler. Several neighbours in the district own a Hustler product and they “can’t fault them” while “the backup service is really good”.

“All around, it’s just a good machine to use, for everything.”

As Hustler Equipment head office is based some 45 minutes away from Oheniwairua Station, Mark was also happy to support a local company with a good reputation.

Source: Hustler

The post [Job Story] Hustler Boom Sprayer in Action on a New Zealand Farm appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Kent Smith, a Missouri farmer and hardwood flooring businessman, recently purchased one of the very first all-new Hustler’s Combi RX multi-feeder wagons operating in the United States. Strongly built and versatile, this is the machine Kent was looking for to feed his cattle.

The story of Kent Smith starts with his grandfather, Jack Smith, who grew up in the little town of Eminence. Jack Smith was working as a logger and tie hacker in southern Missouri and, according to Kent, “he didn’t have two pennies to rub together.” In 1947, he founded Smith Flooring, a company now in its third generation of family ownership.

The timber business is “what drives everything” in the Ozark Forest area, but the family decided to “purpose some of that land for growing cattle,” Kent explained. Kent is now fully in charge of the beef cattle operation since his father, Van Smith, passed away suddenly in 2005.

Since then, Kent has fully embraced his life as a farmer.

“I feel like I’ve taken off about 10 years of my life sitting in an office wondering about numbers and money, and it’s really nice to be able to get out here where it’s just so beautiful, and walking around the calves every day – out here, outside, is a good one,”

Kent admitted.

Although livestock farming and timber harvesting are very different industries, they complement one another, especially in that they share a primary industry asset – land. And,

“anything you can do to increase efficiency, to maximize your return on any investment that you have out there on the land, is a positive thing. The Combi wagon that we have is amazing,”

Kent explained.

Kent Smith farms in rugged country, and Kent chose to breed beef cattle that are hardy enough for the area (such as White Faces and Black Baldys). To feed his herd, he needed a versatile piece of equipment – something that would “feed most anything that I have.”

He found the perfect match: the Hustler Combi RX148.

The Hustler Combi RX range is a chain-less rear floor wagon able to feed out literally every supplementary type of feed, including all bale types, shapes and sizes, and any type of loose feed that can be loaded with a loader including fine chop silage, maize silage, root crops, vegetables and more. Its lateral elevator design delivers feed out of the side of the machine to feed into troughs, feed pads, bunks or open pastures.

The loading height of a wagon is often a crucial element since it could narrow the selection of machines that could load into it without damaging the sides of the wagon. With the Hustler Combi RX range, it is possible to use pretty much any front loader of any type (bucket, grab…) to fill it thanks to its low loading height – between 2430 mm (95 inches) and 2650 mm (104 inches) – depending on the model chosen.

Once loaded, the Combi wagon is quick and easy to reconnect (no need to connect a PTO), however of course you could load with an extra loader like you would need to when feeding with a TMR (this simplicity allows for efficient use with just one tractor). The operator only needs to get out of the cab twice in total, meaning 66% less cab entry and exit compared to any other 2 or 6 bale capacity bale processor. Whilst similar cab exit/entry is required when feeding with a TMR, both a tractor and a loader are required to do the job.

Once the bale wrap is removed, the hydraulics only need to be reconnected once, which takes only a few seconds.

The Combi wagons developed by Hustler are built to last.

Feed out in the field and on the feed pad with one wagon

The ultra-low center of gravity, combined with the large floatation tires, are a game-changer for stability allowing the Combi RX wagon to feed out in the roughest of terrain, the terrain you wouldn’t dare take a mixer wagon on! And Combi RX finds itself just as at home in the field as the feed pad, with a large tilting elevator to place that feed exactly where you’d like it.

Simple hydraulic drive – with out the need to a PTO shaft!

Yes, the simple design of Hustler’s Combi range is powered by hydraulics for safety, reliability, and lower power consumption. And with the oversized 12,000 lb. roller chains to the high tensile sprockets, there are no wearing parts to buy or replace for the life of the feeder! And it handles all types of feeds including balage, silage, root crops or anything else you can load in it. The powerful hydraulic ram-powered pusher blade ensures even the ugliest of bales are no contest!

Massive drawbar clearance

The drawbar design offers great clearance and a major advantage (far superior to any wide-angle PTO shaft) in maneuverability, making life easier for operators in tight lanes and gateways. This reduces the possibility of damaged gate posts or machines due to operator error. Kent Smith’s Combi RX148 has a turning circle of 7.8 m (25 ft) compared to 20.8 m (68 ft) for the equivalent size wagon.

Impact-resistant floor

The unique heavy-duty 15-mm (3/5″) thick puck board rear floor is slippery, durable and extremely tough, it handles the impact of heavy beets landing on it without damage.

Recently Kent Smith found himself sliding backward down an icy hill, jack-knifing his Combi wagon. Thinking it was going to be out of service for weeks, turned into a $10 trip to the store thanks to Hustler’s design and strength.

“This thing is built like a tank,”

he said.

Source: Hustler 

The post [Job Story] Hustler Combi RX Multi Feeder Wagon in Action on a Missouri Farm appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

He uses them to grind old grapevines back into the soil in order to prepare his fields for new crops. In previous years, Jordan had hired a contractor to remove the vines through burning or using tub grinders. By bringing the task in-house and switching to Seppi M. equipment, he’s generated huge cost savings for his vineyard. He’s also created a new revenue stream by starting a vineyard removal service and has a large backload of jobs just from word-of-mouth referrals.

Seppi M. subsoilers save Harris Farms $380 an acre

“Traditional removal methods like burning or using tub grinders will cost about $500 an acre. Using Seppi M. attachments we can complete the same job for about $120 an acre, saving us $380 on each and every acre. I use Seppi M. equipment on my own 200 acres and work as a commercial contractor removing vines on about 500 acres of other vineyards. These attachments are great, because they deliver huge cost savings, let you prepare fields for replanting in a single pass, and they leave very little wood or debris behind. I’ve been very happy with my Seppi purchases.”

 “In the past we used to pay a third party to burn the vines after removal. That method left a lot of debris behind, and the areas where the burn piles were don’t seem to ever grow as well again. When burn restrictions came into place in California, we started removing and grinding vines in place in a grinder. Then, we had to spread them out and disk them into the soil. It was quite the process and took a long time. We wanted to find a better removal method.”

“We saw a Seppi machine being used in Southern California and then studied them for a few months before buying our first one. I’ve taken out several thousand acres of my own vineyards over the years, and I can tell you that Seppi is the best way to do it. It’s much easier than other methods and a lot cheaper. Just one pass, and it’s done.”

Source: Seppi M.

The post [Job Story] JS Harris Farms Developments using Seppi M. Stone Crusher and Forestry Tillers appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Is this technology right for everyone? Not necessarily. Studies have shown smaller, relatively flat fields with a uniform soil type often have a consistent distribution of nutrients. A straight rate application is just as effective at getting the right nutrients applied as a variable rate machine in these situations. However, many farms in Ontario have at least some rolling ground and can be challenged with several soil types in one field.

Ontario farmer Tony DeBruyn works his own land and does some custom work on corn, soy and occasionally some wheat in Chatham-Kent. DeBruyn’s work area includes some rolling fields near Lake Erie. To maximize his yields in the area they farm DeBruyn has been using variable rate application for some time.

“We don’t look to variable rate for cost savings in fertilizer,”

says DeBruyn.

“It’s the matter of putting the product where it’s needed. We looked at variable rate when it first came out. The co-op we work with would take soil samples.”

And naturally, they thought that more fertilizer should be put on the poorer soils. However, that’s not the case.

“We found that our poorer soils can only produce so much. The better soils are really able to increase yields with the proper nutrients applied.”

Along with focusing on fertilizer where it’s needed to maximize yields, Debruyn is also concerned about his environmental impact.

“We’re near Lake Erie, and we’re concerned about algae blooms and what regulations the government may come with regards to fertilizer application. We decided we want to put our fertilizer where it’s going to be the most beneficial. That way, we’re increasing yields and creating less runoff with the fertilizer.”

Continuing on his goal to improve application methods on his land, and through custom work, DeBruyn has spent the last five years researching the variable-rate blends. Tony is looking to apply this research with an applicator that could meet his needs.

Tony has purchased one of Salford’s BBI MagnaSpread3, multi-product spinner spreaders. DeBruyn’s Salford spreader is capable of creating a blend of three fertilizers at once and varying the application rate for each product on the fly to match the prescription that he’s had created based on soil sampling. The spreader is ISOBUS compatible, allowing him to keep using the same GreenStarTM 2360 terminal that he uses for other precision operations on his farm. Application equipment that is ISOBUS compatible allows one terminal move between the tractors and control various implements. Although ISOBUS isn’t foolproof compatibility, depending on firmware versions and terminal “unlocks”, the fact remains that using one control terminal across multiple implements is the best way to maximize the farm’s investment in precision controls.

When asked about the learning curve to setup his new spreader for multi-product, variable rate application DeBruyn said he was nervous at first but when he got his machine and was impressed with how easy it was to get started. Having individual scale kits on the separate hoppers helped make calibration easier.

“We were surprised with how easily the GreenStarTM connected to and controlled the spreader. With one person, it took about 30 minutes to calibrate it, and with two people you could do it in less time.”

DeBruyn emphasized that variable rate application requires precision. Consistent soil sampling is important to build the prescription maps. Also, spreader calibration and knowing the density of the product you’re spreading is essential for accurate, uniform application. DeBruyn says in his operation, they will double-check the product density when they notice the material consistency change, even if it’s coming from the same truckload of fertilizer. This ensures they have accurate applications.

Source: Salford

The post [Job Story] Salford Advanced Precision Technologies in its Application Equipment Influenced Canadian Farm Results appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Roughly a decade ago, the Buehlow’s used a Salford RTS vertical tillage tool to prepare residue and help warm the soil for spring planting operations. After a few seasons, the Buehlow’s found the RTS didn’t work the ground thoroughly enough on some of their heavier soil types.

Over the next few years, the Buehlow’s tried different combinations of tillage equipment to work their land. They used a deep ripper, a cultivator, and a “disc style” vertical tillage implement. However, the Buehlow’s still weren’t satisfied with their tillage options. When they found out that Salford had upgraded the RTS, they went to their local dealer to see the changes.

The RTS grew into six tillage machines called the Independent Series. Each I-Series model uses the RTS’s vertical tillage principles and has independently mounted blades, like the RTS. I-Series models start with different blades, blade mounting, and blade spacing. They can be equipped with enhanced finishing systems, and select models can carry shanks for more aggressive tillage or application.

The Buehlow’s purchased a Salford I-2200, heavy-duty blade mounts with 22-inch wavy coulters and 5-inch blade spacing. They also added the hydraulically adjustable SwitchBlade tillage shanks on 15-inch spacing so that they could till deeper, level more, and create more soil disturbance in the fall. In the spring, they’re able to hydraulically raise the shanks to run the machine for low-disturbance, high-speed seedbed preparation.

“We traded in three pieces of tillage equipment, and now this one-piece does everything that we need,”

says Josh Buehlow.

“We really like the job this machine does on our soil types. It allows us great versatility among all soil types to get the job done. We typically use this machine on every acre. If we’re planting corn into soybean stubble, we’ll spread our commercial fertilizer or manure and then use this machine to incorporate the fertilizer or manure into the soil and then follow-up with the planter. The finish is extremely smooth, and it’s a great seedbed to plant into.”

Josh noted that the I-2200 was more robust than the RTS, but it created the same level fields they had gotten used to from their old RTS.

“One of the biggest things that we loved about our 570 RTS back in the day was how smooth our fields were. We never had smoother fields. So when we came back to the I-2200, that was one of the biggest things we were looking forward to. We noticed a huge difference when we were combining soybeans… we’re able to get every last bean because our fields are super smooth, and since they are smoother, we’re able to travel faster and still get that perfect cut.”

The Buehlow’s also found their I-2200 saved them time and money compared to their “vertical disc”. Their 31 foot I-2200 used less fuel than their other tillage equipped and has coved as many as 400 acres in a day. Salford’s vertical tillage design can work in a broader range of soil moisture conditions to warm and dry the soil and increase the window for planting operations.

Josh noted that the I-2200 doesn’t break down often, and the ease of servicing the independently mounted blades and bearings means less downtime. Josh also noted the I-2200 was more operator-friendly than their disc-style machine. A few years back, they had a hired hand doing their tillage work with a “disc style” vertical tillage tool. The operator was experiencing a lot of downtime due to plugging the machine. This also led to sub-standard fieldwork with clumps and bunches of residue that would interfere with the planter.

“I figure we probably paid him close to a day’s worth of labor for just hamming stones out of that machine, so we were losing productivity out of it, and by going to this I-2200, we don’t have issues like that anymore. Stalks and stuff flow through and there’s no way that stones can get jammed.”

The Buehlow’s moved away from the Salford RTS because it didn’t mix enough soil and residue or level well enough on some of their ground. Now that they have moved back to a Salford, they’ve found that many of the things they liked about the RTS are common in the bigger, more durable I-2200. Still, it meets all of their tillage needs and improves the efficiency of their operation.

Source: Salford

The post [Job Story] Salford I-2200 Tillage Machine Results on Buehlow’s Farm in Ontario appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Glenwood—located in one of the most prominent regions in North America for greenhouse farming—grows tomatoes, cucumbers, and various fruits year-round and distributes produce to local grocery stores and retailers through its strategic partnership with BC Hot House, a division of The Star Group. Herb Schlacht, the farm’s president and CEO, founded Glenwood more than 30 years ago. A progressive grower in constant search of innovative cultivation solutions, Schlacht is already recording greater crop yields following the first harvests under Fluence’s LEDs.

“Our partnership with Fluence is producing great results after just one crop cycle,”

Schlacht said.

“Together, I’m confident we will exceed our goals to grow bigger, more beautiful and tasty crops without sacrificing energy usage.”

Schlacht also noted a key advantage LEDs offer in comparison to high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures: the ability to increase light intensity by decoupling light and heat parameters.

Decoupling reduces the risk of overheating the facility and ensures control over environmental conditions, resulting in better plant morphology and production response. Specifically, Schlacht achieved a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 275 μmol/m²/s with Fluence’s LED technology—about a 50 percent increase over Glenwood’s HPS PPFD of 180 μmol/m²/s.

“Our greenhouse is four and a half meters tall. It would be impossible for us to reach that high of a light level with conventional HPS technology—we simply do not have an adequate buffer above our crop. Our Fluence fixtures allow us to grow in our existing greenhouse without risking excessive heat output,”

Schlacht added.

“The possibilities for optimized energy efficiency and increased crop yields through LED technology are endless,”

said Ron DeKok, senior vice president of North American sales for Fluence.

“Our partnership with Glenwood Valley Farms demonstrates how Fluence is bringing market-leading, science-based solutions to growers that optimize production opportunities throughout the grow cycle. Herb’s early success also reinforces how LEDs are best suited to meet changing grocer and consumer demand for locally sourced, sustainably grown food year-round.”

Source: Fluence

The post [Job Story] Fluence and Glenwood Valley Farms Partnership Across LED Technology appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

He chose a Hustler Applic8r LX1150 mounted boom sprayer which he was able to fully customise to his needs. Watch the video to see why Brett is thrilled with his new Hustler sprayer!

Brett’s dairy farm, located near the village of Parakao in the Whangarei District and Northland Region of New Zealand’s North Island, extends over 412 hectares, with 311 hectares dedicated to the milking operation. With its subtropical climate, Northland offers a key competitive advantage for its agricultural sector. The region produces about 116,000 tonnes of dairy products each year.

With 820 milking cows and most of the maize silage produced on-farm, Brett can’t do without an effective sprayer for his crops. In the past, he had a Hustler Kapito sprayer but it was unfortunately involved in the fire. Both tractor and sprayer burned, “there was no other choice” except to buy a new one. As Brett was happy with the previous sprayer he used for eight to nine years without any issues, he decided to buy a brand-new Hustler. As a bonus, the new sprayer was also well positioned in terms of price.

“The old one was very reliable. It never gave any problems at all.”

Because every farmer and farm is different, Hustler offers a range of mounted boom sprayers that can be fully customized to suit your particular needs. This was a key feature that Brett particularly liked.

“We have a Hustler Applic8r LX1150. Hustler customised that for us.”

For his new sprayer, Brett chose the Applic8r LX1150 with a fully hydraulic SonicBoom to not waste time going in and out of the paddocks. This model comes standard with a handwashing tank, a built-in toolbox, the ViziGauge view, the adjustable MixMax agitation system, a QuickFlush flushing tank for easy cleaning, and all sorts of time-saver features.

“There is a very easy drain plug, it’s just a little pull cord at the back, which is brilliant!”

Brett chose to customise his sprayer with a handy storage box where he can put his chemical containers. He also set up the boom with 380-millimetre centers and triple nozzle bodies in order to cover various types of applications from herbicide to fertilisers. When needing to spray maize raws, at 760 millimetres apart, Brett just has to turn every second nozzle body off to get the perfect post-emergent spray!

Beyond that, Brett appreciates how Hustler sprayers are built to last and well thought-out. With a smart chassis/tank/pump integration, Hustler produces a tough and compact sprayer.

The built-in SkidPlate protects the vital parts of the machine from common obstacles faced when spraying. With this design, Brett doesn’t need to park his spray unit on a pallet and it’s “the best thing,” according to Brett. With

“the stand at the back, so you’ve got a heavy boom you can take it off and it’s got two stands that sit out, so it doesn’t try and fall over backward,”

Brett detailed.

Some improvements have been made since the Katipo sprayer generation, Brett noticed that

“the controller is a lot easier and more logical to use as well.”

The spray controller can be linked to an existing or new GPS tracking unit, including a customisable in-job layout.

Using a GPS system helps to rationalise the use of fertilisers and chemicals, ensuring targeted distribution while avoiding overlap or empty areas – meaning a consequent reduction in costs and operator fatigue. The sprayer GPS system can run and manage other ISOBUS implements, which is handy when the tractor is already equipped with a GPS like Brett’s tractor. However, if your tractor is not already equipped, Hustler partnered with Raven technology to offer the plug-and-play Raven CR7 GPS.

“I definitely recommend this machine, it’s brilliant, easy-to-use, good price, well-constructed, durable and they’ll customise it to what you want.”

Source: Hustler

The post [Job Story] Hustler Applic8r LX1150 Sprayer: The choice for a New Zealand Farmer appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

The VanQuaethem’s began strip-tillage and controlled traffic farming some years ago as a means of saving time and improving soil health.

“Stip-till, for us, eliminates a bunch of tillage passes. Instead of working corn stalks in the fall and then working twice in the spring, we make one pass and put all our nutrients down in the strip. We also conserve moisture by not tilling the whole ground and only working what we need to,”

said Joe VanQuaethem.

When asked if strip-till has improved their soil quality, Curtis VanQuaethem said,

“Yes. We have very sandy soils, and over time we’ve seen the soil’s increase its moisture-holding capacity. Also, we’ve seen more consistency over the entire field with less erosion from wind and rain.”

With strip-till being the VanQuaethem’s primary means of fertilizer application for row crops, they use a steerable cart to feed their 16-row strip-till bar. They also apply granular starter from their 16-row corn planter and use a steerable cart for that as well. In 2018, the VanQuaethem’s needed a new cart and purchased a Salford PathFinder steerable cart with a Valmar ST-8 applicator. VanQuaethem’s were so impressed with their new applicator they upgraded their other steerable cart to a Salford PathFinder with the latest Salford ST-10 applicator.

Joe and Curtis noted ease of use was a significant gain for the Salford cart over their previous application solution. For example, they found the Salford metering could handle lower quality fertilizer that is dusty or chunky and continue to meter product accurately without plugging, even in humid conditions. The metering systems are visible from the tractor cab, and if the meters become plugged or caked with fertilizer, you can clean them without emptying the tanks. The tanks empty evenly, so the system maintains even application from row to row and can apply another 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of fertilizer before refilling. This user-friendly design has allowed more operators in VanQuaethem’s operation to use the machine without special training. Joe summed it up best by saying, “We can’t always be in all the systems, so we need it to be easy, and the Salford carts seem to be the easiest for that.”

The Salford ST-10 applicator has 4 section control and allows for configurations to feed between 8 and 24 rows without row splitters. The 16 row Salford applicator has four rows per section. When asked about the section control system,

“We farm around a lot of ravines, a lot of cut-up fields, nothing is really square. So, in order to even be able to shut 4 or 8 rows off if your last pass is only eight rows – the ability to only run eight rows, or whatever how many you need, in a mile-long field, adds up to a lot of fertilizer savings.”

Said Joe. Curtis added,

“Our strip-till bar is 16 rows, 30-inch spacing. We usually go between 7-8.5mph. We try to get to that speed. We find that it does not lag. We don’t get any yellow spots going into rows or out of rows.” Which further highlights the metering responsiveness benefits to their crops overall.

In the future, VanQuathem’s have considered using the split bins to apply cover crops with their Salford PathFinder while they apply fertilizer. The metering rolls are gentle and accurate enough to handle seed. Curtis concluded,

“I would also say with the Salford, we’re not scared to do a little bit more with them. So versatility, we might hook it up to like a cover crop system. So blow fertilizer, maybe some rye seed down… We’re more confident in using it, so we’re probably going to use it for more things later because we know that. So, it opens up a lot of opportunities if you have the cart. You know it works. You feel confident maybe to step it up and use it for different things.”

Source; Salford

The post [Job Story] Salford Pathfinder in Action on a Local Canadian Farm appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.