“Our latest high-performance tool, the VRT, is a game-changer,” 
“Versatility is built right into the short, high-speed disc frame that offers more options for producers than ever.”

says Josh Kettle, Salford Tillage Product Manager.

Halo VRT features are designed for performance

The machine’s narrow transportation –12’ wide when folded – means the VRT isn’t much wider than the operating tractor. This design feature reduces obstacles on the road and makes transportation safer for everyone.

The Halo VRT also comes with a complete field finishing package. Already a popular feature with producers who have field tested the VRT machine, the finishing package comes with a double 14” roller and offers operators the ability to level, smooth, breakdown clods, roots and balls of soil, and even leave a herringbone finish. The field finishing package enables operators to completely customize their own fields. One the greatest benefits of the new Halo VRT is the machine’s versatility and its ability to perform just about every tillage function. For many Salford customers, that means they can invest in and maintain just one machine that they can use all-year long.

The latest in the halo lineup

When Salford came out with the Halo tillage family in 2020, they had one thing in mind – create a new lineup that meets and exceeds producer needs. They started by asking producers and operators how Salford could help improve their soil management goals, operator ease and efficiency, crop yields, and overall farm productivity. The response quickly led Salford to realize the need for tillage tools that are capable of handling a variety of field conditions.

“Not everyone wants or needs a lineup of tillage tools in their own yard, so Salford set out to design a new family of machines to be more versatile and meet the needs of every season with one machine,”

says Kettle.

The result was the release of the Halo family. The Halo HSD was the first in the Halo lineup that is designed as a multi-season tillage tool offering growers speed and a superior field finish. The Halo AerWay offers growers a less aggressive tillage tool that focuses on soil aeration and improving soil tilth while also offering effective residue management. And now, in 2022, Salford is introducing a revolutionary tillage machine set to be the most versatile in the industry, the Halo VRT.

“The Halo VRT brings two of the original Halo machines together in a new high-performance model,”
“Ultimately, you can do more with the VRT, thanks to all the customizable options. The VRT shines in fields with variable conditions, whether it’s within one field or multiple tillage seasons, it’s versatility is what makes this new addition to the Halo family so extraordinary.”

says Kettle.

Meeting and exceeding customer needs

“Salford has been a long-time player in soil management, and the company’s approach to identifying gaps in the market, along with its extensive R&D process, has led to the development of the VRT,” 
“We’re in the business of meeting customer needs and making a difference in their fields.”

says Kettle, explaining that Salford’s approach to new product development extends from customer feedback and suggestions through to engineering, manufacturing and in-field testing with growers and customers.

When customers were first consulted and asked what features they would like in a new tillage tool, the predominant response was one machine that could work in multiple soil conditions. Road transportation was a pain point for many of those consulted who said it’s one of the more stressful parts of their job. These requests led to the variable angle design of the VRT and narrow transport – both features that have had overwhelming positive feedback from in-field testing.

Kettle says the VRT was designed with customers who work in variable corn and soybean conditions. Salford customers had been asking for a tillage tool that could perform anywhere at any time of the year.

“For those producers who run two tools for multiple passes, or different types of field passes, the VRT can now help them consolidate their fleet because it’s versatility offers the flexibility of both aggressive and lighter passes – but with only one machine,”

he explains.

Source: Selford Group

The post Salford Modernizes Tillage Versatility with New Halo VTR High-Speed Drive appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Why soil tilth is so important

Good soil tilth is that coveted balance, or measurement of the balance between basic soil elements – air, minerals, water and organic matter. Finding that balance is key to optimizing production and maintaining healthy soils for today’s production and future crops. After all, there’s no better investment on a farm than in the health of your soil. Properly balanced soil will have good tilth and will create an environment for all the elements to efficiently interact, creating the ideal soil system. Root development and growth relies on a balance of air and water. Obviously restricting a plants access of any of these basic elements can lead to stunted root growth, resulting in a poor crop stand and decreased production.
Compaction is a producer’s number one enemy because it inhibits root growth, reduces the activity of soil organisms, and limits the plants access to air and water. Managing soil compaction and maintaining proper root development can be challenging in perennial crops like grassy pastures and hay fields, making aeration your best line of defense.
Aerating increases soils porosity helps to balance proper air-water proportions in the soil, and finding this balance will ensure the overall soil system works at peak efficiency. Compaction affects wet and dry soils, making either condition more severe. It reduces the soil’s water holding capacity, making drought conditions more serious, and inhibits drainage, making wet conditions worse.

Combat compaction

Correcting compaction will make significant improvements in soil tilth and is the most basic step you can take to improve your pasture and hay production. Salford’s vertical tillage AerWay technology offers producers an easy answer to manage compaction and improve soil health.
The AerWay’s patented Shattertines combat compaction by lifting and fracturing tough soil to increase air and water movement. The unique angles of the AerWay Shattertines crack and shatter compacted soil up to eight inches deep and in the right conditions soil fracturing can occur even deeper, opening new channels for air and water. It’s never been easier to find that air-water balance. In fact, producers report improved fertilizer uptake, reduced runoff and greater soil moisture retention as a result of running their AerWay implement over hay and pasture fields. All of these benefits add up to improved soil health, stronger root systems and better yields. Salford equipment is known for its quality and durability. Many of the unique equipment designs are intended to manage soil health and reduce compaction. The AerWay is another example of Salford’s commitment to soil health, with its unique tine arrangement. The machine’s roller tines are arranged in an offset pattern to ensure there is never a continuous furrow or groove in the soil that could channel water or cause erosion. The AerWay system also offers Quick Adjust rollers to allow you to control the degree of aeration. More aggressive angles are available for renovation and overseeding, while lesser swing angles can be used for aeration and compaction relief.

Aerway’s pasture management advantage

Healthy soils are the foundation of your pasture, but it’s the crop itself that you’re looking for. So, when it comes to seeding your pasture crop, the AerWay has you covered, offering total pasture management with just one implement.
AerWay’s Topdress Seeder features a dedicated 10 ft. Quick Adjust Frame with an integral full width 10bushel linear seedbox. Driven by a 12-volt constant speed electric motor, the seeder can handle a variety of seeds, along with granular herbicides and insecticides. And there’s an optional finishing tool or harrow for that extra seed to soil contact assurance.
When it comes to pasture management and high production hay fields, there’s no better tool for the job than Salford’s AerWay. Investing in an AerWay machine will deliver direct results, while building and maintaining soil health for years of future benefits.

Source: Salford Group

The post A Closer Look at Salford AerWay Vertical Tillage Technology to Improve Soil Health appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

David is coming from AGCO, where he excelled in several positions including the role of Director of Application Equipment Marketing. Through the various roles he held there David developed a keen interest in application equipment and the customers that work with applicators. When asked about his new role David said

“Coming to the Salford team really aligns with my passion for commercial application and gives me the opportunity to provide leading solutions for commercial application businesses. Having recently been involved in a global role I am excited to get back to working directly with customers, dealers, and the products.

“We’re excited to have David join Salford and further improve our commercial application offering by leveraging his experience, strategic insight, and market connections. Valmar and BBI held the commercial application market as a key part of their business strategy for decades. Since those two companies joined Salford Group nearly a decade ago commercial application has become a part of Salford’s DNA. Solidifying Salford’s commercial application business unit, and hiring David to lead it, is a renewal of our commitment to serving commercial application customers, and Salford’s goal to continue to grow in this space,”

said Brad Baker, Salford’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

David has a history of fostering collaboration between AGCO and Valmar in the commercial application market space. This rich understanding of Salford products is allowing him to hit the ground running in the new position.

Source: Salford

The post Salford Names New Director of Commercial Application 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.

Many growers in Western Canada use zero and minimal tillage systems, but managing crop residue and soil moisture is an increasing challenge, especially in fields with compaction issues. These low-impact practices offer plenty of agronomic advantages, like reducing soil disturbance and erosion while maintaining organic matter and soil nutrients. But soil compaction can lead to the formation of a hardpan layer just below the top few inches of soil in a field. This layer is so compact that it restricts much-needed moisture and nutrients from reaching crop roots. And the result of restricting water and nutrient availability is limited root growth and penetration into the subsoil, leading to stunted, drought-stressed plants.

So, how can growers manage crop residue with their preferred zero or minimal tillage equipment while avoiding soil compaction? The answer is vertical tillage.

How does this method work?

Aptly named, vertical tillage is an approach that encompasses the entire soil profile – from the top down. Starting with the surface layer, the system breaks down crop residue, incorporating it into the top few inches of soil and preparing an ideal seedbed. Working down through the soil profile, true vertical tillage machines can also manage and correct compaction issues, improve moisture and drainage, and support strong root growth for crop establishment.

Salford’s vertical tillage equipment, including the Independent Series or I-Series lineup, offers growers an opportunity to realize the benefits of vertical tillage. Salford’s patented coil-tech coulters are a unique innovation that combat compaction, fracturing hardpan by using the “jackhammer” effect to drive the vertical coulters into compaction layers, fracturing two to three inches further than the depth worked. You can set the ideal seedbed and field finish with the progressive equipment design that breaks down tough crop residue – all while improving soil health and controlling moisture by fracturing the soil to break the effect of hardpan.

Vertical tillage also breaks down all types of crop residue, including tough stems, stalks, and roots, with minimal soil disruption. The system incorporates residue into the top two to three inches where the organic matter will be available for next year’s crop – and opens the top layer just enough to allow oxygen to enter the soil. Salford’s six unique I-Series models have different types of blades and coulter spacing. Depending on the I-Series model, 25-80 percent anchored stubble is disturbed, leaving the rest to hold the seedbed to reduce soil erosion.

Each I-Series model is equipped with coil-tech springs that use kinetic downforce to create the ‘jackhammer’ hammer effect to combat hardpan. The weight of the I-Series frame creates consistent downforce on the spring-loaded coil-tech coulters. As the coulters cross the ground, they act on and react to the terrain creating vibrations that fracture the soil. The fractured soil improves the flow of moisture and nutrients improving their availability to developing plants.

Soil Health Improvement

Salford has been working closely with farmers in Western Canada to achieve their best seedbeds with the I-Series vertical tillage lineup, helping each customer meet the needs of their individual farm conditions. Vertical tillage is known to create better root systems and improve moisture availability and retention – all key factors that support stronger stands and higher crop yields.

Adding vertical tillage to any crop management rotation is an investment that can address soil compaction and improve crop residue breakdown. And, this system effectively incorporates much-needed organic matter into the soil to reduce the chances of plugging seeding equipment.

Source: Salford

The post Salford Vertical Tillage Machines Features 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.

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.