Cereals 2009: New kit preview
The Cereals Event always provides a launching pad for new arable equipment to tackle cultivations, drilling, harvesting and post-harvest management and offers a chance for many growers to see in the flesh kit unveiled in past months. Peter Hill pulled together this summary of the likely highlights
Cultivating
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| Semi-mounted version of Lemken Karat cultivator has hydraulic weight transfer to aid traction. |
First showing for Karat stubble cultivator in semi-mounted “KA” format with working widths of 4m, 5m and 6m. Three tine rows with quick-change narrow, wide and wing point options, 4cm to 30cm working depth, and choice of finishing tools. Transport wheels behind tines, but ahead of levelling discs for easier manoeuvrability; hydraulic weight transfer for maximum traction.
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Discaerator combines Shakaerator soil loosening tines with discs for one-pass cultivation. |
First demonstration outing for Discaerator cultivator, which combines five or seven Shakaerator tines with mechanical or hydraulic break-back protection and 500mm discs in two rows ahead of packer roller. Overhauled grassland Shakaerator vibrating subsoiler has full-width roller instead of individual rollers for more consistent finish and optional third slim tine with leading disc for 2m model and optional fourth leg on 2.5m version for 600mm spacing.
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At 15.3m, He-Va King Roller is the widest arable roll from Opico. |
He-Va King Roller five-section hydraulic folding rolls 12.5m and 15.3m sizes with choice of 510mm (21in) or 620mm (24in) ring diameters, centre-pivot mounting for each section to follow contours, weight transfer system and transport width less than 3m.
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Shallow-working Quivogne Saturn has side-angled tines followed by wavy discs. |
Quivogne (102)
Saturn cultivator combines 12 sideways curved tines that loosen to shallow depth for aeration and drainage with two rows of wavy discs to cut, mix and level for surface cultivation and provide depth control. Can be paired with Quivogne SCD subsoiler for deeper soil loosening.
Simba (341)
First-time showing for 3m Simba DTX 300 mounted heavy-duty stubble and seed-bed cultivator with two rows of adjustable-angle discs preceded by Pro-Lift tines for working down to 35cm or Low Disturbance tines for 25cm maximum working depth.
Spaldings (116)
Working demonstration of new disc cultivation tool bar with 20 opposing cut-away discs on a dual bar frame for improved single-pass cultivation.
Weaving Machinery (674)
Folding version of Subdisc cultivator in 4m and 5m sizes joins 3m rigid model in combining two rows of low draft tines with knock-on points and shims (nine legs on 4m, 11 legs on 5m), single-row hydraulically-adjustable 510mm diameter scalloped discs to chop, mix and level, and Guttler packer roll.
Fertiliser application
Chafer Machinery (1144)
1000-litre liquid fertiliser band sprayer mounted on subsoiler or front linkage working in tandem with oilseed rape broadcaster. Targeted nutrient application gives crop early boost at minimal cost and environmental impact.
Harvesting
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Axial-Flow 2170 came as a new addition to the Case IH combine range. |
New Axial-Flow combine range comprises three 88 Series machines with longer wheelbase for improved stability, easier table attachment, much bigger grain tanks, new-style body panels and “ST” rotor to handle larger crop volumes; and three higher-spec 20 Series combines with more power, rear access to engine bay and fixed-knife straw chopper speed-matched to the rotor.
John Deere (1053)
First outing for i-Series “Pro” specification with HarvestSmart auto feed rate control, AutoTrac assisted steering, Harvest Doc software and ProDrive auto transmission and “Complete” – “Pro” but without ProDrive – for level-land operation. 864 Premium variable chamber round baler previews new range of fixed and vari-size balers and baler-wrapper.
Massey Ferguson (756)
Two models of Centora eight-walker combine replaces Cerea turret-type grain unloading auger for increased over-trailer clearance, new seat-mounted controls, latest Datavision crop setting and performance monitor, optional GPS-operated Auto-Guide steering and larger one-piece body panels for easier service and maintenance access. Activa entry-level range adds “S” spec 7245 with retractable concave peg drum separator.
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MacDon headers use centre-delivery conveyors to speed crop flow and cut tangling. |
McDon combine cutting tables using centre-delivery conveyors and small central auger to feed crop from cutterbar to elevator claim fast flow with little tangling and higher-speed combine operation. There are three sizes from 9.1-12.2m to be trialled in UK this year.
Sowing and planting
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“Activ” version of Amazone’s Cirrus drill has a power harrow in place of discs. |
Cirrus “Activ” 6m pneumatic seed drill joins Cirrus “Special” and “Super” drills with rotary power harrow cultivation in place of two rows of discs and larger diameter – 1050mm instead of 800mm – tyre packer. Amazone Cayena 6000 trailed tine coulter drill for ploughed or min-till seed-beds has 36 tines in three rows across 6m, Exact covering harrow and wedge-ring roller to consolidate seed rows.
Chafer Machinery (1144)
Oilseed rapeseed and slug pellet applicator developed by Horstine Farmery division for mounting on a subsoiler or cultivator with 240-litre divided tank and individual electronically-controlled metering. Can broadcast or place seed in rows behind subsoiling legs.
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GL42K is Grimme’s first mounted belt planter for working on de-stoned land. |
Mounted version of GL40 series belt-type potato planters for working on de-stoned beds; GL42K’s 1.5t capacity hopper feeds hydraulic-drive planting elements with optional auto-levelling for slopes, hydraulic belt agitation, Flow Board System combined furrow opener and shaping hood design and low-friction plastic lining for soil retention and flow boards.
Lemken (1203)
Folding version of Compact-Solitair seed drill in 4m, 5m and 6m sizes joins existing 3m and 4m rigid model with grain-only and seed/fertiliser options. Combines Heliodor light disc unit with optional levelling board, 1.1m diameter tyre packer and OptiDisc double disc coulters with individual press/depth control wheels.
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UK launch for Tonutti Quasar trailed no-till tine drill in 3m, 4.5m and 6m widths with 1700-litre, 2200-litre and 3000-litre rear-mounted hoppers; Collovati band-sowing winged coulter can apply fertiliser in central band beneath sowing depth.
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Divided hopper on latest Techneat TerraCast means seed and pellets can be applied without pre-mixing. |
TerraCast V2 200-litre split-hopper broadcaster for subsoiler/cultivator mounting applies seed and slug pellets simultaneously without pre-mixing in adjustable proportions.
Weighing
Griffith Elder (353)
A 5.8m Portable Weigh Beam transportable weighing system using Split-Weigh digital system provides lighter, more easily moved and installed alternative to TonTel full-size portable weighbridge with similarly high level of accuracy for checking loaded truck weights in any location.
| Active demonstrations | ||
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| The active machinery demonstrations at the Cereals Event will this year be supported by a commentary given by manufacturer representatives to help visitors get more from their time spent in the area. Although manufacturers will be free to demonstrate on their plots throughout both days, they will also have designated times to show and explain the equipment. “By having a timetable, visitors will know when machines will be in action and they’ll have no difficulty finding out the main features and benefits of the equipment being demonstrated,” says Jon Day, Haymarket’s event presenter. | ||
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