Mallee Machinery Field Days: Latest grain analyser gets results

THE latest in portable grain-testing equipment for farmers will be on show at Link Brokering’s site.

Good measure: Perten IM8800 NIR Grain Analyser determines protein, moisture and oil in grain and oilseed.

THE latest in portable grain-testing equipment for farmers will be on show at Link Brokering’s site at next week’s Mallee field days.

The company, based at Huntly, was established by principal Dion Costigan in 2012 in conjunction with Mahers Transport and Monti Transport, both from Bendigo, to offer grain brokerage for farmers.

It provides market commentaries and updates, contract management, grain deliveries and other grower supports.

“I’ve been exhibiting at Speed on behalf of my previous businesses every year since 1996,” Mr Costigan said.

“Before that, I used to go with my father to promote his seed cleaning work and since I started Link Brokering, I’ve not missed a year.

“Speed is the only field days event I now attend as an exhibitor. I mainly use the field days to promote my grain testing equipment — Perten IM8800 on-farm protein analysers, Ohaus MC2000 moisture meters, screens, grain shakers and the like.

“The past three years, I’ve also been doing grain storage in the form of Tapex Grainflex grain bags — last year, I was one of the biggest private sellers of that product in southeast Australia.

“The Grainflex is a seven-layer bag, the thickest on the market and UV-stabilised. I have growers who have stored grain in them for more than 18 months with no bag failures.”

Manufactured in Sweden, the portable NIR (near-infra-red) Perten Inframatic 8800 NIR Grain Analyser determines protein, moisture and oil in grain and oilseed.

Powered by 12V or battery, the machine is equipped with GPS so users can create protein maps of their paddocks and thereby identify pockets of premium grain. The US-made, battery-operated Ohaus MC2000 takes whole kernel samples and gives results within five seconds.

“The Perten and Ohaus equipment is updateable, but this year I’ll be offering the new Perten printer option, which lets you print out a ticket for each test you run,” Mr Costigan said.

“The cost of the Perten IM8800 is $10,500 (+GST), which includes the wheat and barley test cell, while the Ohaus moisture meter is $560 (+GST).