Vaderstad’s new Tempo planter can sow cereals, canola, sorghum and maize
With a clever mechanism that can lift every second row, this new model planter can speed up seeding while reducing sowing rates, writes Xavier Duff.
THE versatility of Vaderstad’s Tempo precision planter has been given a major boost with the release of a new model that adds cereals to the crop range it can sow.
Swedish cultivation and seeding specialist Vaderstad has released a 32-row version of its 12m Tempo drill, making it ideal for a wider range of broadacre cropping.
Landpower Vaderstad product manager Murray Tuck said the Tempo L32 could plant cereals or canola as well as crops such as maize and sorghum, with the added bonus of singulated — single seed at a time — sowing.
“The seeding units are set on 375mm (15-inch) row spacings, making them ideal for planting a wide range of winter and summer crops, including cereals, pulses, canola and maize,” Mr Tuck said.
“However, every second row of the machine can be hydraulically raised and disengaged, effectively doubling the row spacing.
“This feature means producers can easily switch from planting canola or soy beans on a 375mm row spacing to say, planting maize on a 750mm row spacing.
“Tempo plants by single seed, which can significantly reduce sowing rates while maintaining excellent emergence.”
Mr Tuck said the unit was a perfect fit for controlled-traffic farming systems in Australia.
“Tempo is already famous for its ability to achieve outstanding precision at very high operating speeds,” he said. “A Tempo L set a world record in 2017 by planting 502ha of maize in 24 hours — an average working speed of 20 to 22km/h.
“This feat was impressive, not just in terms of its scale and speed, but also its accuracy.
“The new L32 model maintains this accuracy.”
The Tempo L32 features a 3000-litre on-board seed hopper, but is designed to be used with a trailed air cart, such as the Seed Hawk 660, which holds up to 23,000 litres of seed and fertiliser in three separate bins.
“This combination will provide enormous capacity for broadacre cropping operations,” Mr Tuck said.
Fertiliser can be applied 7cm beside the seed furrow or with the seed in the furrow.
The Tempo L series is available in a wide range of mounted and trailed models from 3m to 12m with adjustable row spacing and fertiliser options to suit all planting requirements.
An optional small-seed kit includes suspended stop wheels to produce optimal seed-to-soil contact, while the angle of the closing wheels can be adjusted to close the seed trench well at shallow planting depth.
All models feature Vaderstad’s patented PowerShoot technology, which controls the delivery of the seed all the way to its placement in the soil, eliminating the effects of gravity, vibrations and slopes.
Recent improvements include the addition of optional hydraulic weight transfer and floating row cleaning systems.
“The ability to increase or reduce pressure row units enables the operator to precisely adjust the machine to field conditions, thereby ensuring an even seed depth and uniform crop emergence,” Mr Tuck said.
“Likewise, the floating row cleaner adapts to suit field conditions.”
Row cleaners are mounted on a parallel linkage, enabling it to precisely follow the field surface and are fitted with a self-cleaning rubber wheel, controlling the depth setting of the spiked row cleaner disc.
“With optimised working angles, the floating row cleaners are designed to perfectly match the speed and precision of the Tempo planter,” Mr Tuck said.
The Tempo drill and any attached implements are controlled with the Vaderstad E-Control iPad inside the tractor.
Tempo can also be equipped with ISOBUS task controller, which enables GPS-controlled variable rate application and auto section control.
Production of the L32 begins mid-year and will be available in time for the summer cropping season.
AXIAL-FLOW AFS HARVEST COMMAND CUTS GRAIN LOSSES
THE LATEST combine automation system has cut grain losses during harvest for a Mallee grain grower.
Birchip farmer Tim McClelland bought a new Case IH 7250 Axial-Flow combine harvester, fitted with the AFS Harvest Command system, in November last year and achieved less than 2 per cent grain loss during harvest.
The AFS (Advanced Farming Systems) Harvest Command is designed to improve grain quality and cut losses by sensing and optimising machine settings. Rotor speed, engine load, feed rate and sieve settings are all monitored and adjusted as conditions change, without driver intervention.
The AFS Harvest Command automatically adjusts based on sensor feedback and targets the maximum ground speed and engine load, as set by the operator on a cabin-mounted touchscreen.
The automation allows less-experienced operators to achieve similar levels of productivity and performance as those more experienced.
During the 2020 harvest, Mr McClelland had an employee who had no prior experience with combines.
“The AFS Harvest Command requires much less knowledge about harvesting to achieve great results,” he said.
But it was helpful to have a moderate level of computer literacy to enable correct set-up and ensure the machine operated as efficiently as possible, he said.
Operators can choose from four automation modes — grain quality, with the emphasis on grain quality and sample cleanliness; performance, with the emphasis on preventing grain losses; max throughput, suited to tight harvest windows and weather limitations; and fixed throughput, with the emphasis on minimal losses.
Case IH dealer O’Connors, which supplied Mr McClelland’s new harvester, helped him maximise the technology’s potential.
“The O’Connors’ team are very knowledgeable and helped us set up and understand the new system,” he said. “We were working with a new machine and new technology and were learning along the way.”
Find out more: oconnorscaseih.com.au
MORE
WHAT TO EXPECT AT FARM WORLD 2021
Machine of year to help shearers
A farmer from The Rock in southern NSW has taken the top honours in Henty’s machine of the year award.
UTV sales stall while ATVs are ‘still wanted’
Despite major companies pulling out of the ATV market after new safety standards came in two years ago, the four-wheelers are still in demand.