REVIEW Images by Mark Fouhy
great things, small package A long time coming, perhaps, but Tow and Fert has invested as much time and thoughtful design as required to perfect its latest development, the Multi 500 tractor-mounted liquid fertiliser and mineral applicator. Farm Trader NZ’s Mark Fouhy checked it out
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t has been almost six years since we last did a machinery test review on what was then Tow and Fert’s newest release – the Tow and Fert Multi 1200, a tractor-mounted liquid fertiliser and mineral applicator, which I saw in action on a central North Island dairy farm. In the years since, the range has been added to with a number of impressive additions, including two new trailed spreaders: the Multi 2800 and 4000, capable of mixing 1,000kg urea or 1,500kg of urea to be spread over 20 to 40 hectares, depending on spread rate. These machines are both targeted at the larger scale farmer or contractor. As a New Zealand-owned and operated company renowned for designing and making machinery specifically for the Antipodes, I was genuinely keen to see what the team had come up with now. After close to a decade of regular demand and enquiries, the latest addition to the Tow and Fert fleet is also the smallest – the Multi 500. This new model provides a cost-competitive alternative for the smaller farm or those wanting to prove that the foliar fertilisation application works for their farming system before splashing out on a larger machine. Another market where this model will appeal is the horticultural industry. With its compact dimensions, it’s perfect for working beneath the likes of kiwifruit canopies or narrow rows of fruit, berry trees or grapes.
Scrutiny of farmers and on-farm practices, along with new rules and regulations governing what can and cannot be done, are only becoming more stringent. All this comes at a time when the world continues to grow and need feeding, requiring farmers to be more productive but with fewer inputs, off less farmed area. While it’s a bit of a head-scratcher for many, this future direction does fit well with the Tow and Fert range of machines, in particular, the new Multi 500 – an affordable entry-level machine ideal for many of those smaller businesses. If you want to apply solid fertiliser in liquid form, there really is no substitute or alternative capable of doing such a quality job and having the technology and design to achieve the desired mixing and agitation to dissolve product and keep it in suspension and not block boom and spray lines. The R&D that Tow and Fert has put into these particular areas and associated patents have made it a market leader for foliar fertiliser application. Although it might seem straight forward, if you don’t have these key points sorted, chances are the end result is going to be substandard.
OPERATION Operating the Multi 500 is refreshingly simple. The hardest part is probably starting the little Kohler petrol engine, although it’s just a matter of working out the technique like most small engines: choke/no choke/start/etc.
Looking for fertiliser equipment? Search for ‘fertilisier’ on TradeFarmMachinery.com.au or type the TA or DIY code shown here into the keyword search field
38 TradeFarmMachinery.com.au
FFM2103_396 editorial.indd 38
$15,532
TA847274
2021 AGROMASTER LEPUS 2000. Semi Hyd Boom Sprayer + 16m boom. • VIC 02 6171 3175
$4,399
TA909400
SILVAN LT30-S8-2. 300L Lightfoot Trailed sprayer, reel & 4m boom. • QLD 07 3085 2777
$5,720
TA1028458
ATV RAPID SPRAY TRAILER SPRAYER. 400L, used. • NSW 02 8315 0200
THE TRACTOR YOU WANT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND
11/03/2021 4:47:13 PM
