Dowerin Machinery Field Days roundup

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Best in the west

While numerous field day organisers in other states have been compelled to cancel their events in 2021, Western Australia’s Dowerin Machinery Field Days was an exception to the rule. Lincoln Bertelli got in touch with the exhibitors

One of Australia’s biggest field days returned with a bang after being cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of visitors flocked to the Dowerin Machinery Field Days in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region on August 25–26 and saw what a wide range of machinery operators had to showcase.

Here are some of the products which were on display around the field days site.

John Deere

John Deere dealer AFGRI Equipment had several of the brand’s latest releases on display during the Field Days.

These included a new 9RX 590 tractor, 8RX 370 tractor, C650 air cart and an S780 combine harvester on tracks with a new HD40R hinged draper with rigid cutterbar.

The 9RX 590 is a 4WD track tractor with a powerful 440kW (590hp), 13.6L engine and high-end specs, designed with “real world usability” in mind.

Capable of handling big equipment such as rippers, air seeders and grain carts, the 9RX 590 aims to be stronger and more robust than its predecessors.

Changes included replacing fuel injectors with a high-pressure common rail system, removing the diesel particulate filter, integrating the coolant and oil passages and adding hydraulic valve lash adjusters, a hydraulic fan drive and a powerful engine brake.

Deere says the result is 14 per cent more power and 11 per cent more torque while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption, overall weight and average repair time.

Another four-track tractor is the 8RX 370, which measures up at 276kW (370hp) with its 9L PowerTech engine, a choice of PowerShift or Infinitely Variable Transmission and an emphasis of space and operator comfort inside the cabin.

The 8RX range has a model-specific four-post cab suspension, which helps to reduce vibrations for both field and road usage.

It also offers a 3,785L ExactRate tank that allows operators to carry fertiliser within the tractor and three levels of customisation for both the tractor’s lighting package and cabin interior.

Some of the perks of the top-end interior package include heated seats with massage function, a 16.5cm touchscreen radio, six speakers, subwoofer, footrests and a refrigerator.

Only introduced to the Australian market last year, and not seen by many clients due to COVID-19 event cancellations, the midsize C650 air cart was another product shown by AFGRI.

Named the 650 for its capacity in bushels (22.9 cubic metres), it sits between the 550 and 850 within Deere’s range and has the ability to fill all four tanks in just 20 minutes.

Available as tow-behind or tow-between, other features include high-flotation tyres, ActiveCal technology to allow calibration to be done from inside the cabin while seeding and a durable display unit on the side of the cart.

Another showpiece item was Deere’s S780 combine harvester.

Offering Deere’s Combine Advisor package, which helps to set, optimise and automate combine functions when conditions change, there is also fully automated yield sensor calibration to supply instant and accurate data.

A TriStream rotor increases fuel efficiency and also reduces the force needed to move material through the combine by up to 20 per cent.

It has a 14,100L capacity and can empty the tank at up to 134L per second.

It was accompanied by Deere’s new HD40R hinged draper with rigid cutterbar.

Features include grain saver draper belts, factory-installed integrated transport system and hydraulic suspension to separate the header from the combine.

New Holland

New Holland showcased the high-performing T8 and T9 tractor ranges, along with its Twin Rotor CR9.90, large square BigBaler HD and a wide range of hay and harvest equipment at its display in Dowerin.

These ranges benefit from the capabilities of New Holland’s Precision Land Management Intelligence (PLMi) and IntelliView 12 display.

The PLMi technology enables farmers to make informed agronomic decisions to improve their farming operations.

Intuitive and fully integrated, PLMi increases farm productivity by providing real-time remote data display, real-time servicing reports and remote software update capabilities.

The IntelliView 12 display allows farmers to accurately control sprayers, spreaders and air seeders using the primary user interface.

IntelliView 12 also enables farmers to adjust and set Hydraulic Remote Valve Management, Headland Turn Sequence II and Engine Speed Management.

With this technology, both the T9 PLMi and T8 PLMi series bring more power and productivity, cab enhancements, maximum versatility and additional support features aimed at reducing downtime and keeping operators in the field through MyPLM Connect.

Herd Boss feed mixer and Mighty Giant grinder

Two products that had not previously been displayed in Western Australia were showcased by Valton Feeding Solutions.

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The first of these was the Herd Boss 980V feed mixer, so named for its 980 cubic feet capacity (28 cubic metres).

It also offers hydraulic brakes as standard and a two-speed gear box while measuring in at an overall length of 8.76m and empty weight of 10,660kg.

The other was the Mighty Giant 2015 PTO tub grinder, which offers hydraulic tilt, a 14-inch (35cm) discharge auger under the mill and screens available in a range of sizes.

The Mighty Giant also has the ability to grind a large square bale in under one minute.

Multistream air seeder

The M24000 Multistream air seeder, one of eight models in the company’s range, was displayed by Ausplow at the Dowerin Field Days.

The Series 2 range features sizes between 14,000L and 28,000L, with the M24000 named for its 24,000L capacity, spread across six tanks.

The tow-between granular and liquid-ready seeder offers an updated and ISOBUS-compatible hydraulic control value, fully hydraulic 10-inch (25cm) diameter auger with remote control, hydraulic metering, dual fan option and push- button LED light package.

Built and made in Western Australia, the Multistream air seeder also comes with a choice of tyres or tracks and the option of cameras fitted into the granular metering unit.

Spyder Frame

Created by K-Hart Australia, the Spyder Frame made its Australian debut at Dowerin.

A collaboration between WA-based Direct Seeding and Harvesting Equipment and Canadian company K-Hart Industries, the frame was designed in Canada and built in Australia.

It claims to have one of the narrowest transport widths on the market thanks to its unique folding technology, reducing to 4.5m width and 5.3m height.

Currently available with a 12m cutting width, the Spyder’s linkage design allows for seeding on either both ranks, or just the back rank with the front lifted and locked.

Patented clam shell linkage arm technology also ensures close row spacing while seeding but also retaining the ability to lift and open for easy adjustment and servicing.

Imants 58SX spader

Ag Machinery Specialists showed off the 58SX Imants spader with auto-reset rippers.

The 4.5m unit has a spade depth of 500mm and can rip up to 550mm, while a rotating spade shaft pushes the spader forward so there is no wheel slip and smearing.

Complementing the spader is the latest release of a hydraulic tine V-ripper, which is an attachment that allows users to spade and rip their field in one pass.

K-Line MaxxRipper and Speedtiller

Two products from K-Line Ag’s tillage range – the MaxxRipper 3260T and Speedtiller Powerflex 2995P – were the showpiece attractions for the company at Dowerin.

The MaxxRipper can break up compacted soils up to 600mm deep, while the 3260T is the top-end of K-Line Ag’s three products in the range.

Suitable for tractors with power between 450–600hp (336–447kW), the 11-tine ripper has an operating width of 6m, weight of 5,500kg and tine spacing between 500mm and 550mm.

It is a heavy duty option with a V-pattern tine layout to help with efficiency.

The Speedtiller, meanwhile, is a dual purpose, high-speed disc-tillage machine that also helps to increase the soil’s carbon content and reduce erosion from wind and water.

It penetrates the soil at an ideal depth while simultaneously lifting it for better soil compaction.

Designed for Australian conditions, the Powerflex 2995P weighs in at 12,200kg with an operating width of 9.5m, offers 76 discs and is suitable for tractors between 360-500hp (268–373kW).

Boekeman Machinery

Local dealership Boekeman Machinery had products on display from a variety of brands it represents, including Case IH, Simplicity Australia, Pottinger and MacDon.

Among the machinery were tractors from Case IH’S Steiger and Magnum range.

Available in multiple power options between 400–600hp (298–447kW), with or without Case’s AFS Connect technology and as either wheeled or track tractors, the Steiger series offers diversity and customisation.

Sitting below Steiger in the power range, the Magnum series (between 200–400hp [149–298kW]) is also available as either wheeled or track and has the option of AFS Connect.

Simplicity’s 30 series of air seeders was another attraction, with models available from 14,000L to 28,500L.

Design and access have been the aims of Simplicity’s upgrades, with changes including the drive system now being all on one side of the chassis, while the ladder and platform have been adjusted with ease of use in mind.

A John Deere 8RX 370 tractor B Ausplow Multistream C Herd Boss Mighty Giant D K-Line MaxRipper E Imants 58SX spader F Case IH 300 tractor G K-Hart Australia Spyder Frame