While any talk about fuel efficiency principally centres on tractor engine performance, manufacturers of farm implements are also playing their part in helping farmers to minimise input costs.
Just west of Moree, NSW farmer Gavin Bartel, Greenbah, sowed this year’s winter crop using a folding wing Multiplanter unit – a move that also saw him reduce the farm’s diesel bill by about one quarter.
This welcome development came courtesy of Multi Farming Systems’ David Trevilyan who has designed a tyne sensing system in conjunction with Beasley's Hydraulics, Bundaberg, Qld.
"We've set the system up so there is a constant 50 pound pressure under the press wheel," David explained.
“That way, when the digging tip needs to ‘steal’ some of the pressure for tough patches, it doesn't compromise the action of the press wheel."
Mr Bartel says he’s impressed with the technology which he put to good use on the 890ha (2,200 acre) enterprise, following the electro/hydraulically-operated sensor tyne being fitted to the property’s 12m (40ft) wide rig.
“The idea is for it to sense harder ground when the tyne can kick-back forcing the implement’s press wheels off the ground,” he said.
“Instead, a load-sensing pin increases the system’s hydraulic pressure to cause the tynes to automatically dig into the ground.”
A control panel up inside the tractor cab oversees the procedure.
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