It has been the year of big tractors, headers, even big planters.
More than ever, the idea is to maximise farm efficiencies – either by covering ground more quickly or by utilising less labour, or through a combination of both.
Now, there's increasing interest in grain handling support equipment.
It's needed to play its part in maintaing outputs at critically busy times of year, like harvest.
Their relevance surfaced at the Queensland-based Coggan family's recent Guinnes World Record attempt for the most wheat planted in a day and which was staged on their Meandarra property.
While the tractor and planting rig grabbed much of the attention, there's no doubt that the grain buggies made by Dalby farm machinery manufacturer, Walsh and Ford also played their plant during the 24-hour marathon.
So there will be equal interest in a just-announced giant-sized mobile chaser bin with a remarkable 50 tonne capacity.
The Dalby-based Dalby Outdoor and Machinery organisation has teamed up with American company Balzer to offer an alternative to large-capacity stationary mother bins.
The new tri-axle design, with steerable front and rear wheels, offer greater flexibility to large-scale broadacre producers keen to maintain harvesting throughput.
DOM spokesperson Brant Hurlock said the tractor-sized tyres would fit 3m tramline systems.
Joystick controls are positioned inside the tractor cab while weigh-scale technology forms part of the standard specification.
"And I believe the 24in diameter outloading augers can dump their 50 tonne loads in just under three minutes," Mr Hurlock said.
DOM says tractors operating these augers must deliver at least 150kW (200hp) if they are going to perform at optimum capacity.
"While we're concentrating on the 50t model, there's also a 42t model if required," Mr Hurlock said.
As well, these bins can be supplied with a tilting auger head to better distribute grain when filling road trains.
Each of the 50t bins are more than 10m long, measure 4.1m wide and stand some 4.3m high, thereby ensuring they will appeal to largescale broadacre producers.
Traditionally, big grain growing operations may rely on two 25t bins, requiring two tractors and their drivers to speed crops off paddocks.
"But it's becoming harder and harder to find workers so the 50t bin, which needs only one tractor and driver, be the answer," Mr Hurlock said.
Based in the central NSW town of Wellington, Agrowplow now produces Heaslip Products' rear discharge truck-mounted seed and super units.
Used to fill seed drills and air seeders, as well as stand alone elevators, this range will continue to be marketed under the Heaslip Products name.
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