MOST of the WA broadacre cropping belt has now enjoyed some quenching rainfall, however dry seeding conditions prior presented challenges for various growers and, as a result, some learnings for next year.
With the exception of largely the Great Southern and south-eastern lakes areas, where growers experienced ideal seeding conditions and early crop germinations, many other parts became extremely dry.
The prolonged dry conditions caused some farmers’ seeding bars to come to a grinding halt because they could no longer maintain sowing depth, however a shining light was the performance of Morris Quantum air drills and numerous growers have since already praised fast crop germinations.
Dry seeding is now commonplace for WA growers and they are conditions the Quantum air drills are becoming well-known to excel in.
A unique interlocking frame design, the use of 4×6 tubular steel compared to 4×4 with various other bars and innovative joint welding ensures the Quantum drills have the strength and weight for superior digging performance and seeding precision.
Eliot Jones with national Morris distributor, McIntosh Distribution, said for many Quantum air drill owners, the use of the manufacturer’s Auto-Pack variable pressure packing technology, enabling correctly closed and packed furrows for an ideal seedbed environment, also enhanced the precision even further.
“The Auto-Pack really comes into its own in dry, tough conditions, with its ability to break-up clumps and clods, prepare an excellent seedbed and ensure accurate seed and fertiliser placement,” Eliot said.
Extremely dry conditions brought some seeding bars to a grinding halt during seeding, whereas the strong performance of Morris Quantum air drills continued and following, fast crop germinations have been highly impressive.
He said it was no surprise neighbouring growers were enviously looking over their fences at Morris Quantum bars that used this technology, and that other manufacturers were looking to replicate the system.
“Growers have recognised that the technology works and pays for itself quickly.”
“In northern areas, some decided to sow quite shallow and were very excited to see all their crop come up after just a small rainfall event. And they have recognised how valuable this is leading into the latest good falls.
“In other areas such as deeper sands, the decision was to sow at a depth of 50 millimetres and the crop is up and out of the ground.
“Some were also fortunate enough to be able to chase some moisture with the Quantum air drills and the crops came straight up and appreciated the latest rains.”
The Quantum air drills’ newest favourite partner, the Morris 10 Series air cart, was another seeding star this season.
Eliot said sales of the 10 Series carts, also particularly connected to Morris Quantum air drills, was strong across Australia and a demonstration rig in WA has been showcasing its performance and attracting plaudits through the eastern wheatbelt and Avon regions. The demonstration unit included a 34,180-litre 10 Series air cart with four granular tanks, hitched to a 24-metre Morris Quantum air drill, and the rig was pulled by a New Holland T9.700 tractor.
Eliot said load cells under every granular tank on the Morris 10 Series carts was an overwhelming attraction for growers, driving greater precision in application rate accuracy and uniformity, including via rate optimisation when a product is shared between two tanks, which also results in the tanks emptying at the same time.
He said seeding inaccuracies and varied application rates was a common annoyance for growers at seeding, especially the discrepancy between calibrated rates and actual applied rates, and the solution was the use of load cells.
“With load cells, growers are confident with the accuracy and the rates going out.”
Eliot said new electric metering with the Morris 10 Series carts, aided by the use of brushless motors, also had worked well, with reports of accurate small seeds application rates down to under 1-kilogram per hectare.
“This is crucial for seeds like herbicide-tolerant canola, which are applied using the Optimizer tank on the 10 Series carts.”
Meanwhile, a Morris expert was in Australia during the first operations of the 10 Series air carts in the tough local conditions, and further refinements will be made to address some issues leading into next season.
Morris and McIntosh Distribution have an extremely strong relationship and communication channels, ensuring strong product support for growers into the future.
