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NEWS MESSAGE
Pöttinger TERRASEM conquers New Zealand
With impressive seed drill demonstration
Due to its location in the southern hemisphere, New Zealand starts its early season sowing in August. The Pöttinger TERRASEM C6 seed drill was presented to a gathering of interested New Zealand farmers during a field day at the end of August. Christoph Schürz (Customer service) and Alois Kirchmayr (Product manager for Tillage) report on impressions from their visit to the country.
Agricultural situation
In New Zealand there are no subsidies for agriculture: neither for farming systems nor for fuel. Farmers are therefore forced to produce the maximum possible yield. From tillage to drilling, all the costs incurred are analysed with a fine toothed comb. Low seeding quantities for grain crops and fine seeds are an indicator of how carefully crops are managed and the importance of seed material quality. The Pöttinger TERRASEM C6 and C8 seed drills are ideal here: increasing the farmer's profit and improving operating results. Precise seed distribution and exact seed depth placement are critical indicators for successful agriculture in New Zealand.
Due to enormous cost and time pressure, farms are now looking for machinery and technology that delivers higher performance with minimum maintenance requirement. The widely varying soil conditions (see figure) mean that farms have to be able to rely on robust and solid machinery. This is where the advantages of the new TERRASEM series really come to light in meeting farmers' specifications.
In New Zealand there is currently a clear trend towards minimum tillage alongside proven systems. From the climatic viewpoint, the New Zealanders have to cope with heavy wind erosion. To counteract these effects, the plough is being used less. Tillage is organised so that harvest residues are not worked into the soil but remain on the surface to protect against the wind. As a result, the use of direct mulch seed drills is required to fulfil these conditions.
New Zealand farms rely heavily on diversification. This means that they are able to compete effectively against other countries. It also means that every farm needs to be able to rely fully on its technology to handle a wider range of crops. The real benefit becomes apparent in times of crisis because these farms are much more stable.
An amazing backdrop
A successful demonstration
On 28 August 2009 we were ready to roll: just in time for the early sowing season, we presented the TERRASEM C6 during a field day to an interested New Zealand public. Origin Agroup Limited, the Pöttinger importer in New Zealand, organised this demonstration at a farm approx. 100 km away from Christchurch. The farm on the south island operates 1,420 hectares with wheat and ryegrass, plus 320 hectares of potatoes and 80 hectares of onions. The yield for wheat is between 10 and 12 tonnes per hectare on average. The farm runs ten tractors, two combines and two trucks with trailers. During the season they employ five people full-time and three people part-time.
As a consequence of increasing dry weather in the last three or four years they have invested in irrigation in the form of centre pivots. A total of twelve centre pivot irrigation systems were installed at this industry-leading farm to ensure the necessary yield is achieved. The average length of a pivot is 500 metres.
The varying operating conditions added a degree of excitement to the demonstration for everybody present. The following three points received great acclaim:
- Flexible applications (especially tillage and sowing in a single pass on maize stubble, for example)
- Robust construction (is essential for the stony conditions in New Zealand)
- Easy and intuitive control using integrated seed flow monitor.
TERRASEM C6 video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21bx1De7IKw
 Fields so far away in New Zealand |
 Visitors look on with interest |
 TERRASEM with amazing backdrop |
 The stony side to New Zealand |
 Pöttinger performance |
 Pöttinger performance |
Created: 20.11.2009
