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Pooling Resource Supports Investment in Handling Equipment A decision by two neighbouring farmers to unite their potato growing enterprises has resulted in a pooling of resources and the ability to purchase the latest potato handling equipment – including a Grimme prestore cleaner and grader unit. Based on the Cheshire/Staffordshire border, near Holmes Chapel, the farming companies of F and TL Stanier and JL Carter and Sons used to each grow about 300 acres of potatoes. “It just made so much economic sense to work together,” insists Gary Stanier. “We were now able to purchase planting and harvesting kit that was more in tune with the larger acreage and our costs/acre were reduced as a result.” Working together, the two companies now grow about 620 acres of potatoes – the vast majority on contract for Walkers Crisps. “We rent ground from farmers, mainly within a 20 mile radius,” explains Lee Carter. “And to store the potatoes we use four of our own stores and two we rent. One of these is a box store.” Harvest of the varieties Rosetta and Saturna starts in July and continues through to October. Two trailed Grimme two-row machines are used to lift them. It was not long after these two machines started to lift their first crops that Gary and Lee realised that the capacity of their pre-store cleaning system was way below that of the harvesters. “We just did not have the throughput capacity we needed,” explains Lee. After considering a number of options the partners decided to purchase a Grimme RH 2460 which, with a reasonably clean crop could handle about 50t/hour. According to Lee, the key feature of the 2460 – and the one, which swung the deal – was the inclusion of the Multi- Sep cleaning unit. “It’s exactly the same as the Multi-Sep unit fitted on the harvesters – only wider,” he says. “The adjustment of the rollers both in rotational speed, direction and distance is quite remarkable and enables us to produce a good clean sample that will hopefully store well. “The only point I would make is that while it’s simple to make adjustments to all the components in the cleaner – you just press buttons on the control box - it’s also easy to make adjustments which can actually damage tubers. You need to know what you are doing.” Trailers full of potatoes arriving at the store tip directly into the reception hopper, which has a hydraulically driven Gary Stanier & Lee Carter conveyor to elevate them in to the cleaner. To ensure a constant and even flow of tubers a sensor unit above the intake elevator monitors crop flow – if the volume reduces, as it can when the hopper is nearly empty, the elevator is speeded up to compensate and viceversa. Once through the Multi-Sep unit the tubers pass onto a bank of spiral rollers that can also be adjusted for speed and give the crop a final clean before they exit onto conveyors, which take them into store. As with all spiral rollers there is a tendency when working in damp conditions for the spirals to become blocked with soil. A neat solution to this problem is a ‘spiral clean’ mode, which diverts extra oil to the hydraulic motors so that the spiral rollers rotate quickly enough to shake off the mud and soil. “It’s not a good place to be standing near when this is happening,” says Lee. “But it is a very effective way of cleaning the rollers, none-the-less.” When Lee and Gary ordered their cleaner they specified it with a platform at the front so that a couple of staff could pick-off any unwanted debris that may have survived the cleaning process. It is a system that has worked well this year due to the clean harvesting conditions and the quality of the sample but there is doubt whether or not it could cope in more difficult conditions. “We really feel that we should have a proper picking table facility to ensure there is the ability to pick-off unwanted tubers and rubbish,” says Lee. “In another year we could really get caught out.” As a result, a decision has been made to trade in their current machine and replace it with a new version, complete with a picking table, which could, if necessary, allow up to eight people to work. “We have absolutely no problem with the cleaner – it does a first class job for us, but we really do need that picking table,” he insists. With six stores to fill – and a total of about 12,000 tonnes to clean – the Grimme RH 2460 is a machine much in demand during the potato harvesting period – transporting the machine with its road-legal width is not seen as being a big problem. “Overall, it’s fair to comment we have the confidence in the machine to work efficiently and do a good job – and when you consider the value of the crop passing through it, that’s probably just as well,” concludes Lee.
TECH TALK ON PLANTERS As demand for improved crop quality and higher yields increases, so does the need to improve planting efficiency. The range of Grimme planters has grown rapidly with a choice of options and accessories to match. Here are some basics:- Planting Elements • All GL models use the same ‘3’ series planting element; positioned at the heart of each machine this maintains consistent accuracy. • The large diameter drive roller at the top of each tower ensures a positive and even drive, while the small diameter roller at the bottom gives a clean and consistent delivery of the seed into the furrow. • Drive to the belts is via chains & sprockets; this provides accuracy and the flexibility to select a wide range of seed spacings. Choices of cup sizes & inserts:- Green cups: • Standard – 36 cups/belt Black inserts for 30-50mm seed • White inserts for up to 30mm seed Red cups: • No-cost option – 40 cups/belt • Blue inserts for up to 30mm seed Blue cups: • Extra-cost option with enlarged trunks for large seed Furrow openers Various options exist to suit the different models or different applications and soil types; Standard & optional openers vary according to model in the UK. A quad opener system is available on all models Control systems As the number of adjustable and controllable functions on planters has increased, so too has the need to simplify the operations for the driver. Most tractors are limited to 3 or 4 individual hydraulic services, beyond this the planter will need its own hydraulic block with electronic controls. The GBT control box is obligatory for options such as hectare meters, miss indicators, electric power switch-off and other automatic functions such as depth, hood pressure & hopper tipping. Depth control & hood pressure For greater accuracy with seed depth & coverage the two options of No machine pays for itself on Day 1 - but it will do as you use it. Budget to match its cost to the income the machine helps to generate over a number of seasons. Finance from Grimme can help you match the size and timing of payment to the cash-flow of your individual business. Model Overview 2 row GL32 B Fully mounted for bed planting only 4 row GL34 F Fully mounted for conventional planting only 4 row GL34 T Trailed for planting conventionally in-line or can be offset for bed planting 6 row GL36 T Trailed – rigid for bed planting only automatic depth sensing and automatic pressure sensing on the hood are valuable choices. Shaping Hoods & Soil Retention Plates • All bed planters employ the same style of shaping hood and soil retention plates. • Adjustments to the hood include height & pitch as well as internal adjustments of the deflectors to match row widths & ridge profile. • Adjustable soil retention plates link from the shaping hood through to the front of the machine to minimise soil loss into the wheelings. • 4 and 6 row planters also have covering discs as standard behind the planting elements to ensure consistent coverage of the seed. Additional operations For a combination of economic & agronomic reasons, more & more growers are looking to carry out additional operations at the same time as planting. For this reason Grimme now offers options such as fertiliser boxes & spraying attachments. FINANCE FROM Call 0845 40 45 59 for details Chafer Amistar Sprayer GL 32 B planter with Chafer sprayer for Amistar. Designed to apply Amistar in furrow for the prevention of black dot. • Front three point linkage mounting frame and demount legs. Quick and simple mounting and demounting. Doesn’t have to be fitted to planter. Allows easy filling of chemical into tank • 900l fibreglass tank Large capacity compared to other kits on the market. Less time spent refilling tank. No need to store chemical in the field • 100l integral cleanwater tank Allows jets, pipework and tank to flushed out at the end of the day avoiding pipe and jet blockages. • Hydraulically driven 450l/min 7 bar centrifugal pump. Quick filling rates. High flow rate for good agitation in the tank especially important for Amistar • Tank agitation system. High volume system to ensure contents of tank are thoroughly mixed • Rotary valve for liquid suction and pressure control Allows operator to: Fill the spray tank from a bowser. Spray from main tank through jets. Clean jets and pipe work using on board clean water Clean tank with washer nozzle using on board clean water • Pressure filter - Helps to prevent jet blockage • Pressure Control System Air diaphragm set maintains a constant pressure in spray line. Easily upgraded to a fully speed related application rate control system • Amistar Jets: Two jets positioned to cover soil underneath seed and onto soil that will cover the seed. Optional extras • TeeJet 844 automatic rate control system - Maintains a constant application rate regardless of tractor forward speed. • Flow guard nozzle blockage warning system - Audible and visual warning system to alert operator to jet blockage. 3 SHARED INVESTMENT IN HANDLING EQUIPMENT TECH TALK ON PLANTERS CHAFER AMISTAR SPRAYER
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