Air seeder proves ‘reliability’ stripes

I’ve also heard a string of expletives to describe the “... of a thing”, when the inevitable bearing seizes, hoses block (discovered after finishing the paddock) or the machine becomes a stubble rake.

But this is a good news story, so we’ll stick with the reliability theme.

Tutunup (south Capel) dairy farmers Graham Armstrong and his son Brodie are in a good position to make a comment on the latest air seeder from New Zealand manufacturer Duncan Ag.

The Duncan Renovator AS5300 air seeder, bought from Bunbury Machinery, is in its second season for the Armstrongs – seeding started on April 1 – and it fits the reliability description to a tee.

In fact, the seeder was an easy choice for the Armstrongs, who previously worked with a Duncan MK3 gravity-feed drill, which also provided high performance and reliability.

It’s still in the shed for that reason, when two units are needed at once.

The AS5300 is equipped with 36 tines and twin bins, each with 1000 litre capacity.

In the Armstrongs’ case, both bins are used for seed only with the preference to spread fertiliser with a Multispread.

The main frame is built from 75x75x8 millimetre rectangular hollow sections while hinging and supporting steel is 20mm plate steel.

It has an advanced electronic metering system and can be customised to suit the demands of the customer in different ways including bin size and configuration, tine spacing and rollers or harrows, to make it one of the most adaptable models of its type on the market.

According to Duncan Ag, with a five metre (16.5ft) working width, the AS5300 improves productivity compared with its drop-box predecessors.

Graham said the seeder could sow 30 hectares in six hours.

“We’ve already done 1500 acres (600ha) out of a 2200ac (890ha) program sowing ryegrass and oats,” Graham said.

“We’ve stopped to wait for some rain to finish the job.

“But it has performed well in soils that are a bit of everything – from sand to sandy loams and clays.

“Seed depth accuracy is spot-on and we’re sowing ryegrass at 30 kilograms a hectare to a 10mm (sub half inch) depth.”

This machine has leading coulters to cut through plants roots and surface material providing a freer pathway for following coil tines fitted with the Duncan T-boot with a tungsten-faced leading edge.

The fan and air distributors are sourced from an Australian manufacturer the 2.5 centimetres (1in) coil tines are sourced from South Australia, the metering units come from Europe and hydraulics from New Zealand.

“It’s a compact and tidy machine,” Graham said.

“It folds up to the three-metre (10ft) legal limit for road travel and that width also handles narrow gateways.

“The wings are also held down by oil pressure which you can adjust on-the-go to suit conditions.”

When Duncan introduced the machine to the Australian market in 2015, it picked up the Imported Machine of the Year award at the Elmore Field Days in Victoria.

More information: Darren Pulford, Bunbury Machinery 0417 929 487.