Buying Guide for Harrows

Harrows NZ-wide is used to break up dirt and flatten the surface in preparation for planting or after ploughing. Choosing the appropriate harrow requires determining what conditions will be handled as well as the equipment that will be utilised in combination with this tool. There are a few different sorts of harrows: disc models, tine models, and drag chain models are the most prevalent. Each is suitable for a distinct type of job.

What to consider when buying the right harrow for your application:

Cultivation:

The flexible Stump Jump Harrow is the secondary tillage equipment to consider if your land is uneven, rough cleaned, or contains light stony parts. The floating stump jump motion is a tried and true agricultural implement made of high carbon steel. Suitable for breaking down clods, final seed preparation of the land, and levelling heavy pasture area that has been plugged up or packed down. Stump Jumps are also great for weed control and the preparatory stage of vegetable production.

To ensure true tracking and correct stump-jump movement, each Stump Jump segment is attached to the drawbar by four hitching points – one ahead of each row of tines.

Abbey Diamond harrows are a good choice for wide terrain and lighter loamy soils, and they're a good tool for weed management and seedbed preparation. It will give your crops every chance by cracking soil crusts and permitting enhanced aeration and moisture penetration.

Leveling

In addition to sowing or cultivating instruments, levelling harrows are a good choice. The flexible frame design provides durability in various soil types and is designed to level soil and seedbeds. In light to medium soils, 3 and 4 rank versions are ideal for use with combines and seed drills to cover seed. In heavy soils, the 5 rank model is utilised to combat weed development and break down huge clods. It's a popular tool that goes well with cultivators and scarifiers.

The 'Extra Heavy' Leveling Power Harrow is a good alternative if you want to level your land and require a harrow that can withstand the demands of today's conditions. Each tine is made of high carbon steel and has been specifically forged to expose a diamond form that will help you level your ground. Tine spacing is the same as the regular form, making it particularly ideal for heavier clay soils and for usage after primary or secondary irrigation.

Pasture

For pasture establishment, management, and renewal, the Pastureland Harrow System is recommended. Using this equipment will boost pasture growth by breaking down and distributing animal manures and other organic waste uniformly across the entire pasture. This light duty harrow is best for pastures under 100 acres (40 hectares) and tows readily behind small and medium tractors.

Four rows of double-sided tripod tine units are used to cut through manure, clods, and coarse vegetation. The hefty steel square chain mesh that follows the tripod portion further pulverizes and spreads the manure and organic particles, revitalizing the pasture. The "regular" single-mesh chain has eight rows of chain, a spreader bar, and drag weights.

For more information about Leaf Spring, Abbey machinery, rotary hoes for sale, effluent disposal and Harrow NZ wide visit our website or feel free to contact us now.

Choosing the Right Tank for the Task

There are a variety of factors that are taken into account when choosing a slurry tanker and one can feel overwhelmed when choosing one when there is an array of models, makes, and accessories involved. 

Slurry tankers are best if you want to spread effluent nutrients over the farm. There are a lot of different things that you will need to keep in mind before you choose the right make and model to suit your needs. FarmGard NZ stock a variety of Abbey tanks that could be perfect for your needs, however, it’s important to have a solid understanding of your requirements to ensure you end up with the perfect piece of equipment. 

In this blog, we’ll take you through a guide on how to choose the right tank for the task.

One of the most important things that you should consider in the tanker is the size. Generally speaking, the bigger the better; you don’t need to be conservative when it comes to this feature. So, how can you choose the right size? Well, it depends on four factors that are discussed below: 

Tractor Size

The size of the tractor will determine how much much is safe to pull. Generally, you should be able to handle at least 100L per HP. This is just a general guideline and factor that needs to be considered. Note down your requirements and continue reading to learn about the other factors that need to be considered such as braking axles on the tanker and topography. 

Topography

If you live in a hilly area, you should first consider the safety and risk of rollover. Due to hilly landscapes, the liquid tends to move from side to side, this means stability becomes vital as do the brakes! If gravity is greater, you should go for a smaller size. However, for flatlands, a larger sized tanker is a safe option. 

Infrastructure

Small farms have smaller gateways and narrower races which can potentially limit the size of the tanker you can opt for. However, if you have good driving skills and good steering axles, this might not be an issue for you but for seasonal and less experienced drivers, this is something to be considered. 

Moreover, anyone with advanced tractor skills can easily handle the job and reap all benefits of owning a slurry tanking. 

Furthermore, bear in mind that not only gateways and tracks are needed to be considered, your farm sizes, the quantity of effluent disposal to be shifted and the amount of storage are all factors that hold great importance. In terms of both labour and cost efficiency, the fewer trips you need to make the better.

Investment

While the investment cost is important, it’s more important to first determine the size of the tanker you really need to make the most of the investment. Getting the right size can end up saving you time and money, where getting something too small can end up costing more in labour and maintenance.  More loads = more time + higher wear and tear. It should also be noted that the running costs of a slurry tanker are generally about the same regardless of size.

These are factors that will help you determine the right size and get the best slurry tanker that matches your needs. Follow these and you can potentially avoid issues that can arise in the future. For more information about Abbey tanks, rotary hoes for sale and side muck spreaders, visit our website.