Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
The Karat 10, available in mounted or semimounted versions from three to seven metres, features a three-beam configuration, allowing the tines to be arranged symmetrically to ensure intensive mixing while also avoiding side draft. The latter is particularly important when using the cultivator with track guidance systems.
Further improvements to the Karat cultivator include, widened wing shares for shallow cultivation or narrow shares for deep cultivation, both options available with carbide coatings to increase service life in abrasive soils.
In addition, DeltaCut shares can be used for ultra-shallow cultivation, while the standard quickchange system allows shares to be changed quickly and easily for working depths of up to 30 cm.
Centrally adjustable levelling tines are said to ensure even levelling, while for improved results in heavier soils, specially shaped levelling discs, are also an option. Newly available boundary discs and tines can be folded mechanically or hydraulically.
The cultivator can also be optioned with a hydraulically adjustable leading disc section that is able to deal with large volumes of organic matter and ensure that the residues are incorporated completely into the soil. The discs, individually suspended on leaf springs, are said to chop organic matter, and break up coarse soil clumps to allow the machine to mix soil intensively and work without under-beam blockages.
Further options include a traction booster and the ContourTrack system which ensures an even working depth in hilly terrain are available for the semimounted models, a wide range of rear roller configurations, following harrows and a range of drawbars for specific crop types or dual wheel equipment.
