increase font size
Sprayer chiefs (from left) Graham Gleed, area export manager KG Group; Dimo Dimov, product manager KV; and Geoff Maber, managing director Power Farming.
Now part of the Kubota Corporation, machinery manufacturer Kverneland is on a roll, particularly with new products coming to market.
This was seen at the recent South Island Agricultural Fieldays, where distributor Power Farming showed the latest addition to the KV sprayer ranges.
The KV iXtrack T3 is a futuristic-looking trailed sprayer available now in 2600 to 3200L tank capacities, and coming soon the T4 with capacity of 4600L.
The frame design is short and compact, with a low centre of gravity allowing close coupling to the tractor and making it suitable for low horsepower units.
Up front, the drawbar is reversible, allowing conventional drawbar hitching, or by swapping over to a high-hitch configuration you can increase crop clearance.
The tank configuration is such that after use residual spay is no more than 30L. Meanwhile, the unit also has a 340L freshwater tank and a hand wash unit of 32L, extendable (optionally) to 460 and 70L.
A choice of piston-membrane pumps offers outputs of 270 to 520 L/min, the latter using a twin-pump configuration. This feeds liquid to the boom assembly that is mounted on a suspended parallelogram frame using a hydraulic-over-nitrogen accumulator set-up.
Dependent on preference, booms are 3-D triangular construction in steel or aluminium, with the former offered in widths from 18 to 30m and the latter in 21 to 24m sizes.
Booms also have the maker’s Boom Guide Pro control system that uses three ultrasonic sensors to automatically control spraying height. This system has three operating modes: crop mode for constant height above the plants, field mode for constant height above the ground, or hybrid mode with a working height based on the average of both values.
Nozzle set-up is the KV Tri-Jet configuration, allowing easy change for differing spray volumes.
There is also the option to choose individual nozzle switches for controlled applications, e.g. using nine switchable nozzles over a 24m spraying width.
Control systems use ISOBUS connectivity on all models, offering easy control of liquid management, and the iXclean PRO function takes care of all cleaning and rinsing functions from the tractor seat.
For drivers working in multiple crop types, track width can be adjusted between 1.5 and 2.25m in 5cm increments.
A large cut-away in the spray tank allows the fitment of tyres up to 1.9m tall under the standard mudguards.
And the steering system allows a steering angle of up to 32 degrees, which helps achieve a tight 3.5m steering radius.
The Kverneland Pudama principle delivers spot placement of fertiliser in maize, rather than continuous fertiliser placement. As a result, it has the capability to deliver a 25% saving on starter fertiliser, with no noticeable loss of yield.
Morrinsville based Power Farming Group has launched a flagship New Zealand facility in partnership with global construction manufacturer JCB Construction.
Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.
Following 54 years of representation by the same importer and distributor, Kubota New Zealand and Tulloch Farm Machines have announced the transfer of Krone Agricultural Machinery distribution rights to Kubota.
Power Farming has taken out the Supreme Site accolade at the 2023 Fieldays Site Awards.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
New Zealand farmers are committed to making their businesses more resilient to climate change and are embracing innovation to help them do so.
Atiamuri farmers Paul and Lesley Grey never gave up their dream of owning their own farm – and in 2020, that dream came true.
Fonterra is exploring full or partial divestment options for its global Consumer business, as well as its integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.
OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…
OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…
