increase font size
Duncan Alstrong Aerator.
The Alstrong Aerator enables farmers and contractors to get better pasture growth by aerating the upper levels of paddocks, says the national distributor, the Duncan division of Giltrap Engineering.
Three versions are available: two trailed models of 2.5m or 3m working widths, and a 3m, three-point linkage model.
A unique blade design, working with a weight transfer system, shatters hard pan to a depth of 300mm with minimal surface disturbance. The blades are set almost perpendicular to the direction of travel but at a slight angle, which adds a twisting motion that helps break soil pan.
The weight of the roller is concentrated on each blade as it enters the soil. Working speeds up to 20km/h also help to shock and fracture the soil.
Duncan chief executive Craig Mulgrew says aerating pasture “reduces the effects of compaction by stock and equipment, helps increase tolerance to drought, releases nitrogen in the soil and improves surface drainage”.
Marlborough dairy farmer Nigel Morrison, who milks 240 cows on 84ha (eff), bought an Alstrong Aerator a year ago to deal with pugging in his paddocks after a wet winter.
“We get a bit of pugging through the winter and wanted to open the soil up and let a bit of air through,” Morrison says. “We were looking for a big roller but when we saw the Alstrong we realised we could do two things with one machine.”
Working trial and error, he discovered what speed was needed to work different soil conditions and leave the best finish.
“We treat paddocks that look like the water is laying on them,” he says. “The aerator certainly improved the ability of the ground to drain off surface water. It appears to produce better drainage.
“We use it for pasture, mainly in the spring to try to get some aeration after winter. We also use heavy discs to work up paddocks for cropping and have used the aerator behind the discs to break the soil up more.”
Morrison also winter grazes cows on 14ha for about 40 days, where the grass takes a fair hiding, particularly when it’s wet. The aerator helped renovate that area.
It has worked 30ha of the farm during the growing season.
Research suggests that up to 90% of the nutrient value in effluent can be retained if the material is used efficiently, with additional benefits being gained by increasing soil organic matter, leading to improved water holding, aeration and drainage.
Giltrap's newest forage wagons, the G-Max Series, is backed by more than five decades of experience that raises the bar to new levels.
When Wilfred Giltrap founded Giltrap Engineering in 1959, he laid the building blocks for a business that represents clever, durable and time-saving products with a loyal following in New Zealand and beyond.
When it comes to favourite car brands, Kiwis tend to fall into the Holden or Ford camps.
William Geuze was brought up on a Gisborne property growing citrus and kiwifruit.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.
OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…
OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…
