Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
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.
Offered in six models, the G-Max 9, 11, 13, 16, 21 and 25 machines mirror their cubic capacities, at its heart using a heavyduty bin featuring stainless steel panels resistant to the corrosion and wear encountered with silages.
All wagons are built “scale-ready” featuring a double chassis with mounting points, allowing retro-fitment of load cells that allow wireless weighing for feed management.
Complementing the stainless-steel bin construction, a new ecofriendly HDPE plastic floor offers reduced friction and improved load sliding properties, with excellent UV resistance. Twin heavyduty floor chains-of 13mm section on the G-Max 13 or larger models offer a 22-tonne breaking strain for each chain, with improved performance over roller chains in harsh conditions, alongside minimal maintenance, other than occasional tensioning.
Both the floor and the elevator elements feature a gearbox transmission, able to handle heavy loads, alongside a smooth torque loading.
Meanwhile, cast iron bushes are fitted to high load shafts, with stainless-steel chain tensioners fitted for durability and wear resistance and the removal of any seizure risk from rusting. Further detail sees large diameter, high tensile steel chain sprockets, delivering maximum chain wrap and reduced wear, while centralised remote greasing banks help to simplify routine maintenance.
The newly designed belt discharge conveyor, increased from 900mm to 1200mm wide, allows increased feed rates and ease of feeding, particularly when using round or large square bales. At the same time, load sensing hydraulics ensure an even feed rate is maintained. The standard manual control system can be upgraded to a wireless and automated control, linked to the optional weighing system.
The heavy-duty, walking beam axles, replaceable, self-lubricating Vesconite pivot bushes and oversized stub axles with sealed hubs offer excellent terrain following and minimal maintenance.
Up front, a sleek, narrow drawbar aids manoeuvrability, incorporating a flange-mounted, swivel tow eye, which can be upgraded to a K80 ball hitch if required. Strong angled steel mudguards keep things clean and ensure any spilled feed slides off at the loading site, before getting carried onto roads or tracks.
Mesh front bulkhead and rear tailgate screens improve visibility during loading and use, with the latter also incorporating tail lights, crash locks for load reversing, while a ladder offers safe access into the bin as required.
A range of options includes wireless weighing, a chain and slat discharge conveyor, hydraulic side shift of up to 200mm and conveyor extensions for delivery into bunkers, troughs or feed rings. For those travelling any distance, upgrades to tyres, braking systems, suspension and steering axle options will help achieve smooth travel, safe stopping and reduce tyre scuffing and chassis fatigue.
Red meat farmers are urging the Government to act on the growing number of whole sheep and beef farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming.
The days of rising on-farm inflation and subdued farmgate prices are coming to an end for farmers, helping lift confidence.
A blockbuster year and an exciting performance: that's how Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General, Ray Smith is describing the massive upsurge in the fortunes of the primary sector exports for the year ended June 2025.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
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