El Niño Warning: NZ Farmers Urged to Plan Fert Early
Plan ahead and be patient. That’s the message to farmers and horticulturalists from the chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, Kent Weir.
The New Zealand Groundspread Fertilisers' Association, (NZGFA) would like to see a reduction in recent accident rates amongst groundspreaders.
NZGFA president Stuart Barwood says "we are aiming to make farmers aware of the dangers to groundspread fertiliser drivers and trucks. Centrepivot ruts are a major accident waiting to happen.
"As the centre pivot irrigator moves slowly in a paddock, the movement of the wheels along the same track can "dig trenches" creating a major hazard. Groundspread fertiliser trucks are particularly vulnerable as they have narrow tyres that could easily drop into a pivot rut.
"There have been reported cases of drivers being thrown from their seats and hitting the roof or sides of the cab. Damage to springs, steering and sensitive on-board computers are also common.
"Our groundspreaders are highly skilled operators controlling expensive and complex machinery. The strict guidelines of Spreadmark assurance mean delays to farmers every time a truck hits one of these ruts.
"Accidents caused by centre-pivot irrigator tracks can be easily avoided by farmers ensuring groundspreaders are aware of where the ruts are in the paddock and filling in the ruts with hard material," Barwood says.
