Machinery
New Topcon precision products from LH Agro
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LH AGRO , A TOPCON authorised distributor in the UK , recently launched two new pieces of precision farming equipment : a heads-up lightbar guidance system for manually steered tractors , and a new electric steering wheel system for non-autosteer ready machines .
The easy-to-install Topcon SI-21 Lightbar is a costeffective , user-friendly system designed to provide machinery operators with better visibility of the steering correction cues required to stay-on-line during field operations .
The SI-21 complements all existing Topcon X-series control consoles and uses a series of coloured LEDs which activate in the same sequence as the lightbar displayed on X-series consoles .
By placing the lightbar in the machine operator ’ s line of sight , the SI-21 avoids the need for operators to view an offset or side-mounted console , instead providing a heads-up visual guide to enable rapid line acquisition when turning off headlands and to maintain an accurate operating course .
The new lightbar also features a full colour graphic display with integrated Horizon Software Dashboard items for additional heads-up information .
The Topcon SI-21 Lightbar retails at just £ 365 including a suction-cup mount .
TOPCON AES-35 ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM
The AES-35 is a brand new high-torque electric steering system for non-steer-ready tractors .
This retro-fit system joins the proven and popular Topcon AES-25 steering system and provides the very highest levels of steering accuracy thanks to the use of high specification electrics in a convenient and cost-effective package .
Designed for non-steer-ready and other specialty vehicles , the AES-35 boasts a fully weatherproof and exceptionally rugged design which can be used in open-platform or non-cab environments .
The AES-35 is compatible with a wide range of equipment , including tractors , sprayers , spreaders , swathers , and combines , and makes the benefits of GPS / RTK autosteering available to operations that do not use cabbed vehicles .
Key features of the new AES-35 include a high torque electric motor which operates in both forwards and reverse , RTK levels of steering accuracy ( accurate down to 2cm ) and an optional wheel angle sensor for increased accuracy at slow speeds and when operating front mounted implements .
The Topcon AES-35 electric steering system retails from £ 2,995 .
NEW FROM MZURI - PRECISION SEEDER OPTION
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MZURI , SPECIALISTS IN conservation farming equipment , recently launched a precision seeder option for its Pro-Til range of striptill drills .
The new precision metering feature on the Pro-Til drill offers accurate seeding depth and spacing from a single pass system , resulting in impressive cost savings .
Pro-Til ’ s advanced precision seeding option eliminates the need for prior cultivations and enables users to precision plant crops directly into previous crop residue or grassland , thus conserving moisture and soil ’ s natural structure .
Retention of moisture , fertiliser placement and soil reconsolidation at seeding time have been proven to play an essential role to successful establishment of precision crops . The Pro-Til precision drill places the seed into moist , friable and nutrient-rich seeding environment and reconsolidates for maximum soil-to-seed contact , creating a perfect environment for successful germination .
Independently operating leading discs cut through surface residue . A breaker leg prepares a strip of clean , friable soil and places a band fertiliser to provide a nutrient boost for the developing roots . Each band is reconsolidated by a following press wheel to remove clods and air pockets . The seed is precision placed behind Mzuri ’ s latest design low disturbance coulter which is followed by a second reconsolidation wheel for perfect soil-to-seed contact .
Each Pro-Til seeding unit boasts its own individual height and depth control .
Hydraulically-operated seeding legs exert constant down pressure that can be adjusted on each individual leg .
The system uses adjustablepressure vacuum metering to accurately space crops , regardless of seed size . Each unit contains a metering disc and a singulator to prevent skips or doubles and is driven by an electric motor which maintains the same seeding distance at variable speeds .
A bulk fill system continually replenishes the mini hoppers on each metering unit directly from the Pro-Til ’ s dual 3400 litre tank ( split 2040 litre seed / 1360 litre fertiliser capacity ) for reliable non-stop drilling .
The precision seeding kit should be available for the 2018 season as an option on new Pro-Til drills or for retrofitting to older models , further extending the drill ’ s versatility to carry out striptill , direct drilling and now , precision seeding operations with one drill .
112 Autumn 2017 www . farmers-mart . co . uk