With winter sowing winding up, Case IH reckons it is timely to look back and see what has made planting a success.
While it is generally timing, the right varieties and the weather, it is also about making sure you can get your equipment in the paddock to start sowing, according to Case IH national aftersales manager, Patrick McVeigh.
“Being able to take advantage of the rain when it comes is all about preparation,” he said.
“As part of farm planning, safety reviews and cost management, there is tangible value in having machinery prepared and running for the sowing season by having it serviced early and buying genuine parts.
He said breakdown repair might seem cheaper because you only budget for the one-time repair and parts.
“Breakdown-repair costs extend far beyond labour and materials,” he said.
“Because breakdowns are never planned; they force work to stop for an undetermined period.”
He said this can have a snowball impact on every step beyond sowing.
“It's no surprise that the true cost of machinery breakdown is several times [that of] routine maintenance and servicing costs.”
Mr McVeigh said it is not only the downtime that costs farm businesses; if machinery begins to wear without detection, there can be issues with seeder boots, points and metering systems.
“Being the last bit that engages the ground, seeder boots and points are very important.
“Even slightly worn points will have a big impact on seed beds and germination, so can be very costly with poor seed placement, and then, of course, germination,” he said.
“Soil types determine when they need changing, but your dealer will pick this up in a service.”
Good germination also depends upon accurate metering.
“Fertilisers and additives can be very corrosive to seeder-metering systems, so they also need to be checked over properly and serviced regularly,” he said.
“Rollers need to be in good order, with no leaks in hoses and so on.
“These areas are so simple that people can forget them, but not servicing them properly can make it a season people wish they could forget.”
It is also vital to use the right engine oil with tractors less than 10 years old
These need a CI-4 15W/40 extra-high-performance diesel engine oil.
Mr McVeigh said cheaper oils, such as a CH-4, are only suited to machines over 20 years old.
“People can be tempted to use these because they’re cheaper, but they won’t be doing even half the lubrication job they should and are prematurely wearing your engine, rather than actually looking after your investment.
Case IH dealers offer AkcelA No1 engine oil - this is a CJ-4 suitable to use where AkcelA No1 CI-4 is needed, “which means farmers can use just one type of oil for all their machinery,” Mr McVeigh said.
Maintaining equipment regularly also ensures farmers get the most out of it.
“Machinery that’s working more efficiently ultimately benefits owners with a lower total cost of ownership and a stronger return on investment.”
With sowing nearing completion in many parts of Australia, it is time to book in for a service,” Mr McVeigh said.
“Always make sure you get your spraying and sowing equipment checked.
“Getting your local dealer to check and service your machinery means those things that can be easy to miss just won’t get missed because they know what to look for,” he said.
“Not only that, genuine parts meet strict engineering standards and are backed by a warranty.
“A service by your dealer’s team means they can address issues before they become expensive to fix.”