Demo day for cane growers

Massey Ferguson distributor FMS, together with Radium Engineering and Rovic Leers, recently held a field demonstration in KwaZulu-Natal’s Dalton district. Joe Spencer was there.

At a recent field demonstration in KwaZulu-Natal, Radium Engineering introduced the latest version of its Bulkspread 313 large-capacity spreader. It was fitted with a row-spreading attachment for applying organic manure directly to the cane rows.

Filter cake or milo is a residue from the cane filtration processes. Farmers in the area use it as an organic fertiliser and to improve soil texture. Milo is relatively inexpensive, the price being based on transport costs from the mill, and applying it in this manner makes it even more cost-effective.

The Radium 313 offers some sophisticated features. For example, the drive to the discharge system is via separate land-wheel drives to two chain and flight conveyors. By hydraulically disengaging the drive wheel, the operator can halt application on either side to provide section control.

Another feature is that the row spreader attachment can be replaced by conventional spreading discs for normal full-width application.

a unique cultivator

Also on display were the Radium PowerRip cultivator and the Cima P55S mounted sprayer.

Grant Roest, owner of Radium Engineering, explained how the PowerRip’s unique shank and wing-point configuration maximised soil fracture and underground disturbance without inverting the soil profile.

The PowerRip can work to a depth of 550mm at a speed of up to 7,5km/h. For the demonstration, it was hitched to a 177kW Massey Ferguson 7624, the top model in the MF 7600 range.

Engine power management (EPM) simplifies transmission operation. All functions can be controlled without using the clutch pedal, and the range selection and powershift ratios are displayed on the dashboard.

Speed-matching is standard to ensure that the most appropriate powershift ratio is selected automatically. Autodrive, Supercreep and Comfort Control are also standard.

a versatile sprayer

The Cima P55S mounted sprayer is ideal for applying ripeners on tall sugar cane. It was demonstrated on a 61kW Massey Ferguson 4708, powered by a 4,4-litre AGCO Power four-cylinder engine with 342N.m of torque at 2 200rpm. • Joe Spencer is the mechanisation editor of Farmer’s Weekly.

For more information on the equipment in this report, email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Equipment.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:• The Radium PowerRip cultivator.

• The large size of the discs on the Radium high-speed, in-line disc harrow enhances the versatility of this popular implement, enabling the unit to perform shallow work at high speed or penetrate deeper for a more complete cultivation operation.

JOE SPENCER • The Cima P55S 600 mounted sprayer can be used on vegetables as well as sugar cane.

• The star of the show: the Radium Bulkspread 313 with row-spreading attachment. The demonstration was held on Horst Kaiser’s Fairview farm.