Kverneland Optima for Optimum planting in rugged Canterbury terrain

11/01/2018

Jacob Holdaway has numerous drills in his yard, but it’s the Kverneland Optimas that do the lion share of the work.

Jacob of Jacob Holdaway Contracting, Ashburton, said, “I was so impressed with my first 12 Row Optima HD that we bought another one. The new 16 Row Optima HD is also easy to use, easy to run and easy to maintain. That’s Kverneland for you.”

With Jacob’s customers ranging from Culverdon to the Rangitata River he recognised that all his machinery had to be robust, both in the paddock and on the road. He said, “They all have a tough life. If the Optimas can survive the work we do here in Canterbury, they can survive anywhere. They work on absolutely everything from riverbed to sand, probably 50% is extremely good going, 25% is not bad and 25% is very rugged country. They cope with it all.”

Ease of maintenance is the key to smooth running in Jacob’s opinion. He said, “We very rarely need anything other than wearing parts for the Optimas. Our thorough maintenance programme means we have never broken down in the paddock.” He went on to say, “When we have needed a part, Power Farming Ashburton always seem to have rapid access to it. They seem to have awesome machines, an awesome set up and awesome back up too. That’s why we bought from them.”

Between them Jacob’s Optimas plant 2,000ha of fodder beet a year. He said, “Although the rows are interchangeable the 16-row is set at 375mm which is ideal for fodder beet, swedes and beans. The older 12 row Optima is set at 500mm and is used for all harvested crops of fodder beet and maize, to match our harvester.”

Jacob explained the advantage of planting crops closer together. “With the 16 row planter we can spread the seed more evenly across the paddock,” he said. “With the rows closer together but the seeds further apart along the row, its possible to provide every plant with an equal space to grow. The benefit of the closer spacing to the crop is obviously a higher yield; each plant has space to grow to its full potential.”

“Another advantage is that early canopy closure occurs, when the leaves touch across the rows. This can cut out at least one weed spray, because the sun does not get through to the ground to cause weed germination. Our early trials show that 16 row planting definitely shows an increased yield,” he said.

Both Optimas can use tram lining in order to save customers costs on seed and fertiliser and make subsequent applications easier. Jacob said, “With it being so easy, just 2 switches, it’s stupid not to. Larger customers can save approximately $1,000 in costs.”

Jacob spoke highly of DF2 Front Tank in combination with the 16 row Optima. He said, “Calibration of the fertiliser took a little while to get used to, but once sorted it is very exact and fully controlled by GPS, so its all automatic.”

“Calibration of each seed box on the planter itself is idiot proof,” he said. “You simply type in how many seeds you want per hectare and push enter.”

“Both planters run section control and are able to do Diamond Planting, where the seed is staggered ensuring no seed has one directly beside it. It allows for optimum spacing and therefore optimum growth. Many of our customers require it,” he added.

Within Jacob’s operation it is the Optima’s precision planting ability, which has led this young contractor’s seeding business to the next level. He said, “Both planters run on full Trimble RTK, it’s accurate to 2 cm. The worst-case scenario is you’ll be 2cm off-line. It’s the fully automated steering that enables us to do the diamond pattern planting.”

All of this, yet easy to use? “Yes, very easy to use!” he confirmed.

Ckick here to learn more about Kverneland Optima