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Introducing the new P600 and C550T Air Cart, optimising seeding efficiency across NSW.
John Deere has launched the P600 Precision Air Hoe Drills and the C550T Air Cart, designed to optimise seeding efficiency. The P600 series offers up to a 15.5% larger working area and 24% weight reduction compared to previous models, ensuring precise seed and fertilizer placement for optimal growth. The C-Series Air Cart features innovative AccuRate electric meters and advanced calibration systems like EZCal™ and ActiveCal™, reducing maintenance and improving seeding accuracy.
John Deere has introduced the demo models to our soil of the much anticipated P600 Precision Air Hoe Drills, designed to revolutionise seeding operations with their increased working width and reduced weight. These drills, ranging from 12.2 to 27.4 meters, promise to optimize productivity, decrease compaction, and enhance seed-to-soil contact. Alongside the P600, the C550T Air Cart brings high-capacity efficiency to small grain farming operations. Let’s dive into the details of these innovative products and their demos across NSW.
→ The P600 Precision Air Hoe Drills
The new P600 Precision Air Hoe Drills offer a significant upgrade from the previous P500 models, delivering up to a 15.5% larger working width and 24% weight reduction. These enhancements not only decrease compaction and labor time but also reduce fuel consumption, making the P600 an economically and environmentally smart choice for modern farmers.
The P600 lineup includes six models: P640, P650, P660, P670, P680, and P690. Each model features 25.4 to 30.5 cm spacing and new dual knife openers. These openers are designed to place fertilizer 3.8 cm horizontally and 1.9 cm vertically away from the seed, ensuring even emergence and equal access to nutrients. This precise placement is crucial for achieving optimal crop growth and yield.
H&P, Production Ag Sales Manager, Brendan Prentice, emphasises the importance of these advancements.
“The addition of the dual knife seeding bar adds the last piece to the puzzle completing our stellar lineup of options for all customers when it comes to seeding in their conditions. Precise seed placement to access moisture for germination is crucial for achieving the highest yield potential at the end of the season. Early trials are indicating close to double the seeds per metre germination rate in canola in ideal deep knife conditions vs the Pro-Series disc opener. This is shocking customers as the Pro-Series disc opener already has the best reputation for germination on the market.”
Brendan highlights the benefits of the P600 series, including its ability to integrate seamlessly with John Deere’s precision technology. “All equipment is appointed with precision ag solutions and the ability to link to your John Deere Operations Center™, making it easy for our customers to monitor field activities during seeding and collect valuable data for post-seeding decisions.”
→ The C550T Air Cart
John Deere has also launched a new lineup of C-Series air carts, including the C550T, to ensure producers of all sizes, and those with Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) requirements, can optimise seeding performance. Unveiled at the Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas, the new models encompass a range of capacities and configurations, while offering reduced maintenance and improved seeding accuracy.
The first C550T will be in country towards the end of winter seeding and available for demos across the H&P area.
The C550T Air Cart, with a capacity of 19,381 liters, is part of a comprehensive lineup that includes models ranging from the C350T to the C850T Trailing Carts as well as the C350L to C650L Leading Carts. These carts feature AccuRate electric meters made of stainless steel and composite materials, creating a corrosion- and wear-resistant system. This innovative meter design stands up to seed treatments and abrasive granular fertilizers, significantly reducing meter maintenance costs.
The new AccuRate meter bank contains up to eight individually controlled meters per tank, allowing for higher-resolution prescriptions and the ability to change the rate of product by each meter. This precision ensures optimal seed metering and effective use of fertilizers.
New Features of the P600 Precision Air Hoe Drills:
· Increased Working Width: Up to 15.5% larger than the P500.
· Weight Reduction: 24% lighter to decrease compaction, labor time, and fuel consumption.
· Dual Knife Openers: Improved seed and fertilizer placement for even emergence and nutrient access.
· Range of Models: Six models with working widths from 12.2 to 27.4 meters.
· Precision Technology: Integrated with JDLink™ and John Deere Operations Center™ for real-time monitoring and data collection.
→ Reduced Maintenance and Advanced Features
The C-Series air carts also feature new calibration and blower automation systems. The EZCal™ system, an industry-exclusive push-button calibration process, is now up to 75% faster than the previous manual bag process. This system saves time and effort by eliminating the need to crawl under the cart during calibration. Additionally, the ActiveCal™ system ensures that meters remain calibrated throughout the day as product properties vary.
“EZCal gets you in the field faster with an accurate calibration starting point,” said Kelly. “ActiveCal allows you to calibrate throughout the day from the cab as conditions or product density change. You don’t need to worry about over- or under-metering.”
Furthermore, the new C-Series carts include blower automation, enabling operators to set a target blower speed from the cab, ensuring consistent airflow as conditions change. This level of automation reduces fatigue and allows operators to focus on the seeding task, ensuring a quality job regardless of their experience level.
→ Demos Across NSW
To showcase the capabilities of the P600 and C550T Air Cart, H&P has scheduled demos throughout NSW. These events provide an opportunity for farmers to see the new machinery in action and understand its benefits firsthand.
H&P, Production Ag Sales Manager, Brendan Prentice recalls the demos showing great germination in a range of conditions. Prentice was particularly impressed with the P600’s new dual knife opener and its ability to place seed and fertilizer accurately together or spaced on the shelf. “The flexibility in positioning of the starter fertilizer gives growers the right tools at the right time to maximise their yields.” The P600’s expanded range of widths, from 40 to 90 feet, makes it suitable for various Controlled Traffic Farming systems, reducing compaction and saving time.
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