The event's primary purpose was to train existing and new dealers on the company's products and agronomy strategy. Agronomy talks featured the company's strategies for vertical tillage, twin-row and OSR establishment. Over 30 Great Plains machines were shown at the Training Days. Unfortunately, due to wet weather conditions only a select few models were able to work in the field.
The Simba SLM, a one-pass maize cultivator which is still in the concept phase, was displayed and worked in the field. The machine will allow a complete soil restructure to 300mm depth and offer very effective tillage from high trash (12-15 tons/Ha) to seedbed in one pass.
It was also the first time an extended range of cultivator models was launched to the entire Great Plains' International distribution network. The new specification versions of many models in the Simba line include options for shear bolt leg protection; bolt-on points; fixed angle cultivating discs and a wider choice of rear consolidation rollers.
The new rollers include the Maxlift, which features toothed rings that provide an effective pressing and consolidation action; the Heavy Duty (HD) roller which features a fully welded steel roller that provides effective consolidation in tough conditions and on soils with high clay content; and the V-roller which features a V-shaped pressing ring to consolidate lighter land.
“The new rollers in conjunction with extended machine specification options mean the company now offers machines at reduced prices, enabling more farmers to benefit from Great Plains' design and component standards. The new accessibility to our machines and technology will further increase demand for our products across all markets,” said Daniel Rauchholz, President of Great Plains International.
“At Great Plains we often say ‘We Lead Because We Listen.' Our recently completed training days offered us the opportunity to learn what our dealers and their customers need in farm machinery. We were very pleased to showcase the advancements our product range has made and we look forward to continuing to working with our stakeholders on identifying additional machinery solutions.”
GREAT PLAINS OFFERS NEW SPEC MACHINES
Great Plains is extending its cultivator ranges with the launch of new specification versions of its popular Simba ST Bar, X-Press, DTX, SL and TL cultivators, and adding other new options for its Flatliner and SLD models.
The new options are expected to appeal to farmers in both the UK and Export markets who farm consistent soils and who do not require the full adjustability of working elements that the company offers across all its models.
Significant additions to previously offered specifications will include shear bolt leg protection; bolt-on points; fixed angle cultivating discs and a wider choice of rear rollers. These changes will make the machines simpler and lighter, and be reflected in their price.
“Where farmers are working different establishment systems and soil types; need significant stone protection or use rotations that include crops producing high trash levels, then the adjustability of existing Great Plains Simba machines is important”, says David Holmes, UK Sales Director.
“But many farmers don't need that level of specification. These new options will make the machines lighter and offer selected cost reductions, which we hope will enable more farmers to benefit from Simba's design and component standards”.
On the mounted Simba X-Press and ST Bar, purchasers will be offered shear-bolt protection of the ST and LD soil restructuring legs; bolt-on points; fixed disc angling and a choice of six rear rollers. Similar features for the company's folding X-Press models are currently undergoing field tests.
The Simba DTX 300 and 350 cultivators will also be offered with fixed disc angles and a choice of six rear rollers.
For the Simba SL range shear-bolt protection of the soil restructuring legs will be offered, as will bolt-on points. The SL400, SL500 and SL600 models will additionally be available with several roller options, including the HD roller launched at LAMMA.
The Simba TL300 and TL350 will now be offered with shear-bolt protected restructuring legs; fish-tail coverers as an option for the sprung covering discs and a choice of six rear rollers.
Both the Simba Flatliner 500 and SLD ranges will offer the LD (Low Surface Disturbance) tine as an option, with the SLD also available with LD tine frames in place of the traditional V-formation, these having been developed especially for one-pass oilseeds establishment.
ROLLING OUT NEW RANGE
Great Plains is adding three new style rollers to the range of consolidation products it offers, initially behind its mounted Simba X-Press and TL cultivators.
The company is introducing the rollers behind its DTX models, and is developing versions for use with the trailed versions of these models.
The new rollers mean the company now offers a complete range of consolidation and seed-bed finishing tools, while also reducing the weight and price of the machines. It expects these benefits to further increase demand for its products across its global markets.
The heaviest of the new rollers is the Maxlift, which features toothed rings that provide an effective pressing and consolidation action. At 140kgs/m, it fits below the existing DD550 (175kg/m).
Inside the pressing ring itself is a significant surface area on which loose soil will be picked up and carried, so the roller moves loose soil as it works and helps level the field.
In terms of weight, the Heavy Duty (HD) roller comes next, this being a fully welded steel roller that provides effective consolidation in tough conditions and on soils with high clay content. It weighs 130kgs/metre excluding scrapers.
The lightest of the new elements – 90kgs/m excluding scrapers - is the V-roller. This features a V-shaped pressing ring to consolidate lighter land. In moist soils the V itself fills with soil, so that it presents a flat face to the soil and its consolidation properties are increased.
“These new rollers will help Great Plains' Simba models to meet the needs of farmers working on a huge range of soils and using many different styles of cultivation”, says Simon Revell, Exports Director.
“Our ethos of providing effective consolidation behind all machines remains paramount, but is not always so important in all the markets we are now serving as it has been in our more established markets.
“They will reduce the weight and price of our models, enabling them to be moved and used behind smaller tractors, and also making them very price competitive – an important aspect in some markets.
“From a technical point of view, our European distributors expect them to open up fresh markets, because we now offer the degree of consolidation farmers require, as well as enhancing the cultivation effect and soil structure, as well as protecting the soil surface”.
Among the markets where the company expects them to be welcomed is France, where Territory Manager Pierre-Arnaud Noiret predicts great interest:
“In field trials the new rollers have shown their ability to leave a levelled but not firmly consolidated finish to the seed-bed, which is what many French farmers are looking for.
“The DD and DD Lite rollers remain very popular options in those areas of France with stronger and heavier soils, but are over aggressive on many of our lighter soil types, which is where we believe these new rollers will prove popular”.
