10 new farm machinery releases to look forward to in 2018

The year 2017 has given the Australian agricultural industry plenty of new machinery and gadgets to play with, and 2018 is shaping up to be an equally grand year for new releases.

Among them are some fresh new launches from Agritechnica 2017 in November, which usually take years to arrive on Aussie shores. Expect some big bad rigs and technology laden equipment, as the industry continues its advancement into the digital age.

While this is not a definitive list, here are some machinery confirmed for release in the country in 2018 to whet your appetite, in no particular order:

It made headlines in November when it snagged the Tractor of the Year award and the Best Design award at Agritechnica. As Valtra’s new generation T series machines demonstrate, the days of tractors sporting boxy designs and unflattering lines are over.

As sleek as it looks from the outside, it is also chock-a-block with the latest technology in the cockpit, making operators feel like they are driving a space machine. It has a power output of 271hp and is a truly versatile machine for a wide range of tasks on the farm.

It is expected to touch down in Australia as early as January 2018, so watch this space!

RoGator is known worldwide for its spraying technology and in 2017, the company has upped the ante by dropping its C-series self-propelled sprayers in the United States.

It doesn’t offer a great styling change, however what it does provide is a whole new suite of technology designed to improve spraying operations on the farm. The new LiquidLogic system constantly circulates product through the boom, hence preventing build-ups; and also controls the nozzles with precision to avoid overlaps and improve accuracy.

The machines are expected to arrive in early 2018.

3.      CLAAS NEXOS 200 tractors

Never before released in Australia, CLAAS’ NEXOS 200 specialty tractors are set to debut Down Under in 2018.

The tractor range was released overseas in 2016 and caters to the viticulture and horticulture sectors, suitable for operations requiring compact rigs to fit between rows. The smallest in the range features a width of just 1m.

It offers power outputs ranging from 75hp to 101hp. Growers can expect to see the tractor line-up in Australia in winter 2018.

4.      JCB 560-80 Agri-Pro Loadall telehandler

Released at Agritechnica 2017, the 560-80 Agri Pro Loadall sits at the top of JCB’s Agri Loadall range, as a top-spec machine for professional farming operations.

It will come standard with DualTech VT – the world’s first dual technology transmission, which combines both Hydrostatic and Powershift drive systems to handle work and on-road travel.

The machine will also be equipped with hydraulic power brakes that increases control even further, improving braking performance and safety.

No time frame has been set for the release of the 560-80 Agri Pro Loadall in Australia.

5.      CLAAS SCORPION telescopic handlers

When two European machinery giants join forces, you know you’re in for something good.

CLAAS’ brand new SCORPION telescopic loader range has been developed in partnership with Liebherr, and features plenty of technology not previously offered in its previous range.

These include the DYNAMIC POWER engine management system that regulates engine speed based on the joystick movements; a SMART LOADING driver-assistance system to help improve safety and efficiency in loading operations, and an all new cab design that offers excellent all-round visibility.

6.      2018 Kubota BX compact tractors

There’s a saying that if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. But not in Kubota’s books.

The BX compact tractor range is arguably one of the most popular compact tractor range in the world, given its versatility. For the year 2018, Kubota has decided to up the ante by making it better than before.

Some of the upgrades include a new Swift-Tach loader that can be removed in less than 45 seconds; a K-Connect PTO and hydraulic connection at the front that makes switching front implements much faster and easier; as well as an improved instrument panel, a more comfortable reclining seat and better ground clearance. The new and improved BX range will be available in January 2018.

7.      Krone BaleCollect 1230

Also launched at Agritechnica 2017 and will be arriving on Aussie shores in 2018 is Krone’s first ever bale collector. The BaleCollect 1230 is designed to go behind Krone’s Big Pack balers and can carry up to three 2.7m long bales.

Its standout feature, according to Krone, is the hydraulic drawbar that telescopes to provide safe castering in road transport. The telescoping drawbar breaks the connection between the bale collector and the baler, allowing the collector to track behind the baler like a second trailer.

When a bale leaves the bale chamber and moves on to the BaleCollect, it passes over a detecting sensor which signals to push it to the side. The following bale is then pushed to the other side. When the third bale arrives on the bale collector, all bales are pushed off the machine. The individual steps of the process are sequenced automatically and the operator can select one of four different unloading modes. Weighing scales on the BaleCollect 1230 record and store the weight of each bale on the machine. Talk about smart technology!

8.      John Deere 0 series balers

The first John Deere round baler with knives for pre-cutting will be available in Australia for the 2018 hay season. According to John Deere, the new 0 range of balers builds on its 9 series machines and offers the first 1.5m precutter baler in the industry.

Four models in the range offer several new features that aim to improve hay pickup and overall baling speed and productivity in the field. These include the MegaWide HC2 feed system which has a 2.2m pickup that allows operators to cover more hectares per day.

Thanks to the pre-cut system, the 0 series can produce denser bales and help reduce the time it takes to mix and grind up the feed for livestock.

9.      Kubota SC1000C seeding combination

We all love a multiple-in-one combination item, whether it be a kitchen tool, a Swiss Army knife, or a shampoo-conditioner, because they make life easier. This is no different in the farming industry, where combination machines are all the rage thanks to their ability to do multiple jobs in one go.

Kubota’s SC1000C seeder is one such unit that tills, levels, reconsolidates, fertilises, seeds and presses in one pass. It features a hopper for the grain and fertiliser that is divided lengthwise with the two metering devices accordingly positioned either side.

The SC1000C has six working zones that allows it to do everything in one pass: An 800mm diameter front wheel packer to level the soil in zone one, two rows of aggressively pitched 450mm conical discs in zone two, a 900mm diameter off-set wheel packer in zone three that reconsolidates soil, CD disc coulters - two steel discs with 12.5cm row spacing in zone four, depth guidance and press wheels in zone five, and a choice of S-type or finger following harrow in zone six. Now that’s a winning combination!

This tractor is technically available for sale now in Australia, but as it has just arrived not long ago and have managed to turn plenty of heads, we thought it deserved a mention on this list.

In August last year, John Deere announced a narrow track width version of its widely acclaimed 9RX quad-tracked tractors to cater to row crop farmers and controlled traffic farming operators, which is welcome news for a good number of growers in Australia.

We even managed to catch a glimpse of the units in action at a demo day in southern NSW in early November.

In addition to the products mentioned above, we have also heard of new releases coming through from AGCO, Deutz-Fahr and a few big names next year, so watch this space as we continue to bring you the latest in farm machinery, now and into the New Year!