9 great reads during quarantine

While most farmers are still hard at work, with agriculture deemed ‘essential’ by the Federal Government (phew!), a lot of us are forced to stay home and self-isolate as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its firm grip on the world.

With seemingly no end date set for this quarantine period, we are suddenly finding plenty of time on our hands. Instead of keeping glued to Netflix all night and day, (not that there is anything wrong with that, though) why not take this opportunity to do some research on your next machine purchase or gain some insight into the wonderful world of modern agriculture?

We’ve cherry picked some of our most popular and interesting articles on farmachinerysales.com.au that we think will make for a great afternoon or bedtime reading. Happy reading!

1.      Black Diamond 25-tonne wood splitter review

Gone were the days of sore arms and shoulders as a result of chopping fire wood with an axe. Enter the Black Diamond wood splitter that does the job in a fraction of the time and next to no elbow grease required.

Farmmachinerysales reviewer, Howard Shanks, bought himself a 25-tonne model and found it to be very versatile, as it can split logs both horizontally and vertically. The wedge has a sharp axe-like face that widens considerably at the rear which helps split open the toughest blocks and prevents the head from jamming in the block. Priced at under $2,000, it was worth every dollar, he thinks!

2.      6 tips on using drones effectively for precision agriculture

Drones are undoubtedly the next big thing in pretty much every aspect of society. Photographers and videographers use them to take quality, breathtaking footage; construction companies for surveying purposes; logistics company for delivery purposes; and farmers for crop surveillance and even for spraying.

But there’s more to it than simply heading to the gadget store, picking one up and start flying. You need to know which ones to get, what you need to use it for, how to extract and digest the data collected etc. This article breaks it all down for you.

3.      10 top farming apps you need to download

Speaking of technology, we all unknowingly have one of the most powerful tech tools right in our own pockets – our mobile phones. In addition to being a communication device, it is also a computer, calculator, alarm clock, music player, TV, calendar, and much more. This is all thanks to the plethora of apps available for us to download and use.

We looked at 10 top apps that are incredibly useful if you’re working in the farming industry that covers everything from weather to pest mapping.

4.      10 robots changing the way we farm

This is one of my personal favourites as it provides such an intriguing look into how farms could possibly look like in 10, 20 or 50 years. And as you can imagine, autonomy will inevitably be part and parcel of farm life in the future.

There is the E-series strawberry picking robot which has been wired to differentiate between ripe and unripe fruit hence knowing which ones to harvest; and then there is the homegrown Swarm Farm robot which can either be used on its own or in ‘swarms’ on a larger operation. We look at 10 tech from around the world that could very well change the face of agriculture as we know it.

5.       John Deere 1025R compact tractor review

This review has remained one of our highest read for a very good reason. For one, it is a John Deere and that is enough to turn heads. Also, the 1025R utility tractor offers 25hp and is a versatile machine that is well suited for not just farmers to use on their operations but also for property owners needing a workhorse to carry out some jobs around the yard like carry firewood or load wood chips.

In addition, the machine is such a simple one to operate, anyone in the family can hop on and give it a go. It gives the buyer ROI in spades, in my humble opinion.

6.      Under-100hp tractor buyers guide –10 things to consider when buying a compact tractor

Speaking of which, if you’re interested in investing in a good compact tractor, this article gives you some top tips to keep in mind. We spoke to industry experts to figure out key things to look for and questions to ask yourself before deciding which make and model is right for you.

In addition, with the recent instant asset write off (IAWO) introduced by the Government of up to $150,000, there has never been a better time to buy. You only have till June 30 to take advantage of the IAWO.

7.      UBCO 2x2 off-road electric bike review

This was a very different review you wouldn’t normally see on a farm machinery site that makes for a rather interesting read. The Kiwi-made UBCO electric bike is not your average loud and fast farm bike but the fact that it is much quieter makes it a great rig to use on the farm so as to avoid scaring the livestock.

Better still, it can act as a power source out in the field, giving enough power to operate a drill or charge up a mobile phone. Though the UBCO electric bike is slower than your average farm bike, it doesn’t mean they’re not fun to ride, plus it’s light enough that you can easily lift it up into a ute if need be.

8.      MultiOne mini loader review

This is another personal favourite only because this MultiOne loader is such a unique, versatile unit that can almost be anything you want it to be. I even dubbed it the Thermomix of the farm or even on smaller construction sites. It can be equipped with over 100 attachments, allowing it to carry out a multitude of tasks such as mowing, slashing, loading, material handling, and more.

The unit is made in Italy which guarantees a quality build and durability. While not the cheapest machine of its kind on the market, the fact that it can effectively replace several machines in the fleet, hence saving both cost and space is exactly the ROI you need.

9.      How to: spray effectively

This is a long read but trust me, it is well worth your time, especially if you’re learning the ropes with spraying on the farm. Even for the seasoned operators, this piece might provide some insights you might not be aware of.

We spoke to several spraying experts to gain some nuggets of wisdom when it comes to spraying, such as when is the most suitable time to spray, and how to pick the right nozzles for the operation.