More power for less in 2024 harvest  

With a promising season ahead due to above-average rainfall, New Holland dealer Double R has been preparing farmers in the Tamworth, Gunnedah and Hunter Valley regions for the hay and grain harvest season. 

Double R Gunnedah branch manager Chris Canham said customers were increasingly turning to high-horsepower tractors to manage larger fields and operate equipment like wider planters and high-capacity balers. 

“Farmers are also opting for larger equipment because they have fewer available staff. Twenty or thirty years ago, it was easier to manage smaller machines with a larger workforce,” Chris said. 

“Now, they still need to cover the same acreage but must do so more efficiently. So, they’re choosing wider planters and tractors with greater horsepower, especially when using powerful balers and other machinery. 

“Many farmers are actively cutting hay with increased activity expected over the next week or two, while the crop yield later this year looks strong.” 

Related: New Holland Pro-Belt round baler launched

Related: New Holland GENESIS T8 tractor preview video

Related: New Holland T9 SmartTrax now comes with PLM Intelligence  

Baling is currently underway at beef producer Phil Marheine’s property, which has 130 hectares of lucerne and forage sorghum under irrigation at Willow Tree (NSW). 

Due to increased demand this season, Phil has purchased a New Holland 1290 Big Square Baler with son Simon Marheine, who operates Sparrow Creek Contracting.  

He has also just taken delivery of a New Holland T8 tractor. 

Phil said flexibility was the deciding factor when purchasing the 1290 Big Square Baler. 

“Simon’s contracting business has grown, and we needed a high-capacity baler with excellent throughput to meet customer demand,” he said. 

“Simon does all my baling work. We decided on the 1290 as its easier to stack the big squares in my sheds, and it’s also much easier to load and transport squares than rounds for hay and haylage that we sell that we don’t use ourselves.  

“We were already familiar with New Holland square balers as Simon was using the previous model, and little square balers as well. 

“We’ve made 790 bales in last five days since taking delivery of the 1290. There really is no comparison in terms of bale weight and throughput.  

“It also opens a larger window for baling, as conditions don’t have to be perfect for the 1290 to produce decent bales.” 

Phil currently owns four New Holland tractors, including two T5s, a T9 and the new T8. 

Double R is the authorised sales and service Dealer for New Holland in the Tamworth, Gunnedah and Hunter Valley regions.