There’s a new entrant in the pantheon of great awards.
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The Fairfax machinery blokes’, Machine of the Year Awards.
These are my awards, adjudicated by me, overseen by nobody and with no shortage of issues.
But they are on the internet and so must be real.
There are problems.
The assessment criteria could be described as fluid at best. Fluid is code for “making it up as I go along”.
Whatever the rules, I am confident these awards are at least as meaningful as the Logies and perhaps only marginally less meaningful than being a backbencher.
Perhaps they do have much in common with the Logies.
Mediocrity comes to mind - and that’s a slight on the organiser - not the winner.
My effort in judging winners is underwhelming at best. Perhaps hallmarked by it currently being 4.55pm on a Friday and almost Christmas.
To conclusively adjudge the Fairfax Machine of the Year, I cast my mind back to articles I’ve written over the course of this year and for the months prior to October, I look through the Fairfax archives.
What I’ve learned is that it would probably have delivered a better result if I had started the process earlier. Or had any idea about what I am doing.
However, back to the now.
Making it up this late has meant that I haven’t had a chance to organise a grand trophy - something suitably significant to fill a shelf on a bookcase or a dusty old cabinet in the corner at reception.
So, simply being declared the winner of Machine of the Year in this column will have to suffice.
It is kudos enough, and given the tough times print newspapers are going through, probably more than my expense account allows.
Results will certainly be on the internet (look around) and I’ll also put it on social media.
That means it will be gone in next to no time on Twitter and provide marginally more validation than you’ll get from posting selfies on Facebook.
Let me start with my “Other Awards”.
Machines worthy of a mention because I remembered them.
Launch of the Year goes to JCB’s 8330 Fastrac.
Invite me to the UK, buy me a pint and let me drive this impressive cross-over is my idea of a good week at work. http://www.farmonline.com.au/story/4206894/fastrac-meets-all-traffic-challenges/
My Story of Year goes to Steve Lanyon, the Boort bloke with a singular focus on exploring better ways of seeding. Read it here: http://www.farmonline.com.au/story/4309426/single-focus-key-to-seeding-future/
Most Anticipated Machine of 2017 has to be the Horsch Leeb self propelled sprayer.
Surely we will see arrival of what shapes as one of the best boom rides in the business. C’mon Muddy make it happen.
And the machinery blokes Machine of the Year?
Hardi’s Rubicon
Because big is better.
Well that’s Hardi’s opinion and it is probably right except when it comes to price.
While this thing has the tank, clearance and boom to spray all day, the coin is considerable. But, whatever the drawbacks, big can impress a small mind, so it's a tick from me.
Notable mentions go to the following.
ATC’s eDrive system
How about retrofitting a broken down beast with a diesel electric drivetrain and running it for another squillion acres. Perfect for sprayers and maybe a sign of things to come as equipment prices steadily head north. http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/general/news/leap-of-faith-to-tractor-autonomy/2751611.aspx
The Unstacker
If not for anything else but for the name. No it’s not a Steven Seagal movie, rather the work of WA tinkerer, Mic Fels.
This ground loading auger is the perfect complement to getting crop off fast, dumping it and then getting it off the ground even faster. http://www.farmonline.com.au/story/3826312/bunkering-down-for-a-clean-harvest-getaway/
Pillar Laser
A new disc seeder from Dubbo cropper and importer Tom Harvey. A simple build designed to rip through residue (and double shoot) in no-till systems.
Great Plains Accushot
Accurately place a precision shot of liquid fertiliser before, on or after the seed - how good is that? An adaptation of Capstan Ag’s sprayer tech for drilling is another step toward high precision in cereal seeding. http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/liquid-accuracy-the-single-focus/2751813.aspx
Wolverine Ditcher
Anything that can throw a rooster tail better than Toby Price is well worth checking out. This drain digger is simple, strong and impressive to watch - like watching Dave Warner bat. http://www.farmonline.com.au/story/3817293/wolverine-banks-on-big-bite/?cs=4733
Komatsu 61EXi dozer
Plug in your design map - road, dam, shed foundation, whatever, and trundle back and forward and create a earthern masterpiece - and that's with about five minutes training. Technology is making dumb blokes look smart.
High Jump Fencing
Ok this is not a machine, it’s a fence. But this is hardly a real awards competition either. Extend your star pickets and stop roos jumping into your paddock. Or keep them in and sort them out with your Adler 7 shot. A simple farming solution.
John Deere’s 9RX
Rolled out in June, this was a missing piece in the green arsenal and balances the bragging rights with the red team 20 years later. Nothing in farming is black and white. So now track machines come in green and red - which, of course, is befitting of Christmas. http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/machinery/general-news/jd-enters-fourtrack-market/2741940.aspx
Have a great break.
