KUBOTA are continuing to broaden their market appeal with the recent acquisition of Great Plains.
The US manufacturing company specialises in sowing and tillage equipment.
Kubota said in the announcement that their integrated product line would provide a range of solutions for large scale operators.
“The combination of Great Plains’ pioneering precision-drilling products and Kubota’s high-performing reliable tractors puts all drilling and tillage talks within the reach for Australia’s farmers,” it said.
Kubota said Great Plains will continue to operate as a separate manufacturing brand.
On display at the recent Kubota dealer conference was the Great Plains Spartan II no-till air drill.
Lars Pasedag, senior product manager, Kubota said the seeder was currently available in 6 and 9 metre working widths with a 12 metre model to be released in 2018.
“The machines are available in row spacing of 6 and 7.5 inch, while a 10 inch for the broadacre farmers will be available next year on the larger machine,” he said.
Mr Pasedag said another feature was the ability to fold the machine to under 3 metres for road transport.
While acknowledging the Spartan II was not in the bigger end of the market, he said the crossover potential of the machine made it attractive.
“It will suit pasture renovation scenarios and also goes into a crossover broadacre market,” he said.
Mr Pasedag said while the first Spartan model had performed well in Australia, particularly into the dairy market for sowing grass pastures, the new addition had a number of improvements.
These included ISOBUS compatibility, reinforcements to the metering unit and toolbar as well as a widening of the axle, he said.
Mr Pasedag said based on customer feedback, Great Plains had adjusted the distribution heads and increased the size of the air hoses on the Spartan II.
The Spartan II also comes standard with dual hopper for seed and fertiliser applications, and can be adapted for liquid fertilisers.
Mr Pasedag said features had been included to ensure a good seedbed.
“The offset double disc opener has a very narrow angle and the press wheels are height adjustable,” he said.
“The press wheel is in-line with your opener and coulter which means the seeding depth is always maintained.”
The author travelled to the Kubota dealer conference as a guest of Kubota.