Following the prolonged drought period across much of the east coast, extensive bushfires and impacts of the coronavirus, the farming community now appears to be showing how a resilient attitude can help to overcome times of great stress and hardship.
The need to maintain supplies during this challenging period has helped keep many businesses open and striving to service the needs of the farmer.
That has been the experience of specialist agricultural equipment dealer Eastern Spreaders Pty Ltd, based in Kerang in northern Victoria.
For the past few years, the company has focused on ensuring stocks, parts and back-up service have been available for its existing and new clients to keep them going through the tough times.
After good rains have recently been received across many parts of the country's south eastern regions, Eastern Spreaders is now experiencing an upsurge in demand for its range of equipment as farmer confidence starts to build momentum again.
This has been particularly evident for Marshall Multispread fertiliser spreaders -which are used for crop preparation - and for stock feeding equipment.
Eastern Spreaders has been distributing the top-selling Marshall Multispread fertiliser spreaders through the eastern states of Australia for more than 30 years and its staff have a wealth of experience and knowledge about the product.
Originally designed in Australia for spreading gypsum in local farming conditions, the Marshall Multispread has since developed to become a versatile multi-purpose machine that can be used for all types of granular product and seeds, as well as lime, manure and compost.
It is Australia's leading trailed fertiliser spreading machine and is used extensively in all types of operations - from broadacre cropping to big and small dairies and orchards.
The Marshall Multispread can spread all types of granular fertilisers across all ground conditions and comes in two different configurations - the 800 and 900 series.
Farmers can source a spreading machine that is tailored for their scale of production, with models that range from 2.5 tonne to 16 tonne capacity, and choose from a wide range of options.
These include the i4M Variable Rate Controller, and weighing systems - which can each also be retrofitted to older machines.
The i4M controller, operated from an iPad, uses prescription maps to optimise fertiliser and seed spreading accuracy and efficiency and minimise waste.
When it comes to sourcing feed mixers, Eastern Spreaders became the Australian distributor of the highly efficient Renn Roller Mills from Canada in 2018.
Renn has been producing feed processors for more than 50 years and has a range of equipment to suit different applications.
Its mills have 12, 24, 36 and 48-inch wide rollers in portable PTO drive models with a folding 12-foot unloading auger. Electric motor drive is also available.
The 16-inch diameter rollers are precision machined and dynamically balanced.
The Renn Roller Mills have proven to be a great addition to Eastern Spreaders' range of feeding equipment, which also includes the Keltec Bale Slice.
This slices bales from the bottom when loading into mixers or bale feeders and holds the wrap securely. It fast-tracks loading and feeding out and removes the danger of bale wrap contaminating the feed.
The recent drought years highlighted the value of having equipment that is capable of delivering good feed efficiently to keep stock in good condition and carry them through when there may be less reliable sources of fodder available.
Being able to cut and mix a variety of products to extend the value of hay and silage with extra straw, seeds, grains and factory fruit and vegetable waste has enabled many growers to keep operating when, previously, they would have potentially downsized or stopped altogether.
Eastern Spreaders is the Australian distributor for NDECo vertical cutter-mixer-feeders.
These world-leading machines are well proven in dairy and feedlot situations.
Manufactured in Canada, the NDECo feed-mixers have a reputation for very fast cutting and efficient mixing ability.
They are manufactured in a range of sizes from 11 cubic metres in single auger configuration, to 42 cubic metres for large triple auger machines.
Incorporated in NDECo mixers are long-lasting, patented, curved carbide-insert knives that facilitate high speed cutting and mixing.
All models accept largest round or square bales and are fitted with "Weightronix" weighing systems.
Mixers can be ordered with two side doors and a discharge elevator on either the left or right side.
The lifting and driving of the elevator are operated from the tractor remotes.
A recent addition to Eastern Spreaders range of equipment is the Ktwo muck spreader, which is designed to handle big quantities of manures and sludge.
It features twin vertical beaters on the rear discharge with replaceable hardened boron steel rotor teeth.
The spreading pattern for manures from these machines, which are manufactured by Ktwo in the United Kingdom, is up to 20 metres.
Eastern Spreaders is stocking the Ktwo Duo and Evo ranges.
The Duo range comes in sizes from six to 14 tonnes, ideal for farm and contractor use, and the larger Ktwo Evo models range from 14 to 26 tonnes.
- More information: 03 5450 3077
