JOHN Deere has shown its serious intentions to prioritise the horticulture sector with the first official look at the new 5ML series specialty orchard and vineyard tractors.
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The company hosted a showcase day at SuniTAFE's Smart Farm, Mildura, Victoria on October 10, with about 60 key clients and industry representatives invited.
Attendees test drove the John Deere 5130ML low profile utility tractor, including one with additional "limb lifters" which are rails protecting the machine against branches and vines.
A key indicator of the machinery giant's horticulture intent was adopting the phrase "high value crops" (even down to it being embroidered on the complimentary caps for the occasion).
This encompasses most fruit and vegetable crops, plus dried fruit (sultanas and raisins), tree nuts, as well as table and wine grapes.
While the 5ML series has been available in the United States for some time, it was the inaugural showing in Australia.
The 5130ML boasts a 97 kW (130hp) PowerTech, four-cylinder engine and PowrQuad transmission featuring push-button gear selection without the foot clutch. This gives more productive hydraulic shifting between forward and reverse.
It has a PTO power of 86kW (115 hp) with a rear hitch lift capacity of 2720kg to 3122kg at a 610mm behind lift point.
The entire unit sits 282mm above the ground, with an overall height of 2.4m to the top of the cab.
The control lever allows the operator to change gears and ranges using one lever, reducing steps to change gears.
An electrohydraulic fingertip directional lever allows the operator to switch directions in applications requiring frequent directional changes in tight spaces. This eliminates wear on the clutch by automating gear shifts.
Pressure-flow compensated (PFC) hydraulics, standard on all 5ML cab tractors, work at 117L per minute. This helps when using hydraulic implements, such as air blast sprayers.
PFC hydraulics also improve cooling capacity when running large implements.
- The author travelled to Mildura as a guest of John Deere.
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
