DALBY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA | Low fuel use and Fendt transmission pays off for Dalby farmers on their 3,500 acres of sorghum, cotton, wheat, barley, mung beans and chickpeas
DALBY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA | Low fuel use and Fendt transmission pays off for Dalby farmers on their 3,500 acres of sorghum, cotton, wheat, barley, mung beans and chickpeas
Matthew Cronk B&B machinery, Donny Cloney Fendt ANZ, Tom Gooding, Christian Jungclaus Fendt Global, Kris Black B&B machinery.
Tom Gooding along with his father Dave and brother Luke run a mixed enterprise farm west of Dalby. They grow a diverse range of crops from cotton, sorghum, mung beans, chickpeas, barley and wheat over 3,500 acres.
The Goodings run two Fendt 936 tractors on the farm for all the major jobs required
to grow their wide range of crops.
One of the key features which has impressed Tom is fuel economy, Tom says "planting is one of the most important jobs on any cropping farm, and when using our 8 row 60" Maximerge planter for cotton I have been able to get our fuel averages below 12L\hr. With any of our previous tractors it was a struggle to get below 23 – 24 l/hr."
“I have tried many different step-less tractors but nothing comes close to the Fendt engine and transmission control and getting the power to the ground.”
Tom's trusty companion gets in on the act.
The Fendt 900 series has the patented Vario transmission, now in 250,000 Fendt tractors all over the world. Fendt manufacture and assemble this transmission in Bavaria, Germany and have full control over the quality of components and workmanship that goes into the Vario transmission.
Tom says, “I have tried many different step-less tractors but nothing comes close to the Fendt engine and transmission control and getting the power to the ground. ” The Fendt transmission is completely step-less in the field so no break in traction or loss of power occurs in heavy work.
The comfort in the 900 series is also huge benefit to Tom, “The independent front axle suspension and airbag cab suspension allow me to work at a higher speed on rough terrain than my previous tractor.”
The independent front axle suspension also benefits traction as it ensures that the front wheels are in full contact with the ground on all terrain.
The tractors operate on 3 metre centres in order to fit into the Goodings farming operation for cotton and application work. The front axles have been extended by Widetract in Toowoomba rather than using cotton reels which are heavier wearing on the front hubs and planetary sets. The tractors are equipped with 710/75R42 tyres and Tom says, “I can get all the power to the ground with the 710 tyres, I keep the Fendt tractor lightweight to reduce soil compaction, increase field performance and output, with the wider tyres you can run a low pressure which ensures good performance.”
B&B Machinery in Toowoomba maintain and service the tractors for the Goodings, Tom says, “The service is excellent from B&B Machinery and they know the Fendt product inside out.”
