AGAINST a backdrop of unseasonably warm weather, a large crowd attended the 33nd annual Mallee Machinery Field Days, held at Speed last week.
Exhibitors reported high interest with many believing farmers were waiting on rainfall in the coming weeks before finalising orders.
The flavour of the field days was the variety of no-till seeding systems.Feedback was that farmers were keenly following developments in the technology with many interested in paddock results from early adopters.
A range of tine, single and double-disc machines from players including Bourgault, Excel, NDF, Amity, RFM, K-Hart, Tobin, Serafin, Grizzly, Morris and Horwood Bagshaw was complemented by a handful of bolt-on assembly solutions to convert conventional machines to an entry level, low-cost experimentation rig.
Major dealers O'Connors, Case IH, Emmetts, Haeusler's, Michaels, Poole & Jackson and Norwoods dominated the landscape with extensive machinery displays.
Features included the latest-release 8R series tractor from John Deere, the Steiger 500 from Case and a stealthy looking Gleaner 7 Series header.
Doug Jackson, of Poole & Jackson, said the interest levels had been high but rains were needed to convince many to put pen to paper.
Dunstan Farmers Engineering director Craig Miller said the forward order book for chaser and field bins meant farmers would have to order now to meet harvest deadlines.
Moose Industries made the journey from its base in Kimba, in South Australia, to exhibit its range of press wheels and coulter assemblies.
"It's a long way for us to come but it has been well worth it and we've had a lot of interest in our products," spokesman Matt Lienert said.
"We've been flat out keeping up with demand."
Excel Agriculture sales manager Alistair Cheesman said the company's single-disc assembly and Stubble Warrior bar had been a good source of inquiry.
"There's no doubt that farmers are wanting to move in the no-till direction and we've had a good few days exhibiting our solution," he said.
