Friday, 01 April 2022 10:55

Faster and more accurate planting

Written by  Mark Daniel
The Monosem Precision planter in action. The Monosem Precision planter in action.

Monosem has offered electrically-powered (FEP) planters since late 2017.

However, a sneak peep of what’s in the pipeline is pointing towards increased accuracy, faster set up times and improved ease of use.

The new ValoTerra precision planter is equipped with its own 56-volt, on-board power system, with electricity to the planter’s motors supplied via a PTO-driven, 5.6kW generator – thus removing the need for any battery packs.

The result of several years of R&D, the main development goal was not only to make the planter easier to adjust, but also ensure precise seed spacing, planting depth and singulation to always get a more uniform emergence, says the French manufacturer.

A newly developed and patented metering system on the ValoTerra is described as an improved version of the Monoshox system. This results in consistent accuracy while operating at speeds of up to 2km/h faster.

An example of improvements to ease of use is switching between crops when only the seed disc needs changing. The company suggests that this task takes less than a minute per row to complete the changeover.

Equipped with variable rate and section control, further new developments include the FertiSmart fertiliser dosage system. This is configured to use a single motor for each individual dosing unit. The system is claimed to distribute a wide range of fertilisers, including bio pellets, even when working on slopes.

The MicroSmart micro-granule applicator works using one metering unit and two fall/drop pipes per row, while the new Monosem Plus app allows users to control individual metering units via a mobile device or tablet.

Available in models from 6-12 rows, offering working widths from 4.2m to 6.0m, individual row hoppers hold 70 litres-equivalent to 160,000 maize seeds, while the pressure of the 450mm diameter double-disc openers can be increased in three steps of 30kg. Look out for the commercial release at the SIMA Event to be held in Paris during November.

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Case IH Wins EIMA Award for Optum Suspension System

With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.

The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.

In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.

Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.

Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”

Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.

www.caseih.com

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