Improving billet planter efficiency for controlled

Group name: North Clarence Innovative Planting Group

Objectives

• Increase adoption of controlled traffic systems in the North Clarence Harvesting Co-operative
• Reduce planting costs in controlled traffic/zero tillage systems
• Increase controlled traffic planting efficiency
• Improve billet feeding mechanism of planter to provide a more even and precise flow of billets
• Design, construct and commission a dual row billet planter that has an increased billet carrying capacity and an improved billet metering system
• Extend and demonstrate the innovative planter concept to other industry groups

Project Activities: 

1. Initial workshop to obtain industry input into proposed design (involving growers, agricultural engineers and agricultural staff from the NSW industry).  This workshop would also involve growers from the NSW Farming Systems Group to gain input into the design of the planter delivery systems and provide insight into disk assembly and covering devices.  Prior to the workshop a review of the available literature (eg. web search, SRDC funded planter projects) relating to planter conversions and precision billet delivery systems will be undertaken.

2. Purchase second-hand powerhaul.

3. Purchase double disc opening system and metering/elevator system(s).

4. Convert powerhaul to planter.

5. Commission planter and establish field trials.  The field trails will compare the constructed planter with an established dual row planter from another part of the mill area (eg Hodge planter) in terms of planting efficiency, cost, planting rate, crop establishment, and cane yield.

6. Record and report the cost of conversion/manufacture or the planter.

7. Compare time and economic costs of the powerhaul planter system with an existing system (eg Hodge).

8. Obtain yield data from trials.

9. Extend results to NSW and Qld cane industries.