Farms.com Home   News

Salford Releases New High Capacity Commodity Cart

From Salford News, www.salfordgroup.com
 
 
Over the last year, Salford moved precision application technology to the forefront of its agenda, and the result is several new fertilizer application models being displayed at the Farm Progress Show this year. Salford will showcase the latest model in its line of precision applicators, the PathFinder ST-10 self-steering commodity cart. Also on display will be its Section Control option for select Salford BBI spinner spreaders--previously only available on the company’s Javelin top-dress applicator--and Salford’s Valmar 8600 air boom applicator.
 
“Precision application technology is the key focus for the new Salford Group, and the PathFinder ST-10 represents a big step forward for Salford’s line of precision applicators,” said Brad Baker, Product Manager for Salford. “The ST-10 meter can control four sections on this machine. The increased level of control allows for even more accurate application, which offers greater ROI by reducing the amount of fertilizer overlap in the field. This is a more economical and ecological commodity metering system designed to reduce input costs and help farmers be successful in the face of rising input costs and tightening regulations on fertilizer application.” Baker noted that all of the new section control-capable equipment from Salford Group arrives in the field ISOBUS-compatible for quick pairing with leading application control terminals. “We have to be ISOBUS-compatible,” says Baker, “using one control terminal across multiple implements is the best way to maximize the farm’s investment in precision controls.”
 
The largest of the three models in the PathFinder line, the ST-10 has a combined 10 ton capacity from its 120 cu ft and 180 cu ft tanks. Like the ST-6 and ST-8, the ST-10 uses Salford’s Valmar metering technology with proven accuracy over decades of work and countless acres of use. “A great feature of the Valmar metering system is that it’s designed to work with seed or fertilizer” said Dennis Rice, the lead engineer at Valmar. “Because the meter is gentle enough for seed, it doesn’t crush fertilizer, making the product flow nicely with less dust in the air system. With less dust you have less plugging in humid weather. In addition, our meter options consist primarily of poly material that resists build-up from fertilizer residue, and they also come equipped with cleaning systems to ensure the meter is performing accurately at all times.”
 
 
 
Jack Huerkamp of Macon, Mississippi is one of the first PathFinder owners and experienced some real advantages over his previous fertilizer cart. Huerkamp farms roughly 1,800 acres of corn and cotton and beds his ground in 38 inch rows. He applies all of his fertilizer in the fall, in the center of the bed, so a commodity cart like the PathFinder with steering to follow his applicator is an excellent fit for his operation. “My Valmar ST-8 on the PathFinder did a fantastic job metering fertilizer. We'd stop every now and again to get out a little chunk of fertilizer that might stop the rollers, but otherwise I could run our 12 rows with up to 600 pounds per acre at about 6 miles per hour.  That's really rolling out a lot of fertilizer!  With the PathFinder we were able to speed up and increase our fertilizer output compared to our previous cart,” said Huerkamp.  Huerkamp also noted that his cart has an optional high rate metering system and in his variable rate application 600 pounds was his maximum applicatin rate which was only called for a few times.  Huerkamp went on to say “As far as feeding fertilizer from the cart to my Dawn units on the toolbar, we never plugged the Salford machine once, and  the design of the steering kept the PathFinder tucked behind me a little better when I make a hard turn on the headlands.”
 
Studies[1][2] are showing economic as well as environmental benefits from precision application methods such as variable rate and section control application technology.  Where producers can increase and decrease fertilizer application based on the yield potential of specific sites in their fields, they are generally applying less and yielding as much or more harvest. When section control technology is used, there is less over-application on fields and reduced application into environmentally sensitive areas.
 
Source : Salford Group

Trending Video

CropTalk - Winter - Nov 29

Video: CropTalk - Winter - Nov 29

Topics covered today: A Look at the 2023/24 Cost of Production, Farm Machinery Guide Crop Scouting Panel