Feedstorm has been a Game Changer for Canola and Lupin Harvest.

 

Looking for an efficient and economic management tool to reduce harvest loss, Trevor Piggot turned to FeedstormTM adjustable cross-auger from Primary Sales. 

 

“We grew the best canola crops I’ve ever seen last year, solid canola crops. The FeedstormTM meant we were stopping less and had minimal blockages”. 

 

The FeedstormTM auger is a great solution for broadacre farmers to improve their harvest performance by reducing harvest loss saving both time and yield. Online research brought Trevor to the Primary Sales Feedstorm adjustable cross-auger, after talking with a grower who was utilizing a prototype in Central WA, he brought one ahead of the 2021 cereal / oilseed harvest. 

 

Farming in the Chapman Valley of WA, Trevor and his family operate a mixed farming enterprise. With a focus on cropping: wheat, lupins and canola and reintroduction of livestock into Trevor’s farming system, he’s looking to harvest management as the next step to reduce losses and increase farm production. 

 

Operating a 3:1 tramline system Trevor’s farming system has a focus on precision farming in line with aiming to increase farm efficiency through new and innovative management practices and machinery advancements. 

 

Utilizing his farming landscape to its full potential, Trevor has chosen to return his less productive cropping country, sandy soils to perennial crops for grazing. This is a management tool used to spread risk and in his business. 

 

Trevor’s header setup has been the focus for his improved efficiency through using the FeedstormTM auger. Operating 2 Case class 7 headers with Macdon D60 draper fronts, Trevor was seeking improved efficiency and reduced loss at harvest time. 

 

For 2021 cereal harvest, Trevor replaced auger in one of his header fronts with FeedstormTM auger and compared to a competitor’s brand in his second header. 

 

His reasons for changing augers in the front were on issues around length of auger, loss of yield, reduced harvesting capacity and speed of harvest. 

With large canola crops in 2021, Trevor found FeedstormTM auger “increased our ground speed by 2-4km an hour, this meant we were able to cover the country quicker”. “We had better feeding capacity which was critical as we grew some of the biggest canola crops I’ve ever seen”.  

 

With his focus on canola, the FeedstormTM auger also proved to be a valuable tool in lupin harvest last season. “We saw a lot less blockages, it made picking up bulky crops a lot easier and reduced the amount of time we were out of the cabin”. 

 

Looking forward, after his experience during the 2021 winter harvest Trevor has purchased a 2nd FeedstormTM auger for his other header. “It’s been a game changer for our canola and lupin harvest, we’re not going to change our setup now we’ve seen how well it worked”. 

 

Hosting a GRDC Harvester Forum on 22nd September year in Geraldton, Trevor is looking forward to engaging with manufacturers and chatting with other growers about their experiences and learning from each-others experiences. 

 

“I’d really like to chat with other growers about how they are reducing harvest losses, there are huge savings to be made”. 

 

Key take home messages that Trevor hopes from the GRDC  Harvester Forum’s will provide are: 

• Header setup 
• Measuring harvest losses – quick and effective tips  
• Networking with other growers and professionals 

For more information on GRDC Harvester Forums and where your closest one is this year is go to https://grdc.com.au/events/list