On more and more farms, the grain cart is as vital to getting the crop out of the field as the combine. That’s increasingly true regardless of farm size, with many smaller operations pencilling out the advantages that come from their enhanced efficiency. Whether your operation is expanding or specializing, grain cart manufacturers are tweaking their designs to take those efficiencies to new heights, as you’ll see from this month’s brief survey of some of the newest models.
J&M LEANER
As farms get bigger, so do combine headers, and one challenge growers face in the field is overlaps between the grain cart and the combine. But J&M grain carts have an answer, with the Leaner series for 1,130-, 1,250- and 1,500-bushel capacities. The Leaner is an extender that is bolted on to the side of the grain cart, bringing the rim of the cart two feet closer to the combine. It also increases the tank’s capacity without raising its height. The design has evolved in response to the increasing width of combine headers and the ongoing risk of a wagon pulling away and running over the header. It also negates the need for a longer auger.
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unverferth
In an ongoing effort to help growers manage and reduce compaction in their fields, Unverferth is unveiling its “Tracked advantage” grain carts. By design, tracked vehicles distribute the weight and pressure across a wider area of soil beneath them, thereby reducing compaction while improving grip. Unverferth’s grain carts offer a long, wide track, promoting greater flotation and manoeuvrability without berming the soil as they turn. The steel bogie wheel configuration will also help increase efficiency by reducing maintenance, all while offering more consistent ground contact and enhanced weight distribution. That means there’s less point-loading on each axle. Best of all, this track design is available on all grain carts from Brent, Killbros, Parker or Unverferth dealers.
www.unverferth.com
balzer 1550
Whatever your goal, whatever your size, Balzer says it can outfit you with the grain cart that matches your needs. Balzer’s 1550 model is the mid-size unit and is well suited to large farming operations. Speed and efficiency are the hallmarks of these carts, including the capacity to unload 1,090 bushels per minute, enough to load a semi-trailer in about 90 seconds. The cart’s tank is independent of the axles and the hitch, so the scales are very accurate, which means improved data management. The joystick control also helps boost ease of operations and efficiency. Last but certainly not least, Balzer’s units have the Auto-Trail steerable axle system on both the tandem and tridem models. That feature provides superior flotation with higher bushel capacities, thus reducing compaction.
www.balzerinc.com
brandt graincart 1322xr
A companion to the 1020XR, this latest model from Brandt comes to the field delivering a series of key features, including visibility, versatility, stability and easy cleanout. A longer auger provides added clearance for off-loading combines while its adjustable discharge spout, placed 34 inches closer to the cab, offers the operator a clearer view. The walking axle beam on the 1322XR is built for stable transport whether empty or fully loaded, and there are three width positions for crop rows. And when one job is done, the tank’s smooth interior — without ledges or other catch points — means the task of cleanout is that much easier, an efficiency bonus during the harvest, especially when segregating or switching crops.
www.brandt.ca
