More Change To Bulk

Press, Volume C, Issue 29488, 14 April 1961, Page 18

More Change To Bulk

if-NINE header harvesters handled in bulk in the South Island this year, Mr C. J. Crosbie, farm advisory officer (machinery), told the Waimate farm conference this week. Among these were six oneman harvesting outfits. Notable among these was Mr D. L. Scott, of Pleasant Point, who, Mr Crosbie said, had, by halving his harvesting crew, doubled his rate of harvesting though he was doing the job by himself. Mr Crosbie said that Mr Scott, who had 35 acres of wheat, was likely to get his money back on his outlay of about £2OO in changing over to bulk in two years as a result of savings associated with the technique and increments. Broadly speaking, Mr Crosbie said, the change to bulk handling could be described as self-financing. From 14 of the bulk handling headers grain or seeds were bagged off in the paddock. Now, Mr Crosbie said, there were 1100 tons of wheat

stored in bulk on farms. Onlv 7 per cent, of 835 tons he had recently sampled was of more than 15 per cent, moisture content and some of it was as low as 11, and this had happened in the worst season in 20 years. Last year there were 21 bulk headers in the South Island and in the previous year eight After watching an excellent series of colour slides showing the diversity of techniques used by bulk handlers in the most recent harvest, the chairman of the session, Mr D. J. Hulston, commented: “And someone said that New Zealanders had lost their initiative.” Mr Crosbie recalled how a South Canterbury farmer had put his son on a bulk handling header while he himself drove the bulk grain to the rail in the farm truck. In between loads the farmer first greased his truck and then carried out an overhaul. Finally he brought out his transistor radio and spent the time between loads sitting on the running board of the truck listening to the radio.