QUICK MOVEMENT OF BULK GRAIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29844, 9 June 1962, Page 6

QUICK MOVEMENT OF BULK GRAIN

/~)NE of the features of the manner in which wheatfarmers in the province have changed from traditional bag harvesting of grain to bulk handling has been the way ‘in which they have adapted existing equipment on the farm to their requirements. A big commercial suction plant for moving grain at the bulk-handling demonstration held at the Addington Show Grounds last winter gave Mr Bill Earl, of Waikari, an idea. He has since converted an old forage clipper that was no longer in use on the farm for transferring grain from a tip truck used as a field bin on the farm to another tip truck used to carry the grain to the rail.

The clipper originally had its own engine. This has been detached and the machine has been rigged up for attachment to the three-point linkage of the tractor and to be driven off the tractor’s

power take-off. In operation it will lift wheat at about a ton a minute.

On the three-point linkage the entrance spout to the clipper is manoeuvred under the outlet from the tip truck, but Mr Earl says that for satisfactory operation the truck should have a short deck. For a long-deck truck a ramp might be needed to give satisfactory elevation to clear the load. The attachment could also be used for transferring wheat to railway trucks at the railway siding. Mr Earl says that there is probably not a great deal of scope for other farmers using this method of moving grain, as there are probably not a great many of the forage clippers about.

It was not found suitable for handling peas as it tended to crack them, but there is no difficulty on this account with wheat.