Potatoes 2016

[moldengineer]

The T3 has gone really well. Its our 3rd season with it, we bought it 2nd hand from Grimme UK. Was a bit of a worry initially regarding the size and weight of the machine but transport width is slightly wider than a conventional harvester with the RH wheel out. Its a lot more manoeuvrable than the Standen Vision it replaced. The tyre equipment is wide and we have not had any issues with digging in the wet. We did put the 230 CVX on it this year after having the 180 CVX on it previously, although this year the 180 would have been fine. We still plant in a 2 row system on 72" wheelings and use a 2 bed tiller using RTK.

 

[Iben]

They certainly look cheap second hand. Would be concerned about reliability as the extra width and weight on the machine would put extra strain on the bearings and shafts. As long as they have been beefed up sufficiently then should be ok.

Gps on planting tractor will be essential, have a lot of rolling fields about here, would it cope with that? Does the off set side cope ok in wet ground? The disc will always be running in middle of a soft bed and could bulldoze?

Interesting to hear about it.

 

[moldengineer]

Ours is a late machine with the Standen Omega cleaner in it, the earlier ones had Scotts Evolution systems in them. Not sure if there were any issues with the Scotts systems but i assume the Standen system will be very similar.

Disc bulldozing can be an issue but we usually find that by keeping disc scrapers well adjusted they usually keep turning. Standen did have a powered disc option that would be ideal on the 2 outside discs, i have never had the need for them to be honest. The biggest issue we have is the tops, we pre top during desiccation but markie tops can be quite long and dont always top well. We topped twice this year but will look at having a topper on the front and one on the back for the next season.

I would say that ideally if the beds have been done with good GPS then for me the next step would be GPS on the destoner. The planter will always follow what the destoner has done. Or a 3 bed ridger/tiller followed by a 6 row planter. The problem with the harvester is that you are picking up 3 individual rows and there isnt really the ability to side shift because of this.

 

[Honest john]

Finished this afternoon, been a kind season for lifting for us (makes a change) but yields taken a beating with a late cold spring, very wet June and very dry August

I have stopped working yields out until we finish. Tooo depressing.
But will report when picked the last 70ac.

 

[marshfarmer]

Got some piper on virgin land, they're ok. The rest . Don't grow many but still a major knock

 

[marshfarmer]

Finished my few just now
Decent enough piper just not enough of them. easiest harvest ever condition wise.

 

[marshfarmer]

Ordered piper seed at 290 today. happy with that

 

[Farmergrum]

Finished my few just now
Decent enough piper just not enough of them. easiest harvest ever condition wise. View attachment 422680

is this your seed?

 

[marshfarmer]

is this your seed?

Yeah, I fazored them so I could have an easier year next year.