Bourgault has been a major influence on the further development of seeding bars cultivators and air carts since 1974
Bourgault has been an integral part of expanding crop plantings in Australia since 1995 but the company’s history in providing industry-leading seeding equipment dates back 50 years.
This is an impressive feat that seeding industry leader Bourgault proudly achieved this year.
Born in the heart of the Canadian prairies in 1974, Bourgault’s history is one of innovation.
Started by Frank Bougault in the Canadian village of St Brieux Saskatchewan, from its very conception, Bourgault has found ways to overcome tillage issues as they arise.
In the 1970s farmers and equipment providers in the small rural town of St. Brieux Saskatchewan had to deal with constant tillage equipment failures caused by unusually harsh conditions.
Local farmer Frank Bourgault understood these frustrations and set forth to build a cultivator that could withstand the large deposits of rocks and stones that resulted in frequent equipment failure.
And so, Bourgault Industries was born. In 1970, Frank built a 4.88m (16-ft) prototype, it was the birth of Bourgault’s first dual-purpose cultivator.
Officially becoming a company in 1974, Bourgault operated out of a modest workshop with three employees, including Frank Brougault, his eldest son Gerry Bourgault and Don Coquet.
Bourgault had designed the cultivator to tackle a job normally taking farmers multiple passes to break through using a chisel plough. And the results spoke for itself.
By spring 1975, Bourgault had manufactured 75 cultivators for farmers across Canada.
Between the years 1976 and 1979, demand exploded and Bourgault manufactured nearly 1000 cultivators with widths out to 12m (40ft) with the workforce growing to around 100.
After completing high school Frank’s second son Joseph, joined the company as a sales representative. Not long after this Frank’s third son Claude also joined up.
In 1977 Frank agreed to license a seed metering patent that was held by Jerome Bechard.
This quickly became a major innovation with the release of the Model 138 in 1980, a tow-behind air seeder that was paired with Bourgault dual-purpose cultivators to improve seeding capabilities.
This combination of implements has since been a core offering provided by Bourgault.
Fast forwarding to the 1990s, Bourgault continued to grow and expanded from one workshop in 1994 to a second facility located in North Dakota to serve as the company’s US headquarters.
This US facility covered 2787m² (30,000 sq.ft) when it was built, and has since expanded to now incorporate manufacturing and office space covering 46451m² (500,000 sq.ft).
In the following year, 1995, there were huge advancements for Bourgault including the development of the Mid Row Bander system. This is now seen as one of the most significant developments in Bourgault’s history since the Model 138.
The Mid Row Bander system allowed farmers to maximise the benefits they would receive from one pass fertiliser application while at the same time reducing the risks.
The year 1995 was also significant in another way, it was the birth of Bourgault Australia.
Bourgault Australia
Bourgault Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourgault Industries and has proudly provided equipment and servicing to local growers since 1995, with the operation based in Armadale Perth WA from 2000 to late 2019.
In 2020 Bourgault Australia made the move to a purpose-built 20,000m² facility in Kelmscott WA and paired with another factory in Albury NSW to service the eastern states.
Purpose-built in 2015, the 4,800m² Albury NSW workshop, office and spare parts complex sits on a 6.47ha (16-acre) land holding on the edge of town.
These two impressive facilities highlight Bourgault’s growth and also the increased breadth of seeding equipment and support now available to local farmers.
Following the firm establishment of Bourgault in Australia, in 2002 the company decided to begin distribution of its equipment in the Eastern Europe region.
From the Hydraulic Variable Breakout (HVB) trip assemblies, designed, tested, and manufactured in Australia, to the CTF 3-metre centre axles and Australian-specific tank splits on Air carts. Bourgault has continued to supply local farmers with quality equipment made for our unique growing conditions.
Recently, Bourgault also released a Frame Mounted Seeder range of narrow transport models.
These narrow seeders have been designed with sowing widths of 6 and 8 metres (20 and 26ft), then fold to a narrow transport width of 3 metres, and a height of 4 metres.
In 2019 Bourgault partnered with local growers here to thoroughly test their seeder prototypes in as many different conditions as possible. They covered over 4,000ha during testing to ensure the seeders stood up to real-world conditions.
Bourgault also released the 3820 ParaLink Coulter Drill™ In 2019 to provide growers with improved germination and seed placement.
Current Bourgault model range
Bourgault currently produces the world’s largest production seeding bar, the 3420 with a 30m (98-ft) sowing width.
Along with the 91300 trailing air-seeder with over a 45,000-litre product capacity, and the L9950 leading air seeder with a 33,000-litre product capacity.
In 2024 Bourgault proudly unveiled its latest innovation in precision seeding, the 4420 Deep Knife Drill™.
The 4420 DKD™ has a new generation frame and an all-new opener with an independent fertiliser knife,
It is optimised for depths of 120 to 165mm (4.7 to 6.5-in) and is designed with its seed closer parallel to the packing wheel for improved seed placement and germination.
See more details on the 4420 Deep Knife Drill™ on this link.
In today’s farming market, Bourgault is a world-class company, providing leading air carts, drills, seeders, and tillage implements across the globe.
There is a reason why Bourgault air-seeders and cultivators are different from others on the market.
Over the past 50 years, Bourgault has proudly improved and provided industry-leading seeding equipment.
From cultivators to air carts and hoe drills, Bourgault’s history is founded on overcoming real seeding challenges, specifically in the harsh, rocky and frozen soil of Canada.
But Bourgault’s innovation didn’t stop there.
Bourgault Industries remains committed to driving agricultural excellence, enabling growers to experience unmatched precision, efficiency, and adaptability in their seeding operations.
Bourgault Australia prides itself on listening and partnering with local growers to develop equipment purpose-built for our local conditions.
To learn more about the Bourgault Australia product line, see more here, or contact your local dealer on this link.
Bourgault is celebrating 50 years of seeding innovations and improvements – during that time the company has been a major influence on the further development of seeding bars cultivators and air carts since 1974
BOURGAULT MODEL LINE
Seeders Cultivators Air-carts
● FMS CD & HD FMS. 6 to 9m (19.7 – 29.5ft)
○ CD848-6/8/9
○ CD872-6/8/9
○ HD848-6/8/9
○ HD872-6/8/9
● ParaLink Hoe Drill 3330 & 3335. 9 to 26m (30 – 86ft)
○ 3330-30/40/50/60/66/76/80/86
○ 3335-40/50/60/66/76/80/86
● ParaLink Coulter Drill 3720 & 3820. 9 to 21m (30 – 70ft)
○ 3720-30/40/50/60/70
○ 3820-30/40/50/60/70
● 8910 Cultivator 9 to 21m (30ft – 70ft)
○ 8910-35/48/54/70
● Deep Knife Drill 4420. 12 to 18m (39 – 59ft)
○ 4420-12/18
● 8000 Series Air Carts 12,000 to 19,000-litres
○ 8350/L8350
○ 8450/L8450
○ 8550/L8550
● 9000 I Series Air Cart 23,000 to 45,000-litres
○ 9650/L9650
○ 9950/L9950
○ 91300
Catch Industry Leader profiles throughout the 40th year of AFDJ bringing news events to the industry From the very start of AFDJ in 1984 we have worked with industry leaders to bring the world best product ranges to local farmers, including Bougault Australia.