The Depth Charger deep ripper from West Australian company Rocks Gone has seen grain growers lining up to place an order at recent live demonstrations.
After a hearty reception in the far west, the firm is now heading to South Australia with the hydraulic roller-integrated unit, the latest invention by founder Tim Pannell.
The Depth Charger can rip the most difficult ground to 700mm (28-in), crushing clods and soft rocks, levelling the ground and leaving a clean slate for seeding.
As Mr Pannell points out, farmers are talking about going a lot deeper with ripping these days, but the problem for many is the condition of the paddock afterwards.
“There are a lot of duplex soils in the Wheatbelt – around 7 million hectares of them – they are very difficult to rip and are prone to come up in slabs,” he said.
“We have built a machine that can get through the country that until now, had been put in the too-hard basket.”
At Ballidu, 217km north of Perth, Mr Pannell explained how the 6m (20ft) model could open up cleaner cropping areas to about 35 locals.
“The Depth Charger can rip where most machines fail, with 1100psi, and no wheels stealing power,” he explained. “The roller is its wheels.”
The 1m tines are designed to avoid inverting the soil, with a clearance of 700mm (28-in), and 1.8-tonnes of breakout force.
Inclusion plates are an option if soil inversion is desired, as well as shallow leading tine options to provide even more breakout.
The roller re-sets the seedbed and does not compact the subsoil. Instead, it reconnects the topsoil to lower lying moisture bed.
Mr Pannell said he has worked the Depth Charger in all kinds of soil types including deep sands, pure laterite and clays.
“It’s breaks down hard clumps and rocks and re-establishes the seed bed, which is so important – if you don’t get good establishment, huge crop potential is lost,” he said.
The Depth Charger is made in Australia, in widths of 3 and 6m (10 and 20ft) with easily changeable parts for different tillage operations.
It has a dual tine set up option to replicate a front leading tine which reduces draft force when ripping 600mm or deeper. Other options include delving plates, inclusion plates and single tines with shin guards.
Talk to inventor Tim Pannell about opening up cleaner cropping ground, call on tel: 08 9288 2993 or mobile 0429 203 039, or email: sales@rocksgone.com.au or view the Depth Charger deep ripper video at: http://rocksgone.com.au/depth-charger
