Two T-L hydraulic fixed six span pivots with precision point control and planetary gearboxes have added abundant feed for a SA livestock producer
Cortina Pastoral is boosting the productivity and return on investment (ROI) for its 1200ha Greenways SA Limestone Coast property by installing an irrigation project with multiple present-day and future benefits.
The predominantly beef and sheep property owned by Cortina Pastoral principal Richard Gould has successfully installed two low-maintenance hydraulically driven six-span centre pivot irrigators, to grow lucerne for stock feed.
The two identical T-L pivots and diesel pump sets using American-made Vertiline pump and column pipe, each covering a 32ha surface area, have just enabled a 2023 summer crop to be grown and provide a feed resource that will enable the property to optimise land and stock management to take advantage of favourable market prices.
Increasing land value has caused forward thinking farmers such as Richard Gould to look at opportunities to do more with their well-run properties to optimise returns in the good times and to provide more control when dryer conditions strike.
The benefits of cost and water efficient irrigation schemes are both immediate and longer-term, in terms of animal and resource management – and this is something that could become even more important in some areas as The Bureau has issued a warning we may be moving from a wet La Nina to dryer El Nino weather pattern.
The Cortina Pastoral pivot project uses T-L planetary hydraulic drive systems of a type extensively proven in broad-acre farming in their native US and in more than 1000 T-L brand systems installed here in the past 40 years.
Hydraulic systems are energy saving, as compared to electrical systems, as they employ hydraulic technology that is already very familiar to farmers. Hydraulics are in all their fixed and mobile plant. So, they don’t usually have to call out a specialist electrician or other tradesman each time something needs maintenance, which can be a money-saver.
The system installed by Cortina Pastoral at Greenways SA includes:
- Two bores in an area with a limited drilling/bore history
- Two diesel turbine pump sets designed to achieve 44 L/S at 42 M/Head
- 4-cylinder John Deere 4045D engine
- Amarillo S40AB gearbox on a Vertiline 150mm (6-inch) discharge head
- Vertiline 8” 2-stage turbine pump set on 24 metres of 150mm (6-inch) column
- Two concrete pump pads and 2 concrete pivot pads
- Two Zincalume pump sheds
- Two 6000-litre fuel tanks
- Two T-L hydraulic fixed 6-span Pivots with Precision Point Control and planetary gearboxes.
Hydrostatically powered T-L systems are designed to deliver continuous movement, and this means gearbox wear is drastically reduced due to the absence of an electrically driven system’s stop-start operation.
In addition, water and fertilisers are evenly distributed over the crop. T-L systems deliver the best, most consistent water pattern available.
Another plus for the T-L irrigation system chosen for the Greenways operation is that it’s inherently safe to use and maintain, because its driven hydraulically, with no need for high-voltage power.
The most power utilised in T-L systems is 24 volts to run some of the control system options. Because they do not rely on 415 to 480 volts of electricity drive systems, this has the additional benefit of not being affected by lightning strikes.
T-L systems can provide irrigation and water management solutions to dairy farms, paddocks, broadacre crops and horticulture crops across Australia. And as the world’s driest inhabited continent, irrigation is vital for the sustainability of our water and food supply and the long-term sustainability of our export market.
