Agriculture
- (a) What are the specifications of the tractor that will be purchased for the Elsenburg Research Farm in the 2019/20 financial year and (b) how will this tractor be utilised on the Elsenburg Research Farm;
- whether this tractor is a replacement for an existing tractor; if so, what are the specifications of the existing tractor;
- (a) what make and model is the harvester that was purchased by his Department, (b) on what date was the harvester delivered to his Department, (c) how many hours has the harvester worked since its arrival, (d) how many tons of crops have been harvested by this harvester during its first harvesting season and (e) how was the crop harvested before the acquisition of this harvester?
- (a)
Drive Type | 4 X 4 |
ENGINE | |
Number of Cylinders | Minimum of 4, preferably 6 |
Rated Speed (rpm) | Minimum rated speed of 2200 |
Rated Max. power ISO (kw) | Minimum engine power of 98 |
ISO Max. Torque (Nm) | Minimum of 550 – 650 |
Displacement (cm3) | Minimum of 6120 |
Aspiration | Turbo, Intercooled |
Fuel Tank Capacity (lt) | Minimum of 190 |
TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH UNIT & POWER TAKE OFF | |
Hydraulic Forward & Reverse Shuttle | Electro (Wet clutch) |
Power shifts per gear | At least 3 |
PTO: Electro Hydraulic Engagement | At least 2 speeds; 540/1000 (rpm) |
HYDRAULIC POWER LIFT | |
Electro Hydraulic Hitch | Standard |
Lift Capacity with 2 cylinders (kg) | Minimum of 5800 kg |
Hydraulic Pump Delivery (lt/min) | At least 80 |
Auxiliary Hydraulic Valves | At least 3 |
Open/Closed Centre Remote Valves | At least 1 Valve with Flow Control |
Standard Tyre Size (Front) | 420 / 70 R24 or 420 / 70 R28 |
Standard Tyre Size (Rear) | 520 / 70 R38 |
Steering system Type | Hydrostatic Power Steering |
CAB | Factory-fitted with Air Conditioner |
1 (b) The tractor will be used in farm activities supporting the research programme. This will include, for example planting, spraying, preparing of bales and spreading of fertiliser, etc.
2. Yes, replacement of tractor with similar specifications. The average age of the tractor fleet is 30 – 40 years.
3. (a) HALDRUP C-60 - K34255 Small Plot Harvester, imported from Germany.
(b) 21 October 2019. It should be noted that the procurement process was delayed by months as there was no provision made at Provincial Treasury for government guarantees for the importation of research equipment.
(c) The harvester has not been operational. The harvesting season was very early this year, in some regions up to a month earlier, so by the delivery date after the delayed process, most of the harvesting was concluded. Furthermore, the start-up of the machine (some parts were delivered packed separately and not fixed to the harvester and have to be installed by the company) had to be postponed until the technicians could come out from Germany. Due to the procurement delay, they could not find a date in their schedule before the closing of their factory for the festive season, so it was arranged that they come out mid-January 2020 to commission and also to do the required training for our technicians in time for the 2020 harvesting season.
(d) None, for the same reason as indicated above. “The crop” is not normal crop fields, but small plot research trials of various research projects on sites from Eendekuil in the north through the Swartland and Rûens, towards the east up to Riversdale.
(e) Before, the plots have been harvested with two similar, but very old small plot harvesters (a Wintersteiger and a Hege) that has cost around R100 000 in maintenance over the last two seasons, breaking down frequently when harvesting trials, with current repairs estimated at at least R80 000. These small plot harvesters are the backbone of our data collection in all our small plot trials throughout the province, trials that are well funded by industry as well.
