Bulletin 4607 ISSN 1448-0352 FEB 2004 Tramline Farming Systems Technical manual 91 Bulletin 4607 ISSN 1448-0352 FEB 2004 Tramline Farming Systems: Technical Manual Compiled by Bindi Webb, Paul Blackwell, Glen Riethmuller and Jeremy Lemon, Department of Agriculture Western Austalia, GRDC Project DAW 718. © State of Western Australia 2004. DISCLAIMER 1. The information, representations and statements contained in this publication are provided for general information purposes only. 2. The State of Western Australia, the Minister for Agriculture, the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and their respective officers, employees and agents: a) do not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness or currency of the information, representations or statements in this publication; b) shall not be liable, in negligence or otherwise, to any person for any loss, liability, damage, personal injury or death arising out of any act or failure to act by any person in using or relying on any information, representation or statement contained in this publication. 3.a) The State of Western Australia, the Minister for Agriculture, the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and their respective officers, employees and agents do not endorse or recommend any product specified in this publication or any manufacturer of a Specified Product. Brand, trade and proprietary names have been used solely for the purpose of assisting users of this publication to identify products. 4. This publication has been designed for use by competent farming industry practitioners. 5. Users of this publication should obtain independent advice and conduct their own investigations and assessments of any proposals that they may be considering in light of their particular circumstances. 1 2 Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge all the farmers input. Thanks to Rudi Bartels of BEELINE and others who have participated in this Technologies for guidance system research including Dan and Tony Critch, Miles terminology. Thank you to the Grains Obst, Kevin Thomas, Rohan Ford, Nigel and Research and Development Corporation and Don Moffat, Paddy Barber, Glenn and Tony the Department of Agriculture for funding this Fretwell and the Liebe Group for the provision project DAW 718 ‘The development of tramline of trial sites. Thank you to Mike Collins, Peter farming for Western Australian cropping’ and Newman, Greg Hamilton, Peter Walsh, Bill the Sustainable Energy Development Office Crabtree, Wayne Chapman, Don Yule, Stewart (SEDO) of the Department of Energy of Cannon and Jeff Tullberg for your valued Western Australia for funding C359M SEDO. 3 Contents 1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 9 2.0 Tramline farming decision tree.................................................................................................10 3. 0 Summary of tramline farming definitions..........................................................................11 3.1 Definitions.............................................................................................................................11 3.2 Benefits..................................................................................................................................11 3.3 Estimated costs.........................................................................................................................11 4.0 Setting priorities.........................................................................................................................12 5.0 What direction?.........................................................................................................................15 5.1 Up and back...........................................................................................................................15 5.2 Round and round.........................................................................................................................16 6.0 Guidance systems.........................................................................................................................19 6.1 Marker arms..........................................................................................................................19 6.2 Video guidance.........................................................................................................................19 6.3 Electronic GPS guidance.............................................................................................................19 6.4 Post seeding guidance...............................................................................................................21 6.5 Guidance terminology..................................................................................................................21 7.0 Machinery matching...................................................................................................................26 7.1 Why in match the harvester?...................................................................................................26 7.2 Matching machinery widths......................................................................................................26 7.3 Matching machinery tracks...................................................................................................28 7.4 Machinery modification options.................................................................................................29 8.0 Tramline design.........................................................................................................................37 8.1 Bare........................................................................................................................................37 8.2 Fuzzy......................................................................................................................................37 8.3 Sown......................................................................................................................................38 8.4 Furry tramlines.....................................................................................................................38 8.5 Tramline maintenance...........................................................................................................39 9.0 Layout Planning..........................................................................................................................43 9.1 Length of run.........................................................................................................................43 9.2 Access roads...........................................................................................................................43 9.3 Tramline orientation.............................................................................................................43 9.4 Surface water control.............................................................................................................44 10.0 Agronomic opportunities.........................................................................................................49 10.1 Easier stubble handling...........................................................................................................49 4 10.2 Old furrow sowing......................................................................................................................49 10.3 Shielded spraying................................................................................................................49 10.4 Relay planting.........................................................................................................................53 11.0 Tramline farming case studies...............................................................................................57 11.1 Getting started.........................................................................................................................57 Case study 1: Darren Baum..........................................................................................................57 Case study 2: The Logues and Porters.................................................................................58 11.2 Consolidating the system......................................................................................................60 Case study 3: John and Caroline Young......................................................................................60 Case study 4: Tom and Denise, David and Joanna Lewis............................................................61 Case study 5: Colin and Fiona Pither..........................................................................................62 Case study 6: Paddy and Sharon Barber......................................................................................63 Case study 7: Lindsay and Karen Chappel...................................................................................64 Case study 8: Geoffrey and Vivienne Marshall............................................................................65 Case study 9: Miles and Aiden Obst..........................................................................................66 11.3 Fully matched system...........................................................................................................67 Case study 10: Harold and Jo, Glenn and