By Tisha Steyn

The emerald green 380 ha established pastures of Oakhurst Dairies hits the eye between the Outeniqua mountain range and the sea. Altogether 125 ha is under central pivot irrigation from two ponds fed by mountain streams. The rest constitutes dryland, which shimmers in the same emerald green as a result of an average annual rainfall of 780 mm.

This is where Jake Crowther farms since 2003 with his Jersey dairy herd. Of the 1 200 cows 800 are in lactation and deliver approximately 14 000 litres high quality milk per day to Parmalat. The Jerseys share the rye grass and Kikuyu grazing with a closed Black Angus stud.

“The ideal dairy farm is a restful area with a minimum of ambient noise and activity and, because the Kubotas work at a hardly discernable whispering noise level – an absence of the expected roar and gear grinding of normal farming machinery – and this peaceful environment is easily ensured,” says Jake. “Simultaneously it enhances undisturbed and restful relaxation for our guests in the holiday accommodation”.

Oakhurst bought its first Kubota in September last year and in March this year their second machine. It came about as follows: “Our aged big tractor was in the Carlu Tractors workshop for repairs and Iando lent us a Kubota M9540 DTH tractor to tide us over in the meantime,” says Jake. “We were so impressed by the tractor’s performance that we informed Iando three days later we would not return the Kubota.”

In March this year Oakhurst traded in two old, smaller tractors on a Kubota M130X and since then all the work on the farm is done by the two Kubotas. On the morning of ProAgri’s visit to the farm the two tractors were loading silage. André Appels, in the dust and soundproof cabin of the M130X, was picking up silage with the front-end loader for transfer to a 16 cubic meter fodder wagon. It is only a pleasure to watch the MX130 at work. With a 5 m turning radius it revolves on the proverbial tickey. “Every Kubota has an optional front-end loader designed for the specific model”, explains Iando.

Jake Crowther, owner of Oakhurst, and the farm manager, Alister Winfie.

When the wagon is full Ben Slinger starts the M9540 DTH and, with the hydraulic clutch, which automatically selects the correct gear for each task and circumstance, the tractor easily hauls the heavy fodder wagon to the feeding troughs without any wheelslip. The two Kubotas also easily tow the big compost spreader and mower, a no-till planter for seeding and, to crown it all, the implements required for road maintenance.

There are more characteristics that make farming easier – lower fuel consumption as a result of precision fuel injection and easier handling enabled by the small turning radius. With the advanced electronic system of the M130X it is possible to pre-set or limit the revolutions of the four cylinder 6.1 litre diesel engine resulting in continuous and accurate work performance. Without nose and wheel weights the tractor weighs 4390 kg and its 3-point hitch can pick up 5 800 kg. The M9540 weighs 2 500 kg and can lift 3 900 kg. “The fact that the tractors are relatively light cause less soil compaction,” says Allister Winfie, farm manager.

The M130X delivers 84 kW (the M9540 62,7 kW) on the power take-off (pto), which keeps revolutions at a constant level regardless of whether the tractor is idling or moving. The most important advantage of four wheel drive M130X is the 8-speed, semi-automatic gear change with 16 forward and 16 reverse gears and a multi-plate wet disc clutch. The Kubota also boasts with direct injection and a turbocharger with intercooling. The M9540 has a normal six speed synchronised gearbox with twelve forward and twelve reverse gears. Carlu Tractors, in Montagu Street, Blanco, is the supplier of the bright orange Kubota tractors and implements in the Southern Cape. “The success of Carlu Tractors depends on service delivery: With us clients become friends,” says Iando.

Contact Iando Minnie (cell 082-822-3132) or landline 044-870-7660, or send an e-mail message to iando@carlutrekkers.co.za for further information.

The Kubota M130X tows the no-tillage planter effortlessly.