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A WORKSHOP expansion at Larwoods Ag Services, Maitland, means the dealership can now offer fast turnaround times on services and repairs to farm machinery for its clients on central and southern Yorke Peninsula.

Dealer principal Scott Mercer said the workshop had been extended to incorporate a former outdoor area, increasing the total workshop area to 400 square metres.

He said the expansion of locked area under cover means fewer items of machinery need to be taken to the Larwoods premises at Kadina, enabling the work to be completed within shorter time frames.

“If you’re farming at Corny Point and you have a combine harvester that needs work, it makes a big difference if you only have to take it into Maitland, rather than Kadina, and you can pick it up from Maitland,” he said.

To cater for the extra throughput, the number of technicians based at Maitland has increased from one to three, with final year service technician apprentice Ned Rontaunay and technical Cameron Doak recently joining incumbent technician Joe Rice.

The extra technicians and extended workshop also mean one of the eight Larwoods apprentices can also work at Maitland.

The company’s apprentices take part in the East Farm Machinery Group Academy course, and undertake study blocks at Wagga Wagga TAFE, in addition to learning on the job at Larwoods.

Spare parts interpreter John Holman will continue to provide the spare parts service.

Mr Mercer said the Maitland expansion was a reflection of Larwood’s commitment to YP.

“We have invested in our premises at Maitland because we want to give back to our valued customers,” he said.

“We want them to know we are in the grain growing business with them.

“Yorke Peninsula is one of the premier grain growing regions in Australia and we have expanded our workshop capacity at Maitland to meet the needs of our valued clients.”

Larwoods Ag Services was established in 1971 by Bill Larwood; the business has grown to now employ 34 staff in Kadina and Maitland. 

In May, Larwoods Ag Services was awarded the 2023 Case IH ANZ Dealer of the Year in the one -to- two branch category, reinforcing its position as one of Australia’s leading agricultural machinery dealerships.

The business also had top-three finishes in the ANZ Case IH CNH Capital Dealer of the Year, and the Case IH Parts and Services Dealer of the Year categories.

Full automation for best grain results

A RANGE of combine harvesters which offer full automation of harvest settings are among the most sought-after machinery sold by Larwoods Ag Services at its Maitland and Kadina branches.

The Case IH 250 range features Single Axial-Flow rotor design and Harvest Command automation technology, which utilises 16 sensors to continually adjust the set-up of the combine harvester as it moves through the paddock.

Dealer principal Scott Mercer said the 7250, 8250 and 9250 models were the most popular in the range and had been bought by many of the firm’s long-term customers on Yorke Peninsula.

“The reason the range is so popular is simple: it is so gentle on the grain and allows for all crop types to be harvested — wheat, barley, lentils, canola, peas and beans. 

“The gentle thrashing of the system allows for quality product to be taken to the silos — it doesn’t skin it, crack it or damage it in any way.

“Gentle grain-on-grain threshing is the hallmark of the Axial-Flow design. 

“From feeding to cleaning, the entire system is designed to minimise grain damage.

“Thorough threshing and efficient separation puts more grain in the tank and more profits in your pocket.

“Harvest Command uses light emitting camera sensors to change the set up of the combine harvester as it moves through the paddock. 

“The changes are being made in real time as the crop is flowing past the sensors.

“Growers no longer need a trained combine operator to drive the combine — someone with minimal experience can do a good job.”

Mr Mercer said Case IH Axial-Flow combines were ideal for YP’s highly productive grain growing properties.

“They are built for the challenges associated with high-yielding crops, climate change, and the need to become ever more efficient,” he said.

“The 250 Series meets the demands of large modern farms and contracting businesses by providing high-speed harvesting, increased threshing capability even under the most challenging conditions, and delivery of unbeatable grain quality.
“Their feeder, rotors, grain tanks, unloading systems and automatic adjustments are designed to handle large grain throughput and ease your harvest.”

The Harvest Command sensors automatically adjust seven combine settings: rotor cage vane angle, rotor speed, pre-sieve opening, top and bottom sieve opening, fan speed, and ground speed. 

“Operators can choose from four modes to match their harvesting goals — performance mode, maximum through, maximum throughput or fixed throughput. 

“Each automation mode prioritises different harvest outcomes, from grain quality to throughput and continually optimises based on the limits set by the operator.

“From there, AFS harvest command takes over — all the operator has to do is monitor key settings on the screen.”

Supply chains open up for ag machinery

MACHINERY supply chain shortages are easing, and that’s good news for grain growers wanting to buy both new and second-hand equipment, says Larwoods Ag Services dealer principal Scott Mercer.

He said after years of shortages caused by shutdowns and lockdowns during the Covid pandemic, manufacturers had caught up on the backlog.

“During Covid, we had to forward order so far in advance but now all the orders are filtering through,” Mr Mercer said.

“We have got new stock arriving at our Kadina and Maitland branches all the time,” Mr Mercer said.

“We have pretty well got our stock levels higher than they were pre-pandemic.

“It has a flow-on effect, because it suits new buyers, but it also brings second-hand machinery back into the market.

“We can do trade-ins on new and used machinery or people can sell it themselves.

“If customers want something for this harvest, we should be able to get it in for them, if they order soon.

“We have got a full range of Case IH tractors, from 25 horsepower to 600 plus horsepower and their full range of combine harvesters.

“We have got Patriot sprayers coming in as well, plus Macdon Flexdraper fronts, windrow pickups, Agrispread fertiliser spreaders, Haulmaster 41 tonne chaser bins, rock pickers and air seeders.”

Larwoods sell, service and repair all Case IH equipment and stock a full range of spare parts.

Other brands stocked include Horwood Bagshaw, Merlo, Agrispread, Grizzly, K-line, Challenger, MacDon, Seed Terminator, Morris, Auscot, Highline and Equaliser.

Larwoods sell and service tractors, equipment for grain harvesting and ground preparation, sprayers, hay equipment, telehandlers, seeders and planters, and spreaders, plus lawn mowers and other garden care products.

They also sell a range of second-hand machinery and vehicles.