Väderstad ups its Tempo

CULTIVATION and seeding specialist, Väderstad, has released a 12 metre version of its popular Tempo precision planter. With 32 seeding units and an operating width of 12 metres, the L32 becomes the largest Tempo planter to date. CLAAS Harvest Centre Product Manager – Väderstad, Murray Tuck, says the unit is a perfect fit for controlled traffic farming systems in Australia.

“Tempo is already famous for its ability to achieve outstanding precision at very high operating speeds,” he says.

“A Tempo L set a world record in 2017 by planting 502 hectares of maize in 24 hours – an average working speed of 20 to 22 km/h. This feat was impressive, not just in terms of its scale and speed, but also its accuracy. University researchers identified just 16 skips and 24 doubles in a sample of 6800 plants conducted two months after planting.”

“The new L32 model maintains this accuracy but significantly increases its capacity to 12 metres. The other thing to remember is that Tempo plants by individual seed, which can significantly reduce sowing rates whilst maintaining excellent emergence.”

The seeding units are set on 375 mm (15 inch) row spacings, making them ideal for planting a wide range of winter and summer crops, including cereals, pulses, canola and maize.

“However, every second row of the machine can be hydraulically raised and disengaged, effectively doubling the row spacing,” Murray says. This feature means producers can easily switch from planting canola or soy beans on a 375 mm row spacing to say, planting maize on a 750 mm row spacing.”

The Tempo L32 features a 3000 litre on board seed hopper, but is designed to be used with a trailed air cart. Suitable options include the Seed Hawk 660, which holds up to 23,000 litres of seed and fertiliser in three separate bins.

“This combination will provide enormous capacity for broadacre cropping operations,” Murray says.

Fertiliser can be applied 7 cm beside the seed furrow or with the seed in the furrow.

The Tempo L series is available in a wide range of mounted and trailed models from 3 to 12 m with adjustable row spacing and fertiliser options to suit all planting requirements. An optional small seed kit includes suspended stop wheels to produce an optimal seed-to-soil contact.

In addition, the angle of the closing wheels can be easily adjusted to provide a good closing of the seed trench at shallow planting depth. All models feature Väderstad’s patented ‘PowerShoot’ technology, which controls the delivery of the seed all the way to its placement in the soil, eliminating the effects of gravity, vibrations and slopes. Recent improvements include the addition of optional hydraulic weight transfer and floating row cleaning systems.

“The ability to increase or reduce pressure row units enables the operator to precisely adjust the machine to field conditions, thereby ensuring an even seed depth and uniform crop emergence,” Murray says.

“Likewise, the floating row cleaner adapts to suit field conditions.”

Each row cleaner is mounted on a parallel linkage, enabling it to precisely follow the field surface. The row cleaner is fitted with a self-cleaning rubber wheel, controlling the depth setting of the high quality spiked row cleaner disc.

“With optimised working angles, the floating row cleaners are designed to perfectly match the speed and precision of the Tempo planter,” Murray says.

All functions of the Tempo and any attached implements are controlled using the user-friendly Väderstad E-Control iPad inside the tractor. Tempo can also be equipped with ISOBUS Task Controller, which enables GPS-controlled variable rate application and automatic section control.

Based in Väderstad, Sweden, the family-owned company operates in 40 countries and has a turnover of 335 million euros.