New shoes

As you can see in our pictures, our Agrotron has new tyres. The tire choice was easy because Mitas had offered a really good deal what, together with the quality of these tyres, which is one of the best in the market, left us no other option. We chosen the Mitas AC70T Series of radial tyres, covering a power range from 90hp to 200hp tractors. In our case it was the AC70T 520/70 R38, with speed and load index 150 B (148 B), which is able to move at 50km/h with a maximum load of 3,350kg in each tyre. This model is enough because the maximum weight that our tractor can support on the rear axle is 6,500kg.

The most important features of the Mitas AC70T Series are described below (from here you can see the complete Mitas brochure):

• Traction - Deep lugs (55mm) provide greater traction in the field even with wet field.
• Self-cleaning - Outstanding self-cleaning between lugs reduces slip and improves pulling power.
• Economy - The high durability and excellent traction make this a very economical tyre.
• Versatility - Also suitable for low power tractors as narrow tractors. It covers a power range from 90hp to 200hp.

We would also like to point out some recommendations on agricultural tractors tyres, along with the use of the tools that Mitas offers on its website (right side of the web) to calculate the correct inflation (pressure) and the tyre that best fits your tractor and your needs.

• You have to remember that the tractor to work on fields, such as plowing, must work with the lower possible pressure to ensure traction and prevent slip if they are very inflated.
• When tractor works on road, the inflation should be higher than for traction works.
• Ballasting is important. The weight of the tractor must be distributed in the ratio 40/60 between front and rear axle respectively.
• You have to add counterweights to get a net weight of 50 kg/hp. Slippage working must be between 4 and 10%.
• Our recommendation is you shouldn't use water as ballast. It gets a permanent overweight because nobody puts or removes water when it is needed.
• The water causes the tyres were more rigid and susceptible to breakage. In addition, "to take a walk" with hundreds of kilograms of water permanently it makes diesel consumed unnecessarily steadily.
• The counterweights must be added and removed according to the needs of your works.
• Finally, the choice of tyre for the main tasks is important. For example, if the tractor works with plough within groove with wide tyres and they are wider than the groove they may damage inside and outside of the tyre. In this case a narrower tyre is recommended.

Versión en español.

The first fertilizer task for a new vineyard

A few weeks ago, we showed you how a new vineyard is planted. As we commented, vineyard is a crop that needs a lot of works so many tasks are carried out during a year. This time, we continue to work with new vineyard to do the first fertilizer task after planting.

One of these new vineyards is near our cereal field and we could see as Florencio and his father were working. They were fertilizing with an orgnanic fertilizer (80% organic and a small part of mineral fertilizer 5-4-5). This type of fertilizer has advantages for new vineyards because plants can get it very slowly. They require a special machinery to spread it, which needs to have some pipes of large diameter to avoid obstructions (the dose used is about 2,000kg/ha). We used this type of fertilizer, e. g., for garlic before planting them.

On the other hand, if you use this dose, you will have a lot of big bags so transporting tasks will be complex. In the end, almost all farmers choose manure because spreading work is easier. If it doesn't rain, they will have to irrigate after spreading this organic fertilizer (it is pellet format) to begin its dissolving under ground.

Finally, farmers have to be careful with its storage because it has an intense smell and if it is wet it will begin to be compacted and farmers would have an important problem to spread it.

Versión en Español.

FERCAM 2016. 56th edition

FERCAM (the National Farm Fair that is anually held in Manzanares - Ciudad Real) closed the doors of its 56th edition. The fairgrounds of 120,000 s.q.m was filled thanks yo the 184 exhibitors, they were mostly farming machinery, irrigation and food industry, along with cars and trucks, public works and renewable energy. The exposed machinery are valued over €31 million and the organization of farm fair waited a large amount of public because 175,000 invitations were distributed. In our opion, the farm fair is one of the most important in Spain and specially in South Central of Spain... definitely, we recommend  visiting this fantastic show.

This edition had a special attraction for us, becuase our friend Jorge Jaramillo invited us to see how they cast a radio program called "A pie de Campo" which is broadcasted on Saturday mornings and this time it was casted from farm fair (you can listen it from here)... it was a great experience for us. Jorge Jaramillo has became a benchmark for farmers in Castilla-La Mancha since his TV program called "El campo" and his radio program "A pie de campo" are broadcasted offering detailed information. Information that all  farmers have to take into account for their farms regarding negotioations with administration, product prices, CAP, etc, etc, etc.

Versión en español.

Video:

Pictures: