Infratec Sofia grain analyser from FOSS Pacific
Infratec Sofia grain analyser
have released the Infratec Sofia, a rugged, simple-to-use and accurate grain analyser that allows farmers to make informed decisions about when to harvest and how best to use the crop.
The ability to assess the quality and characteristics of grain on-farm is becoming increasingly important for farmers as costs associated with harvesting continue to rise.
Improved knowledge about grain will also empower farmers to exploit a de-regulated market by delivering exactly the right product mix for specific product requirements.
Measurements are simple to perform by anyone and results for parameters such as moisture and protein are delivered in around three minutes.
The mobile analyser (240VAC, 12VDC) is designed for operation in harsh Australian conditions. No grinding or sample preparation is required. Current measurement options include moisture and protein for wheat and barley.
The Infratec Sofia is fully aligned and calibrated against the Infratec 1241 analyser that is approved by the Australian government’s National Measurement Institute for use for trade purposes.
Initially, Infratec Sofia is for sale in Australia only. It is distributed through CBH Group in Western Australia and ABB Grain in South Australia and the Eastern states.
Harvesting longer and faster
Assessing whether the crop is dry enough is a critical question during harvest. Starting too early risks rejected loads at receival or costly artificial drying. On the other hand, if farmers wait too long they can waste valuable time, pushing up costs and exposing the crop to the risk of damage from weather events.
With the Infratec Sofia, farmers can accurately determine crop moisture out in the paddock allowing them to start the harvest earlier and to continue longer into the day with confidence. Harvesting is completed in a short time, reducing costs and potential risks.
New business opportunities
Soils and conditions can vary greatly across a paddock, resulting in grain of varying quality. The Infratec Sofia provides a fast, easy way to check the quality of grain before or during harvest. This allows farmers to make critical on-farm grain handling decisions on-the-spot instead of waiting for the receival station to give a verdict.
The grain can be categorised on-farm for optimum profit, for example, with just the right protein content for feed or food use.
Better farm management
Apart from providing information critical to managing the current harvest, the Infratec Sofia also assists with future cropping strategies. All results are stored on a removable memory card, so grain quality data gathered from different areas of the farm can be used, for example, in paddock mapping and other precision farming strategies.
11-Aug-2008