The Future Of Irrigated Farming – Introducing CropX

We believe that this is the most significant advancement in irrigation technology in the past 20 years. Moisture sensing probes combined with cloud-based software that provides optimised insights as to when and how much you should be watering your crop. Experienced Australian growers have reported yield increases of 9% at the same time as a water saving of 5%.

A large number of factors are continually monitored and processed to allow you make informed watering decisions based around the follow variable factors:

• • Weather, local weather station monitoring with 7-day forecast. Rain, wind, temperature and ET measurements.
  • Aerial imagery – regular satellite monitoring of crop health (NVDI)
  • Topographical mapping.

• Soil mapping.
• Hydraulic modelling, the CropX probe learns your soil type over time to help predict moisture movement.
• Crop models – CropX uses many crop models in order to learn and understand the behaviour of its supported crops from all the relevant aspects – water uptake, growth stages, nutrient uptake, water and salinity stresses and more. Our machine learning algorithms constantly adapt these models to the actual growth of the supported crops, thus refining these models continuously. Currently supported crops include:
  • Sweet Potato, Wheat, Sugar Cane, Cotton, Maize, Soy, Sunflower, Peas, Quinoa, Green Beans, Carrot, Sugar Beet, Tef, Sorghum, Tomato, Rice, Corn, Barley, Potato, Winter Wheat, Onion, Canola, Lucerne and Grass Lands, with additional 20 crop types and varieties currently in the pipeline.
• Irrigation capacity – Information relating to your specific pivot length and capacity is uploaded in the software to help provide specific recommendations direct to you.
• The probes monitor moisture, EC levels and temperature on a continual basis. Probes are available in 46cm and 90 cm lengths. Simple installation.

Upton Engineering are stockists and suppliers of CropX probes.

For more information, please call to discuss or visit cropx.com.

Office – 02 60 331 844 | Adam – 0448 873 518 | Paul – 0417 459 180

 

Download Brochure

Only 50 tickets available.

Corowa Cougars Rugby League Football club – Major fundraiser 2021

40 hectare- 100 acre centre pivot irrigator*

• Details – Quality, genuine Pierce Corporation pivot irrigator. 354m radius. Galvanised steel, all 6 5/8” pipe. 6 x 56m spans and 18m overhang. Senninger I-wob low pressure sprinkler pack to suit 13mm application per day. Genuine UMC gearboxes. Basic control panel. 14.9×24 wheels and tyres.
• Exclusions – Concrete anchor pad. Water mainline connection. Power supply. Delivery outside 500 klm radius of Corowa will incur additional charge.
• Optional extras – Diesel genset, poly lined spans, boosted end guns, smart control panel upgrades for remote applications. Tyre and sprinkler pack upgrades.
• *Prize can be substituted for other centre pivot or linear move irrigation goods services to the valve of $100,000 inclusive of GST

Only 50 tickets available at $3000 each – 1 in 10 chance to get your money back.

Other prizes –

• 3 prizes of $5000 cash
• 1 prize of $3000 cash

To secure your ticket, expressions of interest to Daniel 0448 851 139

Short and simple. A 100 acre centre pivot for $75,000. For a limited time only.

Bring your trucks, bring your trailers, limited stock at this price but available now for immediate delivery.

Details- Quality, genuine Pierce Corporation pivot irrigator. 354m radius. Galvanised steel, all 6 5/8” pipe. 6 x 56m spans and 18m overhang. Senninger I-wob low pressure sprinkler pack to suit 13mm application per day. Genuine UMC gearboxes. Basic control panel. 14.9×24 wheels and tyres.

Price- $75,000+GST ex factory Corowa NSW.

Exclusions- Delivery, installation.

Optional extras- Diesel genset, poly lined spans, boosted end guns, smart control panel upgrades for remote applications. Tyre and sprinkler pack upgrades.

If you are considering a new centre pivot or linear move irrigation system, then give us a call today to discuss your needs. We can even customise a finance or rental package tailored to your requirements.

Paul Upton 0417 459 180

Glenn Menhenett 0418 366 364

Gerry Savage 0427 075 547

Just a quick update. With continued rain across the eastern states this winter growing season, there is good reason to see farmers smiling. The BOM has predicted the likely formation of a “La Nina” which favours above average winter-spring rainfall across eastern, central and northern Australia.

The government has also extended the $150,000 instant asset write off until the end of December so its certainly looking like now is time to invest in a quality irrigation system.

We are well stocked with both galvanised steel machines as well as our Australian made corrosion resistant aluminium piped centre pivots. Our factory remains in full production with pivots still being delivered to all parts of the country weekly.

Our Australian made centre pivots are designed from the ground up to be the most cost effective pivot irrigators available in the world. How do we do that? We make them last longer. In harsh water conditions our systems will last more than twice as long a regular galvanised steel system. Our aluminium pipe is special produced for us in Brisbane QLD and is a heavy walled, high tensile, heat treated, corrosion resistant pipe. This grade of aluminium is normally used in the boat building industry for off shore vessels. We produce this pipe in 5″, 6″, 8″ and 10″ sizes so we can produce a centre pivot or linear move system to suit almost any job.

If you are considering a new centre pivot or linear move irrigation system, then give us a call today to discuss your needs. We can even customise a finance or rental package tailored to your requirements.

Paul Upton 0417 459 180
Glenn Menhenett 0418 366 364
Gerry Savage 0427 075 547

Is this what your $150,000 tax write-off looks like this year?

Summary- The Government is increasing the instant asset write-off (IAWO) threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expanding access to include all businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020. In 2017-18 there were more than 360,000 businesses that benefited from the current IAWO, claiming deductions to the value of over $4 billion.

The IAWO threshold- The higher IAWO threshold provides cash flow benefits for businesses that will be able to immediately deduct purchases of eligible assets each costing less than $150,000. The threshold applies on a per asset basis, so eligible businesses can immediately write-off multiple assets. The IAWO is due to revert to $1,000 for small businesses (turnover less than $10 million) from 1 July 2020.

Eligibility- The Government is expanding access so that more businesses can take advantage of the IAWO. The annual turnover threshold for businesses is increasing from $50 million to $500 million. Expanding the threshold will mean an additional 5,300 businesses who employ around 1.9 million Australians will be able to access the IAWO for the first time.

Timing- This proposal applies from announcement until 30 June 2020, for new or second-hand assets first used or installed ready for use in this timeframe.

Call now to secure your new centre pivot irrigator- Glenn 0418 366 364, Gerry 0427 075 547 or Paul 0417 459 180.

Upton Engineering has recently been appointed as a dealer for Fieldwise technology from the USA.

Fieldwise is an automation and control system for all aspects of farm irrigation systems.

Monitor and control centre pivots, pumps, water tank levels and moisture probes all from a simple smart phone app or home computer. By alerted to possible issues by text message or email. Powerful reporting features assist in managing water planning for the future. Save thousands of dollars per year by eliminating excessive travel and labour costs. Save precious water resources by eliminating over application of water and fertiliser.

For dealer enquires or more information, call us on 02 6033 1844 or send an enquiry.

Now that grain harvest and Christmas celebrations are done we can settle back into the daily grind.

2017 has come and gone and it turned out to be the biggest year ever for our Australian made centre pivots with more than 50 machines being delivered to all parts of the country. This further cements that fact that our customers are demanding Australian made products of superior quality. For us this means more staff including 2 additional apprentices. An extension to our factory for increased manufacturing space, and more warehouse room for increased levels of spare parts. We have parts and spares for most makes of pivot irrigators so if you have a requirement for wheels, tyres, gearboxes and electrical components then contact our office for some of the sharpest prices in the country.

Early 2018 will also see the launch of our new Australian made pivot control panel. Features of this unit will be a full stainless steel cabinet, digital screen with water proof touch panel and wireless connection to water flow meter and pressure sensor. The advanced option will allow a full array of programming options and GPS positioning technology. A simple to use phone app will allow you to check all pivot operating parameters at the touch of a button.

We would also like to welcome Simon Hepworth to the team. Simon and his family have recently moved back to the area from a WA beef and irrigation property. A qualified diesel mechanic, Simon will be now heading up centre pivot servicing and programmed maintenance for us. Speak to our office to get your pivot booked in for grease and oil and a 12 point safety check.
Best wishes and a prosperous new year to all. Thanks for reading.

With an identified preference for consumers and businesses to seek out products that are locally made and supported, Upton Engineering is delighted to announce that we have been granted the right to use the identification of “Australian Made and Owned” on our principal products.

This will be identified by appropriate labels on our Upton centre pivot and linear move irrigators, and on our Irriturf race track irrigators.

The Australian Made campaign has been running for many years and continues to receive a high recall factor in domestic market surveys.

The triangular green and gold logo indicates that products and materials are sourced locally as far as possible.
It also indicates that businesses and products employing the logo support their local communities by providing employment and participation opportunities.

The Australian Made logo has also been shown to have a high recognition factor in export markets indicating a product of quality.

 

How much money did your centre pivot irrigator burn last year?

People who know me well know that I love science. Maths and physics in particular. Let’s look at a few facts of physics. I will keep it simple (or, how to save you money the easy way).

Power usage of a pump is derived by a formula that involves the following parameters- Volume of water flow. Operating pressure at the pump and the efficiency of the pump being used. In basic terms, if we double the operating pressure we double the power requirement. If we double the flow, we also double the power requirement.

Whether you are using diesel or electricity the fact remains that power is money! There is always continuing advancements in both pump efficiency and pivot sprinkler head technology.

If your irrigation system is 10 years old or more there is a very good chance that your existing pump is worn and your out of date pivot sprinkler package is costing you money instead of making it for you. A ‘typical’ 400m long pivot irrigator running on a diesel pump for 2000 hrs per year can have a fuel cost of $20-25,000 per year. Wouldn’t you like to reduce that cost by 10-20% ? Savings could be upwards of $50,000 over the next 10 years, per pivot irrigator.

Improving pump efficiency and lowering pump operating pressure will reduce your overall operating costs. I am constantly surprised when I hear of people installing a new pivot system who do not know what their expected operating costs will be. This is a sure sign of an inexperienced irrigation company or sales person. People’s excuses will often be- ‘I got a really good deal’ or- ‘The guy gave me a cheap price on the whole package’.

Purchase price has nothing to do operating costs. The operating cost over 10+ years is where your money is going to be either made or lost. Purchase poorly and it will cost you forever.

Step 1 is accurately knowing what your current power consumption is. If you do not know what your pumping cost is then make it a priority today. It’s never too late to look at money saving changes. Most people work on a value of $ per ML pumped.

Step 2 is to contact us to discuss how much money we can save you going forward.
(feel free to use our contact form or call Glenn on 0418 366 364)

Also, if you haven’t done it yet, download our free Linear Move Irrigation Brochure.

Thanks for reading,

Paul Upton

How much is fertilizer application really costing you?

Fertilizer and trace element application is generally done by one of two methods- Dry spreading or injecting into the water stream of your pivot irrigator. To make a real comparison between the 2 methods simply write down a list of all cost inputs to apply each method.

Dry application needs a tractor with spreader or a purpose built machine. Both options accumulate hours and general wear and tear on the machinery. Fuel usage and labour input by a skilled operator is also a considerable cost. Dry application is usually done when planting and maybe a couple times at the beginning of the crop cycle.

In the case of taller crops like corn or sorghum, fertilizer application later in the crop cycle can become increasingly difficult without specialised and expensive machinery. Injection into your centre pivot allows precision application when the crop needs it most without over or under application.

Fertilizers can be supplied as a bulk liquid or a small mixing/batch tank can be located next to the pivot centre to process dry chemicals. Mixing dry product can be a cost effective option when delivery costs are factored into remote locations. Fully adjustable injections pumps can be set to inject the required dosage per hectare and is applied during the normal watering cycle. Often overnight whilst you are sleeping.

If you are interested in saving time and money talk to Upton Engineering about our new fertilizer injection kits. We can supply mobile kits for easy transport between site or a more permanent on-site package for pivots with large hectare coverage. Don’t forget to keep records of all your inputs and compare yields between the different fertilizer application methods. Higher profits will only come from greater yields combined with lower inputs.

If you haven’t done it yet, download our free report on the ten most common mistakes people make with centre pivot irrigation.

Thanks for reading,

Paul Upton