FOSS introduces portable grain analyser

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 analyzer (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.

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. The Infratec is the official
system used for payment by bulk grain handlers across Australia and around the
world. Initially, Infratec Sofia is for sale in Australia only. It is
distributed through CBH Group and ABB.

Harvesting longer

Assessing whether the crop is dry enough is one of the most
critical questions 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 Infratec Sofia, farmers can
accurately determine crop moisture in the paddock allowing them to start the
harvest earlier and to continue longer into the day with confidence. Harvesting
is completed in the shortest possible 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, 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

Related
website:
FOSS