For the Nuske family, farming 3,000 hectares of some of South Australia’s toughest country means having a seeding bar that can handle whatever the paddock throws at it.

Josh Nuske farms with his parents, Stephen and Michelle, and fiancé, Hannah, about 50 kilometres south of Elliston. Their operation includes predominantly canola and barley, along with wheat and faba beans, as well as 2,300 breeding ewes and 30 beef breeders.

Much of their cropping country is calcareous loam and rocky ground, with around 70 per cent of the country containing rock just six inches below the surface.

Built for tough country

After initially starting with a combine seeder before moving to a 10.8-metre Forward Engineering bar and airseeder, the Nuskes decided to invest in a modern precision seeding toolbar.

They chose a 12-metre Equalizer min-till tine seeder, distributed in Australia by Waringa Distribution, with a 6,000-litre Horwood Bagshaw airseeder pulled by a John Deere 9200.

The decision was driven by the need for a strong, precision seeder capable of working deep while handling the rocky conditions.

The results

• 12m (40ft) Equalizer min-till tine seeder with 44 tines spaced at 273mm
• Hydraulic tines with restricted flow for controlled kickback when encountering rocks
• Robust Domex steel tine units and 10mm thick frames designed for demanding conditions
• Quick and easy depth adjustment with nine different depth settings
• Adjustable press wheel pressure from 17–32kg to help improve germination
• Pivoting press wheels suited to the Nuskes' uneven, rocky country
• Narrow transport envelope for easier travel between properties
• Bearing-equipped parallelograms designed to reduce wear compared with bush-mounted systems

Precision seeding with the strength to handle rock

The Nuskes wanted a precision seeder that could handle both small seeds and the challenging conditions of their country. The Equalizer’s hydraulic tines were a key part of the decision.

Josh particularly liked the restricted hydraulic flow, which allows the tines to kick back when they encounter an obstruction and then return slowly rather than slamming back into the ground.

Simple adjustments make a difference

The Equalizer’s spring-loaded depth adjustment clip allows operators to quickly select between nine different depth settings, while the parallel pressure spring provides simple adjustment of press wheel packing pressure.

For the Nuskes, that simplicity is particularly valuable when working across variable country and changing conditions throughout the season.

The narrow transport configuration is another advantage, allowing the machine to travel between properties without becoming excessively wide on the road.

Strong performance in difficult conditions

Despite the challenging rocky conditions, the Equalizer has delivered strong germination results for the Nuskes, particularly with canola.

Josh said they have experienced seasons where conditions remained dry for six weeks, yet the canola established well.

The combination of accurate depth control, pivoting press wheels and a robust parallelogram design has helped the machine perform across their difficult country.

Support that goes beyond the sale

The Nuskes have also been impressed with the ongoing support provided by Equalizer, Waringa Distribution and their local dealer, Nutrien Cummins Ag Services.

Minor improvements have been made to the machine based on their experience in the field, including changes to the parallelogram bolts to prevent the bolt heads from wearing into the washers.

Waringa Distribution has visited the farm each year since the bar was purchased, while an Equalizer representative from South Africa has also visited the operation.

A seeder built for the conditions

For the Nuske family, the Equalizer has provided the strength and precision they need to establish crops across some of the toughest country in South Australia.

With a combination of robust construction, hydraulic tine technology, simple depth adjustment and strong ongoing support, the Equalizer has proven itself capable of handling the rock while still delivering the precision seeding performance the Nuskes were looking for.