When the blade of an implement cuts through soil like a hot knife through butter, it can make any farmer’s heart beat faster. The Agrico T1250 ripper is such an implement, and farmers were shown how effective it is during the Hoopstad Groen Toer (Green Tour).
Hoopstad Groen Toer brings farmers together
The Groen Toer, hosted by the Hoopstad Agricultural Society, brought together farmers from far and wide to engage with agricultural experts about growing maize, soybeans, peanuts, macadamia nuts, and more.
Visits to several farms in the area formed part of the tour. One of the highlights was the implement demonstrations, where Agrico’s T1250 ripper showed why it is made for the Hoopstad soil.
A strong implement needs a strong tractor, which is why a Case IH Steiger Quadtrac 715 was used to pull the T1250 during the demonstration.
More about the Agrico T1250 ripper
According to Paul Burger, Agrico’s Implement Product Manager, the eight-tine T1250 is one of Agrico’s more compact rippers. This ripper is not only a workhorse; it also comes with several options that can make it a one-pass implement.
The T1250 has a 6 m main frame, a 3 m wing drawbar and is 4 meters long – the implement therefore offers a good combination of length, turning capacity, and stability. It is the longest ripper in the Agrico T-series and has a power requirement of between 54 and 82 hp (40 to 60 kW) per tine and a breakout force of 12 500 N/m.
Made for deep tillage
This specific ripper, which was demonstrated on the day, has a coulter bar at the front to cut up crop residues. The coulter bar is adjustable manually or can be hydraulically fitted to be adjusted from the cab.
The tines of the T1250 work particularly well in sandy soil, can cultivate up to 800 mm deep and are spaced 762 mm apart.
“The tines are very good for sandy areas and can work really deep. It gives you a excellent yield. The deeper you cultivate, the better your yield,” says Paul.
The implement gets its name from its beam clearance of 1,25 m, which ensures good material flow. It cuts through plant material and large clods, which for the tines to move evenly through the soil without significantly disturbing the topsoil.
Adjustable roller for a full-fledged one-pass implement
At the rear of the implement is an adjustable roller that can be adjusted manually or hydraulically from the cab. “In today’s times, where labour and long downtimes can cost you, this feature is to your advantage,” says Paul.
The roller has a sawtooth pattern that produces a finer soil surface. In sandy fields, a ripper fitted with a rear roller can often provide a sufficient finish for planting, making it a full-fledged one-pass implement.
“Agriculture is moving in a direction where one-pass tillage is becoming more popular. It saves the farmer time and diesel,” explains Paul.
Durability and quality
Agrico’s T-series ripping ploughs are manufactured from high-quality materials to reduce wear on the tines and ensure a longer life. The tines also automatically reset during operation, without the farmer needing to reduce speed or lift the implement.
The Agrico T1250 demonstration during the tour, clearly showed that this ripper not only offers power and depth but also practical and extras that can save farmers time, labour and diesel. This ripper, with its combination of strength, adaptability and durability, is an implement that really shows its mettle in South African soils.
To learn more about the T1250 ripper, email Paul at paul.burger@agrico.co.za
