Farming is more than a profession – it’s a passion. To dedicate all your effort, time and attention to a farm, you must have a deep love for agriculture. One of the greatest joys is to see the fruits of your labour.
“Farming is a passion,” says Dirk Potgieter. “It’s a love you have for the land. It’s the passion to work the soil, plant your crops, see your yield and, of course, watch the results of your labour throughout the year.”
Dirk farms between Vereeniging and Villiers on the land where his great-grandfather started farming in 1935, four generations ago. Today the farm is known as DR Potgieter and Son, where they plant maize and soybeans under dryland conditions each year.
“The biggest challenge we face in this area is drought. Maize and soybean roots need to go deeper to access moisture,” he explains. “There was also a compaction layer, better known as a plough pan, that formed after years of ploughing.” This compacted layer prevented roots from penetrating the soil and using the moisture trapped beneath the crust.
Dirk Potgieter, farmer, with Jaap Strauss, sales representative of Valtrac, at one of the four 7-tooth AST/MATIC 450 ripping ploughs from DR Potgieter and Son farming.
Valtrac’s Tatu AST/MATIC 450 is the answer to soil compaction
After Dirk’s father became aware of the problem in 2007, the search began for an implement that could break the hard pan and leave behind an even seedbed.
“This AST/MATIC 450 was the first implement we found that created a fine and level seedbed,” Dirk elaborates. “Our final decision rested on the ripper’s penetration ability, the performance of its tines, as well as the strength of the frame. It’s one of the strongest rippers on the market – you won’t easily find these frames cracking or breaking.”
When Dirk later took over the farm, he continued using the AST/MATIC 450s. “We’ve only had excellent service from them,” he adds. The farm currently runs eight of these rippers: four 7-tine units, three 13-tine units and one 21-tine ripper.
The 13-tine ripper requires a tractor of around 150 kW, the 7-tine around 110 to 120 kW, and the large 21-tine about 430 to 440 kW.
One of the Potgieters’ 13-tooth Tatu AST/MATIC 450 ripping ploughs that has been providing faithful service on the farm for twelve years.
The working depth of these rippers is around 450 mm, but they can go deeper. “We push them to about 470 or 480 mm,” Dirk admits.
“Their performance is fantastic! The tine design means they don’t form clods. Unlike conventional curved tines, these work at angles. This allows us to work much later in the season compared to farmers who struggle with heavy clod formation.
“We like to loosen the soil, whether it’s sandy or hard ground. Working down to 480 mm helps root penetration. We continually try to work deep.”
Dirk uses the rippers after cattle have grazed the fields. “We first run a disc harrow to chop up residue. Then we bring in the rippers, as soon as soil moisture allows, to break any crusts formed during the season or compaction caused at harvest time.”
Key features that set the Tatu AST/MATIC 450 apart
What stands out for Dirk about the AST/MATIC 450 is the tine design, strong frame and availability of spare parts. “Even though the implements hardly ever break, it gives peace of mind knowing spares are readily available and easy to obtain,” he says.
The Tatu rippers require minimal maintenance. “Of course, general yearly maintenance must be done, like replacing worn points or tines that are bent or worn out, but the frame holds. If you look after your equipment, it will look after you,” Dirk explains.
A major plus point on the Tatu rippers is that every bearing runs in an oil bath, giving them a very long lifespan. “That makes things much easier for us because we don’t have to replace bearings all the time,” Dirk notes. “This 13-tine AST/MATIC 450 is twelve years old now and we’ve never replaced a bearing on it.”
This feature is unique to Tatu products. “It’s a heavy-duty bearing running in oil,” explains Jaap Strauss, Valtrac sales representative for the Eastern Free State. The bearings are sealed on both sides to prevent dust from entering. “These bearings carry a three-year warranty, but as Dirk mentioned, some of his rippers have been working for twelve years and still haven’t needed replacement. If you maintain them and they don’t leak oil, they last a very long time.”
The benefit for the farmer is that, unlike other bearings, they don’t need regular greasing or frequent replacement.
Readily available spares and friendly Valtrac service
Thanks to Valtrac, who imports and distributes the Tatu implements, parts are always available. “Apart from the durability of the ripper, I also receive friendly service from Valtrac,” Dirk shares. “They want to help you. It’s not just a company – it’s people who genuinely care about your farming. You want to do business with them,” he emphasises.
