Bill Callaghan – Australian Agricultural College Dalby Qld

The 8m Daybreak Disc Opener Planter we purchased is an integral part of the College farm management and training plan. The planter continues to meet our criteria of strength, durability and crop establishment in conditions beyond normal expectations found only in a training environment.

The college uses the Daybreak planter to manage 1820 hectares commercial cropping operation and train 130 students annually. Where income and performance is paramount to the success of our business, I have to say we are extremely satisfied with the planter and the customer service offered by Daybreak Equipment.

Noel Griffiths – “Banchory” Jandowae QLD

In July 2002, I purchased an 11 metre Daybreak Toolbar and Disc Openers. I have been using this system on my dryland property at Jandowae which is predominantly grey box and black soils.

I have been operating discs for approximately 8 years and have found Daybreak Equipment to be reliable and robust. The machine is easy to operate and any adjustments can be made with ease. Uniform seed placement is evident with the consistant emergence of crops across different different soil types. Results have improved with better understanding of using discs over conventional farming techniques.

I am very pleased with all aspects of the Daybreak Equipment including its reliability and results.

Richard Dowsett – “Wyobie” Jimbour QLD

Our move to Zero till farming 7 years ago was a direct result from variable climatic conditions and competition of commodity prices on the world market. We needed to improve our yields and look for ways to reduce our input costs. In striving to increase our water use efficiency, we looked into ways to maximize the kilograms of grain produced per millimeter of moisture in each hectare cropped. Retention of stubble cover and minimizing soil moisture loss became critical to improve yields & preventing crops from failing during the extended dry periods that we have been experiencing on the Darling Downs.

In 2000 we replaced our zero till tine planter and were one of Milne Industries’ first owners of a Daybreak disc opener. In researching the single disc units that were available we believed that the Daybreak disc planter best suited our requirements to retain moisture & stubble cover that was a failure of our tine planter. The machine has impressed us with its ability to plant seed at a constant depth, its minimal moisture, soil & standing stubble disturbance, its energy saving qualities and speed of operation.

We have been able to decrease our planting rate because of an increase in plant germination established through better seed to moisture contact. Minimal soil and moisture loss of the Daybreak planter has enabled us to successfully plant and establish crops in timely window frames and not having to wait for planting rain. The Darling Downs has experienced historically low rainfall winters and the moisture retained has kept many of our crops going through dry, frosty and windy conditions until breaking rains in the spring. Standing stubble is worth more to us and is preserved as much as possible as it aid in storing an extra 30-50mm of soil moisture. The toolbar Milne Industries made for us allows for greater stubble flow and preservation between the units.

Because of the unique angle of the daybreak discs and because the units only open up a very small seed trench, the demand on power and fuel compared to other machines is greatly reduced. Our fuel consumption has fallen 45 L/hour to 25L/hour through reduced implement draft. Another plus for the Daybreak Disc Opener has been its ability to allow us to plant at a greater speed from 6-8km/hour to 10-12km/hour depending on conditions. This has greatly increased our productivity and reduced tractor and labour hours needed to undertake our planting program.

I recently attended a zero till planter field day conducted by Conservation Farmers Inc. at Dalby to see what the latest the manufacturers had to offer and came back convinced that the decision to purchase the Daybreak planter 4 years ago was the right one for us.

All our successful clients, whether they know it or not following the simple principles of conservation farming. For a further discussion of these principles click here.