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Their purpose-built equipment has led them to take Runner Up in the Agri Innovation awards at the 2023 South Island Agricultural Field Days and takes the efficiency of filling ruts to the next level.

RutsPlus first began developing their multi-task machines in 2017.

Owner Rodger Smaill said, “there was a need to design a faster, better and more cost effective way of doing the job than was currently available”.

They now hold a fleet of six machines which are available year-round. Each has its own custom-made trailer and is transported and towed by the latest Suzuki Jimnys, enabling the RutsPlus team to keeps costs at a minimum and efficiency at a maximum. With their equipment, jobs work out to be about 90% cheaper, quicker, and more effective than traditional methods.

RutsPlus’s Pivot Rut Filling machines penetrate through the grass and soil cutting out the sidewalls of the pivot rut, pulling in sods of the already established grass root structure and planting it back into the pivot rut. The farmer then follows behind, wheel packing the windrowed material with their own tractor. This method leaves no depressions or bare grass on either side of the wheel track, all without bringing in extra material. Condensed root structure increases the soil’s weight holding capacity. Once compacted, it then combines to create a solid mass. The grass continues growing and will no longer hold water as it did before. This can be achieved even when irrigating.

As farmers themselves, the team at RutsPlus.com understand the value of seeing results firsthand. Over the years they’ve had plenty of farmers willing to let them trial their innovations on farm, ensuring the machines deliver excellent results. They now offer free on-farm demonstrations across Canterbury and North Otago.

Since starting RutsPlus in 2021, they have filled in well over 1,000km of pivot ruts. In 2022, the business expanded their contracting operations to include retrieving material from under dairy lane fences, a service that is quickly becoming sought after.

Retrieving material from under dairy lane fences is achieved using the most efficient way possible, either windrowing the material into the lane or simply spreading it out. Normally farmers will use their frontend loader scooping up the material into their own dump trailer. RutsPlus.com have the most advanced blade system available, allowing further reach under the fence wire as well as the ability to deflect around the posts. They can cover as much as 2km of fence line per hour.

For more information or for demonstration videos, visit www.rutsplus.com

RURALCO MEMBERS get a free on-farm demonstration

Contact 022 372 3586, or email [email protected]

THIS PROMOTIONAL FEATURE WAS PROVIDED BY RUTSPLUS.