“Using the direct drill I have cut the time to establish a crop from 75 minutes per hectare to 15 minutes per hectare. My fuel consumption has reduced by about 75%. It used to take 32 litres per hectare to establish a crop. Now it takes 8 litres per hectare. Less passes are achieving the same result.” That's a saving of 24 litres per hectare!

Described as a medium duty disc harrow, the Maschio Veloce is ideal for seed bed preparation or for incorporating residues from previous crops.

The Maschio range of mulchers is claimed to be the most extensive in Europe, but for New Zealand viticulture, importer/ distributor Power Farming suggests that the Corazza and Tigre models are a great fit.

Robert Sims of Sims Contractors Ltd, Otaki, on the Kapiti Coast, has recently taken delivery of his 3rd Gaspardo drill. The improved Gigante Pressure is a heavy-duty direct seeding drill, built to work in extreme conditions.

“On light ground, it’s cheap. One pass and I can drill. A big attraction is the hydraulically adjustable angle of the discs. To me that’s a big benefit,” he says.