Photo caption: Ballarat Tractors Sales Manager Sam Risbey, pictured with Peter Vella, National Miller Sales Manager with Australian distributor, McIntosh Distribution, says the size, efficiencies and technologies with the Miller sprayers held strong appeal for the business and the wider region.
AN expanding agricultural equipment offering at Ballarat Tractors has now been further bolstered by the addition of one of the industry’s leading self-propelled sprayer line-ups.
Part of the Melbourne Tractors Group, Ballarat Tractors has joined the national dealer network for Miller sprayers, renowned for their front-mounted configuration, multiple boom and spray system options and leading-edge application technologies.
The Miller range will strongly complement its flagship agriculture franchise, New Holland, plus its ranges of telehandlers, seeding machinery and other ground-engaging implements.
Traditionally known for its strong construction equipment line-up, Ballarat Tractors Sales Manager Sam Risbey said the agricultural range had continued to grow as the company expanded and it aimed to assemble a complete seeding to harvest machinery offering for local farmers.
The business supports growers in a radius out to about 150 kilometres from Ballarat.
Sam said the region had historically featured a wide range of farming activity, including horticulture and livestock grazing enterprises, however broadacre cropping was increasing rapidly.
He said the size, efficiencies and technologies with the Miller sprayers held strong appeal for Ballarat Tractors.
“It is an industry-leading sprayer,’’ Sam said.
The latest Miller Nitro 7000 Series sprayers has introduced more power, torque and fuel efficiency, as well as improved driver experience, some of the latest spray system options including green-on-green spot spray technology, and its multi-use benefit includes the option of a swather kit for crop windrowing.
“Windrowing plays a big role in cropping programs in this area because our seasons are not always suitable for direct heading,’’ Sam said.
He said another strong attraction was that, as a member of the CNH Group, the Miller Sprayers would provide a familiar platform for Ballarat Tractors’ existing New Holland customers, as well as its service technicians.
New sprayers arriving with Miller’s latest ‘Intelligence’ consoles will link with customers’ New Holland Precision Land Management (MyPLM Connect) or Case IH Advanced Farming Systems (AFS Connect) accounts for easy visualisation of all field and machine data.
The new consoles and additional, larger screens are a striking component of updated cabs featuring greater comfort, numerous luxury appointments and 270-degree panoramic visibility.
Support, backup and professionalism for the Miller brand and through to customers also was a critical factor and an area where the business is closely aligned with national Miller distributor, McIntosh Distribution.
“Melbourne Tractors already has a strong, generational relationship with the McIntosh Group,’’ Sam said.
John Hill, with McIntosh Distribution, said the expansion of Ballarat Tractors into the broadacre agriculture industry was increasing and this would assist to further expand the Miller brand, business and network.
“The business is confident in its direction with service and parts backup, and it appreciates the value service brings to its customers, so we are looking forward to extending this relationship with Miller customers,’’ John said.
He said the New Holland franchise and technologies with tractors had achieved strong market share for Ballarat Tractors in the region and after offering mainly trailing sprayers previously, there was now a strong opportunity with the highly sophisticated, but easy-to-use, self-propelled sprayers from Miller.
“The South West Victoria region is moving away from mixed farming and livestock to more broadacre cropping and this is bringing a greater focus onto broadacre operations and the use of these types of machines.’’