{ "type": "article-standard", "settings": {}, "author": "Himac Attachments", "blog_id": "", "body_html": "", "created_at": "15.02.2024", "content": "<h4 style="margin-top: 0px !important;" data-mce-style="margin-top: 0px !important;">In the Australian agriculture landscape, characterised by harsh and ever-changing conditions, choosing between a Front Mounted Rock Picker and a Tow Behind Rock Picker can lead to different outcomes in operational efficiency.</h4> <p>At Himac Attachments, we recognise the challenges faced by small-scale and large-scale farmers and are committed to enhancing their productivity. If you're a farmer or industry professional searching for a detailed rock picker comparison, then this article has you covered.</p> <p>So, where do we sit on the front mounted vs tow behind rock picker debate? Here are the advantages and considerations of typical rock pickers to help you make an informed decision that meets your goals for trouble-free operation.</p> <h4 class="hr-2">The Necessity of Rock Picking: A costly Challenge</h4> <p>Rock picking has always been an essential task for broadacre crop farmers, and has become increasingly important in recent years with the evolution of larger and more expensive header fronts as well as more recent trends like Deep Ripping. Damages caused by rocks during harvest can be a substantial cost to any farming business. In addition to losses due to downtime of your header, repair costs to repair machines in some cases can add up to $60,000. In addition, the manual labour costs associated with seasonal rock removal (hiring casual workers to pick rocks and stones from a pasture or farm), can add up to $15,000 to $20,000 per season.</p> <p>In response to these challenges, modern rock-picking machines have emerged as a cost-effective solution to remove unwanted rocks from dirt. These machines allow farmers to reduce the financial burden of seasonal wages associated with picking rocks, streamline operations, and minimise the risk of machinery damage.</p> <p>This shift to rock-picking machines is now seen as creating an industry standard, enhances overall efficiency and contributes to the financial sustainability of small-scale and large-scale farming businesses. In addition, a rock-picking machine meets the urgent need for efficiency in modern farming and highlight a proactive approach to addressing longstanding challenges.</p> <p class="mt-4 mb-6"><img data-mce-fragment="1" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0427/1685/6476/files/himac-attachments-blog-picking-the-right-rock-picker-front-01.jpg?v=1707973448" alt="Front Mounted Rock Picker" data-mce-src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0427/1685/6476/files/himac-attachments-blog-picking-the-right-rock-picker-front-01.jpg?v=1707973448"></p> <h4 class="hr-2">Typical Rock Pickers - How Does a Rock Picker Work?</h4> <p>Typical rock pickers generally have a ground engagement system, such as a rotating reel or conveyer belt, that agitates the dirt, digging, and dislodging rocks and stones. The separated rock pile is collected in a bucket or a hopper, transported to a storage area or transporting vehicle, and then dumped for disposal. Adjustable settings allow the operator to optimise the rock picker’s performance for different soil or dirt conditions.</p> <h4 class="hr-2">Front Mounted Rock Pickers</h4> <p>A front mounted rock picker is generally attached to the front of a tractor, skid steer, telehandler, or wheel loader and is used to pick up unwanted rocks and stones from the field or ground, leaving a smoother surface for cropping activities.</p> <p>The basic design of a front mounted rock picker, such as Himac’s Telehandler Rock Picker, includes a series of rotating tines or paddles that scoop up small to large rocks as the tractor, skid steer, telehandler or loader equipment is driven over the field. These rocks and stones are then collected in a sieve style bucket for later relocation or disposal. Front mounted rock pickers are highly useful in areas where rocks can hinder farming activities, as they help prepare the dirt or soil for cropping.</p> <p>Using front mounted rock pickers can save farmers time, money and effort compared to manual rock removal. It is common in areas where fields have significant rocks on the soil that could otherwise interfere with planting and harvesting machinery.</p> <p>Front mounted rock pickers offer several advantages and some drawbacks. </p> <p>Here are some <span style="font-weight: 400;">common pros and cons associated with these machine implements:</span></p> <p class="mt-4 mb-6"><img data-mce-fragment="1" alt="Front Mount Rock Picker Pros and Cons" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0427/1685/6476/files/himac-attachments-blog-picking-the-right-rock-picker-front-mount-02.jpg?v=1707977561" data-mce-src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0427/1685/6476/files/himac-attachments-blog-picking-the-right-rock-picker-front-mount-02.jpg?v=1707977561"></p> <h4 class="hr-2">Tow Behind Rock Pickers</h4> <p>A tow behind rock picker is another type of farming equipment used to clear fields of rocks and stones, but it differs in its configuration and the way it is attached to a tractor. Unlike front mounted rock pickers mounted on the front of a tractor, tow behind rock pickers are pulled behind a tractor.</p> Here are some key features and characteristics of tow-behind rock pickers: <ul> <li>Hitching: Tow behind rock pickers generally have a hitch that attaches to the frame of the three-point hitch of a tractor. This enables the weight of the equipment to be towed behind the tractor as it moves through the field.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Collecting Mechanism: Like front mounted rock pickers, tow behind models use a collecting mechanism to pull rocks, roots and debris from the field. This mechanism is often a series of rotating paddles or tines that scoop up the rocks from the soil and deposit them into a hopper box or bucket.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Adjustability: Many tow behind rock pickers are adjustable, allowing farmers to set the height and depth of the picking mechanism to accommodate varying sizes of rocks and varying field conditions on which they pull their equipment.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Dumping Mechanism: Once the hopper box or bucket is filled with rocks, most tow behind rock pickers have a dumping mechanism to release and dump the collected rocks at a desired location.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Width and Capacity: The width of tow behind rock pickers varies, and farmers can choose a model that suits the width of their fields and the size of their tractors.</li> </ul> <p>Additionally, the weight and capacity of the bucket, rake or hopper varies among<br>different models. Tow behind rock pickers offer particular advantages and disadvantages, depending on the farmer's needs and the land's characteristics.</p> <p>Here are some common pros and cons associated with tow behind rock pickers:</p> <p class="mt-4 mb-6"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0427/1685/6476/files/himac-attachments-blog-picking-the-right-rock-picker-tow-behind-02.jpg?v=1707977627" alt="Tow Behind Rock Picker Pros and Cons"></p> <h4 class="hr-2">What Is the Best Rock Picker to Collect Rock Piles?</h4> <p>Farmers should carefully consider their specific needs, the size and layout of their fields, rock size, and the capabilities of their machinery when deciding between a front mounted or a tow behind rock picker. Each type of rock picker has advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on efficiency, manoeuvrability, and long-term cost-effectiveness of the rock picker.</p> <p>For more information on our exceptional products, visit our website. If you<br>prefer a direct conversation with a Himac team member to discuss what might be best suited to your needs, please contact us on <strong>1800 888 114</strong></p>", "excerpt": "<h4 style="margin-top: 0px !important;" data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-style="margin-top: 0px !important;">In the Australian agriculture landscape, choosing between a Front Mounted Rock Picker and a Tow Behind Rock Picker can lead to different outcomes in operational efficiency.</h4>", "excerpt_or_content": "<h4 style="margin-top: 0px !important;" data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-style="margin-top: 0px !important;">In the Australian agriculture landscape, choosing between a Front Mounted Rock Picker and a Tow Behind Rock Picker can lead to different outcomes in operational efficiency.</h4>", "handle": "the-himac-herald/rock-picker-comparison-front-mound-vs-tow-behind-rock-picker-for-broadacre-crop-farming", "id": "561432232118", "image": { "alt": "Rock Picker Comparison: Front Mounted vs Tow Behind", "src": "//himac.com.au/cdn/shop/articles/himac-attachments-blog-picking-the-right-rock-picker-1_1x1.jpg?v=1707973051" }, "published_at": "15.02.2024", "summary_html": "", "tags": [], "template_suffix": "", "title": "Rock Picker Comparison: Front Mounted vs Tow Behind", "updated_at": "2024-02-15 14:17:40 +0800", "user_id": "", "next_article": "", "previous_article": "" }