by Dianna Malcolm

No-one argues that generators are important. The problem is they aren’t important all the time. That is until recently.

For a long time investing in a generator has been a double-edged sword for dairy farmers on tight budgets, because powercuts in New Zealand have historically been infrequent and for short timeframes. So, many farmers chose to run the risk.

However, in recent years with more extreme climatic events happening across all regions – including longer timeframes without power – having a generator has started to take a front seat in conversations.

The good news is that agricultural farm equipment supplier Agriquip is right across this subject, and the New Plymouth-based business has been championing some cost-effective and savvy developments within this space.

Agriquip’s largest PTO generator is the GP115 TR/SF (100kVA Prime), which is capable of running the biggest of dairies.

Cheaper and just as effective

Agriquip carries two generator options. One of them – the PTO generator – is less than half the price of the other, just as effective, and it’s mobile. Which makes it easy to share between properties, homes, and/or farmers.

General Manager at AgriQuip Andre Capper confirms traditional diesel generators are always available, but he confirms there is increasing traction for the PTO-driven choice.

“In some respects, there are more advantages to a PTO generator,” Andre said. “The technology is the same as the diesel generator; the power output is just as good and it’s just as consistent.

“Also, the PTO generators need less maintenance because they don’t have that diesel engine. So, if your tractor starts, they are guaranteed to start.”

It also means less maintenance.

“Farmers don’t have to worry in an emergency if they have changed the filters or if the diesel has gone off in the stationary diesel generator.

“A PTO generator can be tucked away, and it’s just a matter of backing it up to the shed and connecting the cable.”

Andre says that today 97% of Agriquip’s generator demand is for the PTO option, driven by their customers’ growing understanding of the technology, the price advantage, its flexibility, and the increasing impact of adverse weather events.

Once a dairy has been load-tested and the switchboard wired, it’s easy.

“Honestly, if you can drive a tractor, you can operate a PTO generator,” Andre said.

“Technology has come a long way in the last couple of decades, which includes tractors, so you can now use cruise control to maintain the right revs.”

This is a GP77TR/S (75kVA), which would be able to run up to a 50-bale shed, along with everything in it. Although Agriquip recommends the dairy to be loaded-tested, and if the power margins are close to upsize to a bigger generator.

“When you need it, you need it”

Andre said increasingly farmers need to know they can control their operation when (not if) their power fails. Agriquip also offers several finance options.

“Generators are not that unaffordable when you look at how many issues you might get if you don’t have one,” Andre said. “Basically, the main feedback we get from our clients is they are worried about the welfare of the herd with missed milkings, mastitis, and stress, not to mention having to dump the milk.

“A lot of the resistance to buying a generator in the past was that farmers didn’t feel they lost power often enough to justify it.

“But I think there would now be very few farmers from the top to the bottom of New Zealand that haven’t lost power because of cyclones or damaging weather events, and it seems to be increasing in frequency and duration.

“Generators are the one thing you don’t need…until you need them.”

If you’d like to check what size generator you need for your dairy, click on Agriquip’s “generator size calculator” https://www.agriquip.co.nz/generator-product-selector and you’ll have the answer in seconds.

For more details on the PTO generator, click here: https://www.agriquip.co.nz/blog/benefits-of-a-tractor-pto-generator

This is a paid blog for Agriquip NZ