Paul Moon’s Murrami-based enterprise comprising 4047ha (10,000 acres) of irrigated and dryland country, and producing a mixture of hay, straw and silage bales earmarked for his contract feedlot, required a machine with serious lifting capabilities.

Purchasing a Manitou MLT741-120 LSU unit (pictured) was pivotal in safely handling 450kg (992lb) straw bales, hay bales weighing between 550kg and 600kg (1213lb/1323lb), also silage bales weighing around a tonne.

After learning about the production and use of biological fertilisers (humidified compost), Paul first set about fabrication with a two-and-a-half cubic metre compost bucket with silage grab from Riverina Machinery, Narrandera.

The grab is necessary for handling grape slash, which is a component of his compost which also includes hay and manure. Gypsum, lime and phosphorus are blended in to address any trace element deficiencies identified by soil analysis.

The Manitou plays its part by stacking up to six large square bales on top of each other, as against the four-high arrangement that used to be managed by a tractor/loader combination.

Previously, if the top bale’s moisture content was rejected by an exporter, the stack would have to be pulled down to access the topmost bales.

However, with the Manitou, Paul Moon is able to move weather-damaged bales and place them on top of adjoining stacks. These two wet bales, now destined for compost production, can then be pulled down together, leaving the previously covered dry bales to be speedily loaded for transport.

Paul estimated he had halved the time taken to load bales since he'd moved from a tractor/loader to the Manitou, which has a lift height a tad short of 7m (23ft) and a 4100kg (9000lb) lift capacity.

Currently working some 40 hours/week, fuel consumption is about five and half litres an hour.

Paul Moon commended the natural position of the single joystick, and the ease of entry into the cab as a big improvement on a tractor/loader.

As well, he said he could travel at speeds up to 15 kilometres an hour on the road with the balance of the machine, and its 40km/h top speed, comparing favourably with traditional handling combinations.

*www.au.manitou.c om