At Lamma, grain handing specialist McArthur BDC, highlighted the Bühler Spark optical colour sorter to minimise financial and quality risks at the farmgate
Ergot is a growing concern for growers across the UK, with a combination of varying climate, the growth of reduced tillage, and increased grassweed infestations highlighted as factors in infection spikes. The cost to the farmer can be significant; ergot tolerances from merchants are strict – 0.001% for animal feed and zero for all other grades – leading to rejections, or high transport and cleaning costs if infection is not cleared from the crop before leaving the farm.
Colour sorting technology has been available for a while now, capable of removing ergot-infected grains, as well as other impurities, to ensure that everything that leaves the yard is up to specification. According to Scott McArthur, project division director, McArthur BDC, there is now sufficient scale within the market to enable colour sorters to be offered at a more accessible price point.
The company offers the Bühler Spark colour and optical sorter. This partnership tackles another potential issue for growers looking at optical colour sorting, matching the capacity of the sorter to the rest of the grain handling system. “It’s something that growers are increasingly open to, and it’s a product we mention during the planning stages of any new or refurbished grain handling system. The Bühler product is modular, meaning that we can integrate space for a system in the future, even if the grower is unsure if they will invest straight away.”
Sorting by colour
The Spark is available in two specifications – the Pro and the Pro+ – the former monitors crop based on size and shape, and a four-colour spectrum to highlight irregularities or infection. The Pro+ uses near-infrared imagery, with an additional camera that can monitor foreign material to produce a cleaner sample.
Unlike other products on the market, the Spark has two dedicated cameras per chute, which the company states will give users peace of mind that the maximum unwanted material has been removed.
According to Alex Vaks, sales manager at Bühler, the system can be easily controlled via a touchscreen, with settings that can adjust how aggressive the sorting process is. “You can aim for a 99.9% clean, but this will take time, reduce the throughput of the machine and see more product wasted. Our team, along with McArthur BDC, can help growers find the settings that work for them, eliminating the risk of hidden costs after product leaves the farm while maximising the saleable tonnage.”
Bühler offers products with throughputs ranging from 3-50t/hr, although this will vary based on the settings used. Neil Walker, area sales manager at Bühler noted that this was another reason why working with McArthur BDC would benefit both sales of sorters and the customers.
“The throughput may be less than other grain cleaning or drying systems on the farm, so working with McArthur BDC customers can plan for and install holding tanks or bypass elevators, or have the entire system built around that throughput and keep the Bühler in-line,” he explains.
He adds that the Spark does not have a high energy cost, with the largest ten-chute model using channel heating requiring an 18.5 kW air compressor.
A common sight?
Colour sorters have been a vital tool for growers using farm-saved seed or growing crops on seed contracts. However, the increased threat of ergot means that more will be looking at the possibility of fitting a machine into existing systems or building planned systems with one integrated.
Today it is possible obtain a good quality colour sorter with in-country support for under £50,000. In many cases, the costs can easily be offset by the potential losses of rejected crops and additional cleaning costs, even on smaller or mid-sized farms.
Scott McArthur concluded that McArthur BDC will plan grain cleaning and sorting systems from scratch, working with farmers to integrate usable existing equipment, while ensuring that new components meet the required throughput and future-proof the farm. The Bühler Spark units are backed up not only through McArthur BDC, but also by Bühler UK, based in London, which can monitor machine performance remotely and provide assistance.