FARGO, N.D. – Farmers never want their seeding rigs to sit idle for 45 minutes while they wait for seed and fertilizer tanks to fill.
It’s worth a lot if that fill time can be reduced to 15 minutes. On many farms, it means an extra 100 acres per day.
That’s why more producers are investing in seed tender semis such as the Convey-All CST-C Commercial Seed Tender, said Mark Hatloy, president of Convey-All USA in Drayton, North Dakota.
Built at the Convey-All factory in Winkler, Man., the 40-foot CST-C has five 240 bushel hopper bottom compartments.
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“The logic of five compartments is that it gives you the ability to carry several different types of fertilizer or seed all in one load,” Hatloy said.
He added that large producers can use the CST-C to carry any combination of five fertilizer blends or seed, which keeps seeding rigs running and can eliminate one truck and driver from the operation.
Hatloy said most of his customers also report that their fill time drops from an average of 45 minutes to 15 minutes.
“A lot of these trailers go into Western Canada, into the big air seeder country. It’s definitely an efficiency factor for these farmers.”
The multi-compartment trailers are also used by bulk fertilizer and seed dealers who are able to visit two or three customers per trip. It keeps their customers running and makes better use of the semi.
The wireless remote lets the operator control the entire process from the commodity cart. There is no need to climb onto the trailer.
Wireless remote functions include raise, lower, swing left, swing right, start, stop, open specific gates and close specific gates.
The remote can open or close each compartment individually. A bank of lights on the trailer tells the operator the position of all gates.
A 30-foot Batco rubber conveyor is standard equipment on all Convey-All units. The unload rate is approximately two tonnes per minute. The 40 foot CST-C can unload the full 1,200 bushels in 20 minutes.
The conveyor swings 25 feet left and right and has a working discharge height of 17 feet.
Although the conveyor can go higher, products tend to tumble back on a rubber belt system when it’s working at steep angles.
“The rubber conveyor gives you 100 percent cleanout of the compartments, so it’s no problem switching from one product to the next right away. No cleanout time required,” he said.
“Of course it’s more gentle on seeds, but it also takes a lot less power than an auger.”
In the fall, the trailer serves the same purpose as any other bulk hauler. The conveyor swings off to the side or can be removed so it’s out of the way of the combine.
Hatloy said a 40-foot CST-C will cost $50,000 to $80,000, depending on options such as stainless steel, cameras with sound, extra lights and on-board hydraulic systems.
For more information, contact Hatloy at 701-454-3875, or the Convey-All plant in Winkler at 204-325-4195 or visit www.conveyall.net.
