On York Farm, just a stone’s throw from Lephalale, formerly known as Ellisras, in Limpopo, Johan van der Linde proudly runs his farming operations with the help of Agrico’s quality products and excellent service.
‘I have no desire to go ask someone else if their products are better, because what Agrico does, they do well,’ says Van der Linde.
York Farm focuses on growing vegetables such as potatoes, butternuts, bell peppers, and onions. In addition, they also farm with cattle and game.
On this farm, Agrico pivots are used for sustainable irrigation of crops. There’s also another green Agrico machine on the farm: a T1000 reset ripper. According to Van der Linde this ‘beast’ was exactly what he needed to take his farming operation to the next level. The ripping process plays a major role in the success of his crop.
‘You want to use a ripper to tear through your field on the dry side. That way, you break open the soil and then follow up with other operations to prepare a fi ne seedbed for planting.’
The ripper’s roller helps level the surface of the soil, break up clods, and ensure a quality finish. In some cases, this process is sufficient to form the seedbed, so one can plant directly afterwards.
An energy-efficient design with an automatic reset mechanism
Van der Linde’s T1000 ripper consists of eleven tines, each requiring 25 kW. Depending on soil conditions, the implement can work up to approximately 630 mm deep. This ensures adequate oxygen release into the soil for the crop to be planted. Additionally, ripping helps retain rainwater and prevents runoff.
‘I’ve never been able to rip this deep before. Luckily, we have a big enough tractor to pull it. I had my doubts, but it works like a dream,’ he confirms.
The tines of the T1000 ripper reset automatically without wasting working time. Tines reset during operation without reducing speed or lifting the implement, making it ideal for rocky soils with large, embedded stones. This mechanism also protects the rest of the implement’s structure, extending its lifespan.
‘The ripper holds its depth while working the soil. Every time you hit a hard rock, the entire machine doesn’t lift and go back, it’s just one tine,’ says Theo van Staden, branch manager at Agrico in Modimole. ‘We all agree that this is a ripper we sell with confidence. You don’t wonder if you’ve made a mistake, it’s always a success story.’
Built for South Africa’s tough conditions
The Agrico T1000 is locally designed and built specifically for South Africa’s challenging terrains. Durable, energy-efficient, and designed to handle even the toughest soils, the T-series rippers offer years of loyal service and require very little in return.
High-strength materials reduce wear on the tines and ensure a long lifespan. All points are firmly bolted onto the tines, yet easy to replace, while the coiled springs extend the life of the implement.
The use of thinner steel ensures the implement uses less energy to pull through the soil, which means less power is needed per tine. ‘I’m very glad I bought an Agrico, because this is solid steel.
A ripper must be tough – it can’t be wobbly,’ says Van der Linde.
Parts for this implement are easy to source from one of 40 Agrico branches, due to standardisation across different models. The frame, roller, axles, and bushings are the same across all three generations – T800, T1000, and T1250 rippers.
Contact Agrico at info@agrico.co.za, visit www.agrico.co.za or phone +27 21 950 4111 for more information.
