Year after year, Valtrac proves its worth on successful farms all over South Africa. Their orchard tractors might be small, but they pack a big punch when it comes to workload and reliability.
But what do farmers have to say about Valtrac’s orchard workhorses?
Boeta Ferreira farms with wine grapes just outside Clanwilliam. “Grapes thrive here because of our location,” he says.
His go-to powerhouse is the Valtra A93F orchard tractor. “We purchased it last year in October, so it has already been through several spraying sessions in our vineyard.”
Boeta points out that they do not limit this tractor to vineyard work alone. “With its lift capacity of up to 3,1 tonnes and a 73 kW engine, it might be a small tractor, but it is incredibly powerful. We can use it anywhere on the farm and even with a variety of different implements. For us, it is a logical choice!”
The tractor features a three-cylinder engine with common rail injection, which delivers plenty of power while using very little diesel. Boeta explains that even at low engine revolutions, the tractor remains exceptionally powerful.
“We have quite a few Valtras, and I have never found anything that bothers me,” he concludes.
Charles Human farms with rooibos tea in the Cape. They handle the entire process: from planting the seed in the soil to the tea bag in your cup. This farmer gladly raises a glass, or rather a cup of tea, to his Valtra BH154 orchard tractor.
“It was an incredible deal! We bought two of these tractors as a package.”
Charles shares that they have been using Valtras for the past ten years, and he even learned to drive on one. “It is simple; no complicated features. Anyone can press a button and see it move.” He also praises the tractor, which they jokingly call “Bumblebee,” for its fuel efficiency. “You can work for three days without needing to refill,” he says.
“While we were planting, we encountered a problem, but Valtrac’s Head Mechanic, as always, jumped in to assist us. They sent someone overnight with a bakkie to help, and it did not cost us a cent. We truly have nothing to complain about,” Charles explains.
Johan Ferreira, also from Clanwilliam, has been farming with Valtra tractors for an impressive 30 years!
His main operation is also rooibos tea. “Today, we have ten Valtras. It feels like family – when you do business with family, you get the best, and everyone who works with the Valtrac family feels the same,” says Johan.
With a farm far from the nearest town, tractor maintenance could be a major hassle, but Johan explains that he has not had a day’s worth of worries. “In earlier years, Wynn himself would fly here to help, but now we have a local mechanic. The tractors do not break down, just the occasional standard issue, and they are always here to help.”
Johan’s preferred tractor is the Valtra 8950. “It is a high-tech tractor, but not so much that it is difficult to use. Our soil here is challenging. It is not easy to pull any implement, but the Valtra manages to maintain balance on the sandy soil,” he explains.
For more information on Valtrac’s world-class equipment, contact one of Valtrac’s experts at (+27)56-817-7308 or visit www.valtrac.co.za.