Profit from the ground up

At Camso, formerly Camoplast Solideal, we see ourselves as more than just manufacturers of rubber and steel. We see ourselves as business partners with numerous players in the agricultural business community. We work with original equipment manufactures (OEMs), their dealers, our distributors, and of course the key player in all of this: the farmer.

Performance expectations in the farming industry are growing. Farmers need to do more in less time. Machines are getting larger and heavier. They deliver a higher capacity to achieve fewer passes in the field, leading to less downtime for stops or reloads. This trend towards higher capacity equipment is having an effect on the land.

• It generates higher soil compaction, more ground contact points and requires more repairs to soil structure at the end and at the start of a season.
• It causes mobility and accessibility issues in the field.
• Compound this with the unpredictability and impact of nature, and farmers begin to lose valuable time in completing their farming operations. Loss of time means loss of revenue.

We believe that tracks and track systems are one tool in a farmer's toolbox to help them manage these situations bringing greater opportunities to increase the yield of their operation.

It's no secret: all players in the industry claim their products will help to maximize a farmer's yield. “Yield and Performance” are today's agricultural buzzwords. They have to be considering the challenges farmers face in feeding, fuelling and clothing the planet. We recently visited an agricultural tradeshow in the United States and found this message rings loud and clear.

These are all valid statements. As the Road Free company, we use them too. But we see yield and performance as a cycle that needs to work together. At Camso, we have a program that we like to call “Profit from the ground up”.

In short, our tracks are built for large machinery to increase floatation capabilities, improve traction and ride quality. So, it's natural that we want to understand the impact this equipment has in a field. Consider this: every pass has an effect on soil compaction. And tracks can work to minimize that compaction.

Soil compaction has a domino effect that raises a number of other issues too. It creates inconsistent seed depth when planting, limits water infiltration and stunts root development. So, what does this mean for the farmer? For his net results? For the return on the time and money invested in the operation? It's about explanation.

We're working to bring real data and sense towards the benefits of using tracks in a number of applications. With the help of a dedicated farming partner who is out in the field every day, we tested two configurations in a corn planting set up in parallel fields - one running tires and one running tracks. At the end of season, what conclusions did we draw? With tracks, a farmer can expect a 5% yield increase in bushels per acre in a given situation.

Our farming partner Chad indicates, “the investment pays for itself in the first 1,500 acres of corn.”

This is the first chapter of six to come. We want to prove similar results with all implements in a farmer's operation. Next up, field tillage with tractors followed by testing for harvesters, sprayers, fertilizer carts and then grain carts. In parallel to this, we're developing similar tests in Italy, to account for differences in farming practices (Europe vs North America).

To find the right product for your needs, please refer to our product finder or contact us for more details.

Camoplast tracks and track systems are becoming Camso tracks and track systems.

This is the first chapter of six to come in our profit from the ground up program. We want to prove similar results with all implements in a farmer's operation. Next up, field tillage with tractors followed by testing for sprayers, harvesters, fertilizer carts and then grain carts. In parallel to this, we're developing similar tests in Italy that will be published in the near future.

Stay tuned.

To find the right product for your needs, please refer to our product finder or contact us for more details.