KUHN North America showcased its Advance .1 Series trailed fertilizer spreaders at the 2023 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. The machines, which have a corrosion-resistant 304 stainless steel hopper and belt-over-chain conveyor, come in two models offering 300- and 350-cubic-foot capacities, respectively.
Wisconsin-based KUHN says the Advance .1 Series is able to offer fertilizer cost savings and environmental benefits through “industry-leading control of application rate and spread pattern.”
The automatic rate control is done by sensing the torque on each spreading disc, and the series has a working width of up to 164 feet — meaning fewer passes for the operator and less fuel consumed. The smaller model has a hopper payload capacity of 27,000 pounds, while the larger size has 31,500 pounds.
The Advance features automatic GPS control of headland engagement and section control and is capable of in-season fertilizer application as well as pre- or post-season spreading. The optional Universal PowerPack, which contains larger and heavier spinning discs, allows high-volume spreading of lime as well as some organic material, increasing the machine’s versatility.
KUHN’s belt-over-chain conveyor runs “uphill” toward the rear-mounted PowerPack, which the company says improves balance and tongue weight by keeping the majority of the load toward the front of the machine. Plus, the design is intended to provide a positive drive to eliminate slippage in heavy lime conditions.
Both models have good ground clearance and come with 480/70R54 tires on the adjustable axle, which works well on 30-inch rows for in-season spreading yet still balances with flotation. However, KUHN recommends operators working with 20-inch rows opt for 380/105R50 tires, as they’re more optimal for those situations. Wide 800/70R38 tires are best suited for operators who want a lot of floatation for pre- and post-season work.
