Fecon FTX150-2 Mulching Tractor Proves To Be Olive Crusher
Thanks to the Fecon FTX150-2 Mulching Tractor, a Hunter Valley farmer has managed to control an invasion of wild olives.
Thanks to the Fecon FTX150-2 Mulching Tractor, a Hunter Valley farmer has managed to control an invasion of wild olives.
Lance Mikisch is a true local from the Hunter Valley, having spent his entire life in this picturesque region of New South Wales. Known for its lush vineyards and rolling hills, the Hunter Valley is also a place where earthmoving and farming are a way of life.
Lance has always been at the heart of these industries, cultivating a deep understanding of the land and its challenges. “I’ve lived up here all my life,” Lance said. “Been around earthmoving, farming. It’s what I know.”
One of the more persistent problems that developers and farmers face in the Hunter Valley is the wild olive. These trees, notorious for their resilience, can grow up to 30 or 40 feet tall, creating a formidable challenge for anyone trying to manage their land.
Discovering the Fecon FTX150-2 Mulching Tractor
“It was a developer that I know, who owns a quite large farm here in the Hunter Valley, who first introduced me to Fecon,” Lance said. “They had a really bad wild olive problem— like, really bad and they needed something to knock them down and mulch them up to get rid of them.”
Traditional methods of dealing with these stubborn trees were simply too labour-intensive and inefficient. “When you’re doing hand maintenance and trying to get rid of them by hand, it’s just too expensive. You can’t cover the ground,” Lance said. “And then, of course, you can cut them down, but you’ve still got to get rid of it. The wild olive is so hard that it will actually stay as a tree that’s fallen over for years. It doesn’t fix the problem.”
That’s where the Fecon FTX comes in. According to Lance, this piece of equipment has revolutionised his approach to land management. “The guy I work for got this machine in, and it’s just done an outstanding job. I recommend it to everyone,” he said.
Why the Fecon FTX150-2 Mulching Tractor stands out
Lance is particularly impressed by the Fecon FTX’s versatility and efficiency. “Not only for getting rid of olive, but for other bad noxious weeds and products like that. It can also cut tracks to get into bad spots for spraying and such,” he said.
“I’ve operated a couple of mulchers over the years, some quite large mulchers, but this one stands out for a few reasons.”
First and foremost, Lance praises the Fecon FTX’s size and manoeuvrability. “You can get it in anywhere, so it’s very, very manoeuvrable. The vision of this machine is incredible—you can see everywhere,” he said. “There’s a window on the roof so you can see the top of the tree and determine where it’s going to go. Just the vision all around is fantastic.”
Comfort is another major factor. “The beauty about this machine is it’s not rough. You’re sitting at the front of the cab, and it’s very, very comfortable to operate. Whereas with a dozer, you’re sitting behind and it’s very, very rough,” he said.
Previously, they used dozers to push timber over and clear undergrowth, but this method had significant drawbacks. “The problem with the dozer, especially on gravelly soil, is you don’t want to disturb the topsoil. The Fecon mulches in such a way that you don’t get any wash—heavy rain won’t cause erosion because the mulch holds everything together,” Lance said.
Ease of maintenance
Maintenance is another area where the Fecon FTX excels. “It’s very easily maintained. We’ve been running these points now for the last six weeks, and they’ve done a really, really good job— haven’t let me down,” Lance said.
“The machine is very sturdy and robust. It’s good in hills, and with the dozer carriage underneath, it will climb just about anything.” Lance also appreciates the easy access for maintenance and repairs. “If I’ve got a problem that I can fix, the maintenance crew from Fecon supplier ASV will guide me. You can see oil leaks and everything like that. The machine is easy to open up and get to everything. No one else does it like that,” he said.
Transforming the land
The Fecon FTX’s impact goes beyond just clearing land. It’s about improving soil quality and sustainability.
“The beauty of the Fecon mulching any tree at all is what you get left behind.”
“As a farmer, you look at improving your soil. I mulched this area three weeks ago, and you can already see it starting to break down. “You can see new grass and little roots coming through. It actually starts up the organic matter and just builds from there.”
In just a short time, the benefits are clear. “This hill never held moisture before. Now, you can dig down, and it’s moist,” Lance said. “It’s done an outstanding job and it’s environmentally friendly. Most of the time, the wild olive won’t grow back because the mulch gets really hot and kills any bacteria. Once it starts to break down, it’s just amazing.”
Lance’s endorsement of the Fecon machine is a testament to its transformative impact on land management in the Hunter Valley. With its efficiency, ease of use, and environmental benefits, the Fecon FTX is proving to be an invaluable tool for farmers looking to improve their land and tackle the persistent problem of wild olive trees.
This article appeared in the Earthmoving Equipment magazine.