2023 has reinforced that the effects of an adverse weather event can cause power outages and major disruption no matter where you are.
The recent extreme weather events in the Hawke's Bay, East Cape and the greater Auckland regions have shown that major power cuts can take considerable time to repair - time that can't be afforded on farm.
Matamata-based dairy farmer Bryan Holmes says, "Full compliance for our farming operation with no power was what we were after and that's what we now have with a Cat generator."
"We had worked out the cost of a full loss milk event while on every second day pick up and it wasn't much different than buying a generator. Not to mention we lost power one morning with a car crash up the road, which meant we could only milk once that day with significant milk loss. Plus, there was a big shift of herds around the farm to access water from bores that had not lost power."
"With new milk cooling regulations in place, we knew we had to be on top of our game to get our milk picked up in top-quality condition. As an ex-mechanic who had previously worked on Cat equipment, it was a natural choice knowing the quality of the Cat product. Now we can run the entire farm as normal under loss of mains power."
For decades, Kiwis have trusted Cat to generate their power when all else fails.
"As extreme weather events become more frequent, we're seeing an increased demand for cost-effective, standby generator sets," says Richard Crampton, Retail Segment Manager at Terra Power Systems.
"A Cat generator large enough to power the milking machine and ancillary farm equipment is more affordable than you might think. We offer a range of reliable Cat generators to ensure farm operations can continue during unforeseen power outages," says Richard Crampton, Retail Segment Manager at Terra Power Systems.
"The range is a great way for New Zealand dairy farmers to meet their site specifications at the most competitive price," adds Richard.
Terra Power Systems offers Cat GC diesel generator sets that are value-engineered, meaning they have been designed and fine-tuned to offer only the key features and functionality required. They are powered by field-proven Cat C3.3 through C4.4 engines made to start first time, every time.
"Our experienced Terra application specialists will ensure your generator is correctly sized to handle all your power generation needs. Whether you're interested in standby or prime power, it's critical a generator can meet your specific requirements. That means, when the unforeseen occurs, your dairy operation has the backup you need to keep working and keep safe.
"Thanks to our generator we all get home on time, cows milked, fed and watered, milk cooled, and effluent pumps pumping," says Bryan.
Cat generators are backed by a nationwide network of Terra branches from Whangarei to Invercargill, which offer long-term parts support for all generator components. Plus, Terra field service technicians are located throughout the country, ready to back up your backup.
For more information about Cat generator solutions, contact Terra Power Systems. Terra Power systems are now available through Farm Source and can be paid for through Smart Finance.