Lubricants for Agriculture and Farming

Growing the future of farming

The ever-growing demand for safe, nutritious foods pushes continuous growth in the agriculture sector, yet stricter requirements and regulations around CO2 emissions raise challenges for farming operations. The availability of cheaper, imported grain, produce and other staple crops means many farms must find new ways to compete and stay in business. Also, tech innovation is driving rapid changes in agriculture, making an effective maintenance plan and trusted partnerships more important than ever.

How tomorrow’s farming technology drives productivity today

The latest technology is helping farmers find smart ways to do more with less:

• Drones and UAV technology can check for problem areas in crops within a matter of minutes
• AI software can then use this data to direct robotic systems to undertake spraying and harvesting
• Sensors can also help control seed-planting depth or measure chemical inputs.
  But analysis and application make all the difference. That’s why digital tools must be complemented by in-person technical advice – meaning you need trusted expert services to:
• Identify correct lubrication solutions
• Anticipate technical problems before they occur
• Train staff to keep equipment in peak operating condition

With the right guidance, technology can transform the agricultural sector – enabling you to better maintain valuable equipment, prevent downtime and avoid expensive, unplanned repairs.

Infographic: The Farm of the Future

Innovative products, the latest industry insights and maintenance training will ensure equipment is operating at peak performance, today and tomorrow.

Sewing the seeds of profitable farming operations

Since competition within the agriculture sector is driven by small achievements in productivity, achieving growth requires you to optimise every element of your operation. To achieve this, you need to make sure your equipment can work as hard as you do. And that means having access to high-quality lubrication solutions – along with the right technical support. With support and expertise from Shell Lubricant Solutions, our agricultural customers have:

• Extended their oil drain intervals (ODIs) by as much as 160%
• Reduced hydraulic oil consumption by up to 25%
• Accrued $1.9 million in savings₂

All of which increases your efficiency and reduces your total cost of ownership (TCO), improving your profitability.

Three ways to create a sustainable farming future

Sustainable farming places increasing importance on agricultural machinery working efficiently and reliably for optimum productivity.To achieve this, farmers should focus on three key areas:

Technology is key to driving efficiency and exponentially scaling value delivered. Farmers and food producers now have access to more advanced precision equipment than ever before, as agriculture is increasingly revolutionised by industry 4.0. This includes:

• Drones to help growers monitor crops
• GPS technologies that help with soil sampling, field mapping and crop scouting
• Autonomous vehicles and robotic technology that support labour-intensive tasks

Making sure your equipment can continually work at peak performance is an increasingly important part of farming more sustainably. Our industry research shows that:

• 68% of farmers say that maximising the lifespan of existing equipment is a priority
• 41% often experience equipment breakdown due to ineffective lubrication

Choosing the right lubrication for each application is vital for driving efficiency and sustainability.

Services such as Shell LubeMatch allow farmers to find the right lubricant for their equipment in seconds. While Shell LubeCoach offers an expert-led training programme to help employers, and their staff, deliver better performance through an in-depth lubrication training programme.

Products and partnerships are key solutions to this global challenge. And, with a little help, farmers can play an important role in delivering a sustainable future.

Shell Gadus Doubles Combine Harvester Component Life

Overcoming demanding conditions with a smarter grease solution

Challenge
An equipment renter to the Uruguayan agriculture sector, Cosecha Patria Vieja regularly changes and then greases all bushings and bearings on its New Holland TC-59 combine harvesters ahead of each harvest season. Doing so helps ensure performance but can also be expensive.

Solution
In an attempt to reduce component and grease costs, the company switched to Shell Gadus S3 V460D 2. The product was selected due to its enhanced mechanical stability and good performance in wet conditions when compared to competitor products.

Impact
In choosing a product form the Shell Gadus range of greases, Csecha Patria Vieja was able to extend the time between component replacement and grease application to two harvest seasons.

This doubling in component life enabled an associated annual saving of $9,050 through:

• lower grease consumption,
• reduced component costs,
• increased equipment availability.

Savings indicated are specific to the calculation dates and mentioned sites. These calculations may vary from site to site and from time to time, depending on, for example, the application, the operating conditions, the current product being used, the condition of the equipment and the maintenance practices.