Mallee harvester

A mallee harvester is necessary if short cycle woody crops are to become a profitable and integrated component of mixed farming agricultural systems. Designing and producing a mallee harvester presents unique challenges due to the multi-stemmed growth habit and hard wood density of mallee trees. Yet such a machine is an essential component of a fully integrated supply chain for cost-effective woody crop biomass production and biofuel generation. 

The Future Farm Industries CRC’s Woody Crop Harvesting System project has developed a prototype harvester to cut and chip woody biomass on the move, and to achieve a reliable throughput from the tough, irregular-growing mallees. The prototype mallee harvester halves the current costs of cutting and chipping mallees. The development of the mallee harvester is a joint project with Biosystems Engineering.

Below are links to some historical documents relevant to Mallee Harvester.

• Unique approach to harvester design
• Oil mallee industry prepares to reap rewards