Get More From Every Paddock: Indutar's Katrina F5 Knife Roller and Nivella 585 Grader

Sep 21

3 min read

Updated: Oct 13

Ready for the Post-Harvest Push

With harvest just around the corner, most growers are already thinking about what comes after the header rolls out of the last paddock. Stubble to manage, tracks to repair, water catchments to clean out, and a seeding program to set up for next season.

Two machines from Brazilian manufacturer Indutar are built for exactly that stretch of the farming year: the Katrina F5 Knife Roller and the Nivella 585 Tow-Behind Grader. Both are available through Burando Hill, the exclusive Australian source for the Katrina F5.

Here's what each one does, and why it earns its place in the shed.

Katrina F5 Knife Roller: Stubble Management That Pays Twice

The Katrina F5 is a knife roller built for Australian no-till and minimum-till systems. In a single pass it rolls and conditions crop residue, protects soil structure and sets the paddock up for better seeding.

Easier seeding through heavy stubble. Heavy residue, especially in canola and high-biomass crops, slows machinery down and causes blockages. Rolling it first lets seeders move through freely, with better seed placement as a result.

More value from every litre of chemical. Conditioned stubble lets knockdown and pre-emergent herbicides reach the soil instead of sitting on standing straw. That means better contact and less wasted product.

Clean hay preparation. The Katrina is ideally suited to hay preparation, rolling canola stubble flat to prevent it from being collected and incorporated into hay bales, minimising contamination and preserving hay quality.

A lighter load at harvest. Less bulk material through the header means lower grain loss, reduced fuel use and less wear on the cleaning system. In heavy-straw or high-yielding seasons, those harvest savings alone can justify the machine.

Healthier soil, season after season. Faster stubble breakdown returns nutrients to the soil sooner. Residue cover improves water infiltration, holds moisture through the crop cycle and reduces erosion during heavy rain.

Built for real paddocks. Dual-articulated sections follow uneven ground, keeping the offset knives in consistent contact with the residue. It folds to a narrow width for road travel.

Low running costs. The Katrina is a single-operator machine with low maintenance needs, so it doesn't tie up extra labour at a busy time of year.

Nivella 585 Grader: Road-Grader Capability Behind the Tractor You Already Own

The Nivella 585 is a heavy-duty tow-behind grader made in Brazil. It gives farmers the capability of a full-size road grader without the capital outlay of a self-propelled machine.

Use the horsepower you already own. The Nivella runs behind a 95–160 hp tractor. It puts the tractor you already run to work on farm earthworks, with no need to wait on a contractor.

One machine, dozens of jobs. From firebreaks before harvest to catchment cleaning after it, the Nivella earns its keep year-round. It handles:

Farm track construction, repair and wheel-track renovation
Firebreaks, completed ahead of harvest
Dam water catchment cleaning after harvest
Contour banks and water diversion
Silo bag site preparation
Drains, ditches, flood control and erosion repair

Precise, flexible grading. The full-size 4.26 m (14 ft) blade tilts 25° and swivels 120°, with a centreline offset and 900 mm lift height. That range makes cutting drains and shaping banks faster and more accurate.

Easy to manoeuvre. Hydraulic rear-axle steering improves control on tight tracks and around infrastructure. Rear-axle ballast (2,600 kg total weight with ballast) adds grip and stability when working hard ground.

Built to last. Heavy-duty Brazilian construction, nylon bushed pivot points, and replaceable cutting edges keep the Nivella working for years with simple maintenance.

Two Machines, One Goal: A Better Next Season

The Katrina F5 and Nivella 585 tackle different jobs, but they share a purpose. Both help growers protect their soil, look after their infrastructure and set up the next crop for success, without adding labour or a large capital cost.

Burando Hill has been supporting Australian farmers from its branches in Katanning and Geraldton in WA and Wangaratta in Victoria. Our team can talk you through whether the Katrina, the Nivella, or both suit your program, your tractor and your country.

Get in touch before harvest wraps up.