What a Kelly Chain does
One pass. Paddock ready.
A 40 ft Kelly Chain covers ground at pace. Stubble down, surface weeds knocked, seedbed opened up. All three in one run across the paddock, at low input cost and without full cultivation.
40 ft Dawson Ag Kelly Chain running at operating speed. Dry hire from Goondiwindi.
Where it earns its keep
- Weed knockdown. Gets on top of germinating weeds and early broadleaves before they set root. One pass ahead of planting cuts weed pressure without reaching for a chemical program.
- Stubble management. Breaks down and disperses harvest residue so it does not mat into a seedbed problem. Works across cereal, sorghum and canola stubble, and does not bury it so deep you lose the organic matter return.
- Seedbed preparation. Lightly cultivates the surface and improves soil-to-seed contact without the cost or soil disturbance of a full cultivation pass. Useful before oats, forage crops and cover crops where establishment needs to be clean.
- Pasture renovation. Opens up compacted or tired pasture and lifts overseeding strike rates when you are refreshing country ahead of the break-of-season. Works well on kikuyu, panic and mixed native pastures before overseeding with legumes.
Best results when weeds are small, soil surface is dry enough to work, and you are running 100 HP or above. That is the window where a Kelly Chain pays for its hire rate inside a single paddock.
Hire information
Hire by the hectare.
We run four 40 ft Kelly Chains, spread across Southern QLD and Northern NSW so one is rarely far from your gate. Priced per hectare so you pay for the paddocks you cover, not a fixed hire window.
What your hire includes
- Dry hire of a 40 ft Kelly Chain, priced per hectare covered
- Pickup from our Goondiwindi yard, or delivery arranged on request
- Machine arrives field-ready, serviced and set up for your tractor size
- Phone support from Jeremy if you hit a setup question on the first run
How to book
Call or email us with your dates, paddock size and tractor horsepower. We will confirm availability and sort the logistics.
Pick it up from Goondiwindi or have it delivered to your gate. Machine is set up and ready to run when it leaves the yard.
Clobber Your Clods!
Stubble, clods, surface weeds. The Kelly Chain runs them down. Hire it, use it, send it back. That is the whole plan.
Book the Kelly Chain
Complete your paddock prep
Chasing the Kelly with the Grizzly.
Harvesters, sprayers and heavy equipment leave deep wheel tracks behind. A Kelly Chain pass does not fix compacted ruts. For that, the Grizzly Wheel Track Renovator is the right tool, also available for dry hire from the same Goondiwindi yard.
Run the Kelly first to break stubble and knock weeds. Follow with the Grizzly to fill and level compacted wheel tracks in the same paddock. Many growers do both machines in a single paddock prep window before planting. It gives you a clean seedbed from headland to headland rather than good soil between the tracks and compacted rubbish on the lines.
Common questions
Before you book.
What tractor size does the Kelly Chain need?
100 HP minimum for the 40 ft chain on most soil types. On heavier black soils or through thick stubble, 120 HP or above gives you better ground coverage and consistent operating depth. Most broadacre tractors on the Darling Downs have more than enough. If you are not sure, call us with your tractor model and we will tell you straight.
Can the Kelly Chain be delivered to my property?
Yes. We run four Kelly Chains spread across Southern QLD and Northern NSW, so when you book we route the closest one to your gate. Delivery cost depends on distance and timing. Give us your location and dates when you enquire and we will include a delivery quote in the hire terms.
How is the hire priced?
Per hectare covered, not by time. Standard rate is $9.50 per hectare + GST for jobs over 500 ha. Smaller jobs under 500 ha are $10 per hectare + GST. You only pay for the country you actually run, and we work around your crop calendar rather than a fixed hire window.
Can I run the Kelly Chain and the Grizzly renovator in the same paddock prep?
Yes, and many growers do. The Kelly knocks the stubble and surface weeds; the Grizzly follows to fill and level the wheel tracks. Running them together in the same prep window gives you a clean, level seedbed before planting. Both machines are available from the same Goondiwindi yard and can be delivered together.
Is a Kelly Chain pass enough on its own for weed control?
It reduces weed pressure significantly when weeds are small and you catch them at the right stage. On its own it is a cultural tool, not a herbicide replacement. For growers using integrated weed management, a Kelly pass ahead of planting often reduces in-crop spray requirements. We always recommend discussing timing with your agronomist to get the most out of the pass.
Is the Kelly Chain suitable for pasture renovation?
Yes. It opens up compacted pasture without over-cultivating and improves overseeding strike when you are putting legumes back in. Works particularly well on kikuyu and mixed native pastures before the break-of-season. Best results when soil moisture is moderate, not bone dry.