Feeder

A feeder comprising:

• a feed device having:
• a material receiving end for receiving material;
• a material discharge end distal of the material receiving end;
• an endless conveyor disposed to define a conveying surface between the material receiving end and the discharge end movable in use to cause material received at the material receiving end to be conveyed to the material discharge end,
• wherein the endless conveyor comprises a plurality of successively arrayed metal plates, pans or flights;
• a material flow monitoring device disposed in association with the feed device and adapted to obtain in use a measurement representative of a quantity of material passing along the conveying surface of the endless conveyor;
• wherein the feed device is conformed as a surge conveyor;
• the feeder further comprises a chassis supporting the feed device;
• and a transport carriage supporting the chassis and adapted to cause the feeder to be movable across a surface for deployment in use;
• and
• the material flow monitoring device is adapted to obtain a measurement representative of at least one of:
• a volume of material passing along the conveyor;
• and
• a weight of material passing along the conveyor.