ErgoPOD set for 2025 farm debut
Waikato Milking Systems has unveiled the final production version of its ErgoPOD, a state-of-the-art semi-robotic technology designed to increase milking speed, productivity, and efficiency in the parlour.
Numedic Ltd has acquired a major part of Waikato Milking Systems' effluent and environmental business, including the well-known Cobra range of travelling rain gun irrigators.
The company says customers have been asking for a travelling rain gun for many years.
As farms got bigger, it became clear to the Numedic team that a larger capacity travelling irrigator was needed to spread effluent efficiently on medium to larger scale operations.
"I really liked the Cobra K2 product since the first time I sold it and commissioned it", says Marina Millar, Numedic's director.
"It's very efficient, the performance is unmatched, it is easy to operate, and you can see that it is a well-engineered product."
Waikato Milking Systems' new owners, Italian giant Interpump Group, decided to sell the Cobra back to a company that specialises in effluent irrigation.
"We know dairy effluent and are Green Tick authorised to design effluent systems. The Cobra range of products fills a gap in our range," says Millar.
With its longer jet length and higher pressure at the gun, capable of achieving over 100 metres irrigation width, the King Cobra K2 Travelling Raingun can achieve extremely low depths often required on high-risk soil areas.
A six-speed gearbox coupled with its longer distance rain gun and a range of nozzle sizes allows the irrigator be set up to achieve the optimum performance for the farm.
It can travel more slowly, distributing a greater volume of effluent at the required application rate, and minimising the need for regular labour input.
"Aside from helping to ensure compliance, which is critical these days, the King Cobra K2 is a patented product that has been progressively improved over the years and this development and improvement is ongoing - a true Kiwi ingenuity story," says Millar.
Cobra irrigators are sold through a wide dealer network throughout the country.
Whole milk powder prices on Global Dairy Trade (GDT) remains above long run averages and a $10/kgMS milk price for the season remains on the card, says ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown.
North Canterbury dairy farmer and recently elected deputy chair of DairyNZ, Cameron Henderson is not afraid to break the mould when it comes to finding farming systems that work for him.
Former Fonterra director Marise James says the future of the dairy industry depends upon the direction of travel with respect to climate change.
Marise James describes her 38-year career as a rural and farmer advisor as one that has ridden the waves of many changes.
Farmers are calling for Kiwi banks and their overseas parent companies need to follow the lead of America's six biggest banks and urgently withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance.
Dairy farmers are faring well despite data showing above average temperatures for most of the country.
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