Fencing smarts from the Emerald Isle
While a leading New Zealand brand seems to have a stranglehold on the local electric fencing market, a company from the Green Isle seems to be making significant inroads, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Fencing specialist Strainrite has expanded its range of electric fence energisers.
It now markets six new solar powered units that can also be powered from a mains supply.
Some models also have a long life, lithium-ion phosphate battery that outperforms standard chemical batteries. The battery has a reliable life cycle, no memory fade and a long shelf life.
The new energisers also have adaptive power technology (APT), a concept developed in South Africa and widely patented.
In contrast to a conventional energiser which will push all available energy through arcing along a fence (so reducing the effectiveness and the integrity), the APT units will detect arcing and try to reduce voltage to a point just below where arcing occurs.
This helps maintain higher energy levels along the fence line, so improving its effectiveness.
In practice, the system maintains voltage at higher levels when, say, damaged or wet insulators, coastline salt build-up, long grass or stuck animals cause lengthy earthing.
The units also foils thieves with a user-chosen a PIN.
Entered and stored via a key chain remote, when the function is enabled the energiser cannot be operated until a remote with the correct PIN is presented.
Each time power is removed or restored to the energiser, the remote must be used to activate the unit.
Global trade has been thrown into another bout of uncertainty following the overnight ruling by US Supreme Court, striking down President Donald Trump's decision to impose additional tariffs on trading partners.
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill have been lifted.
Fonterra farmer shareholders and unit holders are in line for another payment in April.
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As expected, Fonterra has lifted its 2025-26 forecast farmgate milk price mid-point to $9.50/kgMS.
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