Friday, 14 December 2018 08:19

Camera picks out clover

Written by 
Clover Cam. Clover Cam.

A new sward scanner soon to be launched by Agrointelli (a spin-off from Kongskilde) produces data usable in variable-rate fertiliser plans.

The Clover Cam camera fits any tractor, attaching about 1m above the crop. There it differentiates between clover, grass and weeds during paddock surveys – the key to variable-rate fertiliser plans whereby products are applied selectively rather than ‘blanketed’ over the ground. 

The main benefit is increased grass yields. 

Control is via a cab-mounted box; the mapping software is supplied by the developer. Ten units are now in final testing, pending commercial launch, the company says.

Meanwhile, Kongskilde’s Robotti multipurpose autonomous tool carrier is available in 1.5m and 3m working widths, fitting most 3m implements on the market without modification.

Capable of drilling, weeding and spraying, the Robotti operates using a RTK signal from any GPS software; this is defined as ‘supervised autonomy’, whereby once a paddock is mapped the navigation planner will work out the most efficient route to do the job. 

The user can still control the unit via a tablet and drive it manually for loading on trailers for transport. 

Power comes from two 24hp Kubota 3-cylinder engines mounted on either wing, with the option of electric power in the wings for the future.

More like this

Diet mixer for big herds

Kongskilde has launched heavy duty transmission for its large complete diet mixers, citing larger dairy herds, longer mixing times and its success with its Mix+ concept.

Get the diet right

Designed to handle, chop, mix and feed all types of baled and loose feedstuffs, the Kongskilde VM series diet mixers come in 6.5m3 to 45m3 sizes made from S500 and S650 steel to last longer.

Featured

Farewell Jim

In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Fonterra vote

OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.

Follow the police beat

OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter