Lely order book 'slightly better'
Dairy automation company Lely reported a 3.4% decline in total turnover last year but notes that sales are picking up.
Case IH has added to its telescopic loader range with the introduction of the Farmlift 626, said to offer a more compact design, reduced turning radius for greater manoeuvrability and lower overall height.
The design should offer better access to low doorways, buildings and around yards, meaning the machine should be well suited to livestock operations or around grading lines and packhouses.
The machine is powered by a 74hp (54.6kW) four-cylinder engine, driving through a single-range 30km/h hydrostatic transmission, while a mechanical electroproportional hydraulic system features a gear pump providing 80 l/min of oil flow at 210 bar pressure.
Maximum lift capacity is 2600kg, with a maximum lift height of 5.9m, an increase of 200mm over its predecessor. Headstock rotation is 155 degrees, aimed at greater dump angles and quicker unloading times.
Key dimensions are an overall length of just over 4m, combined with a wheelbase of 2.52m, said to deliver exceptional stability when lifting heavy loads or travelling at speed. Enhanced manoeuvrability is achieved by a 1.89m overall width, 1.93m height and a turn radius of 3.25m. Despite the narrow overall width, the 960mm-wide cab is broader than the model it replaces, providing increased operator comfort.
A range of new options includes a factory- fitted trailer hitch and hydraulic or pneumatic trailer braking. Carbon cabin filters for the ventilation system to protect operator health in particularly dusty conditions.
An optional telematics package provides identification of location, plus automated monitoring and recording of operating and performance data. Via the Case IH FieldOps app, data from the 626 and all connected machines in a fleet can be monitored via any online smart device or PC.
The 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) chairman, Rangiora farmer Andrew Stewart, is predicting a successful event on the back of good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.
WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for a death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.
Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen (N) loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.
Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser SustaiN – which contains a urease inhibitor that reduces the amount of ammonia released to the air – has now been registered by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). It is the first fertiliser in New Zealand to achieve this status.
Precision application of nitrogen can improve yields, but the costs of testing currently outweigh improved returns, according to new research from Plant and Food Research, MPI and Ravensdown.
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