Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
With Agritechnica 2023 just around the corner and a reputation for getting grass knocked over quickly, German manufacturer Krone has released details of two newcomers to their butterfly mower conditioner range in the shape of the EasyCut B1050 CV (Collect) and the EasyCut B880 CV/CR (Collect).
When matched with a 4m front mower unit, the maximum cutting width of the larger machine is 10.45 metres.
Both mowers are equipped as standard with the EasyCut cutter bar that is protected from impact damage by the SafeCut system that incorporates a shear pin that breaks and allows the cutting to wind itself upwards to leave the ‘danger zone’.
While the mower support arms on the B880 are adjusted mechanically into two fixed positions for a working width of 8.52m or 8.72m, the B1050 features hydraulic adjustment to provide stepless working width adjustment from 9.30 to 10.45m.
Both mowers are equipped with hydraulic cross conveyor belts to create a swath – a format said to be ideal in light crops and whole crop silage – with belt speed being adjusted from the cab and offering the option for the belts to be switched on or off individually.
Alternatively, swath merging on the Easy- Cut B1050 CV can be achieved with the optional Big-Swath auger conveyors that are also found on the Big M selfpropelled units and using 45cm-diameter augers behind the CV conditioner.
The B880 CR (Collect) is also available with roller-conditioner units for leafy crops, such as lucerne, while hydraulic functions of the B880 CV/CR include lifting the mower units on one or two sides or swivelling the cross conveyor belts in and out, can be preselected electrically as standard.
For ease of operation, transport height of the two mowers is under 4m, with both units unhitched and parked on hydraulically telescoping support jacks.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.