Tractor, harvester IT comes of age
Over the last halfdecade, digital technology has appeared to be the “must-have” for tractor and machinery companies, who believe that bringing IT to tractors and farming will offer its customers huge benefits.
With a working width of up to 9.50m, the Claas Disco 9700 butterfly disc mower is available in five versions with the choice of tine or roller conditioner units and swath merging.
Combining Max Cut mower beds with quick knife change and the Active Float suspension, new features include the flow-optimised wear skids-first seen on the Disco 8500, 9300 and 1010 in 2022-offering the ability to increase cutting height by 15mm.
New swinging arms on all 9700 models can be hydraulically extended laterally by 300mm or pulled inwards by 50mm to adjust the cutter-bar overlap when turning corners or working across slopes, helping to avoid unmown strips of grass. The swing arm travel can be infinitely adjusted from the cab between 8.80 and 9.50m. When folded into transport position, the arms automatically retract to a height of less than 4.0m.
Suitable for tractors of up to 500hp, the 9700 RC (roller conditioner) and Auto Swather versions are specifically developed for lucerne and whole-crop silage, where material is gently crushed by two counter-rotating polyurethane rollers, with minimal leaf shatter. One, or both belt units can be folded up hydraulically when working without swath merging.
'A lot of interest and positive responses' appears to be the way farmers are viewing the Government's initiative to hold a series of woolshed meetings around the country.
A Southland farming leader wants the regional council to delay a proposed regional rates hike, much of which is intended to fund flood protection works.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says access to personal banking services in rural communities is fundamental to promoting outcomes that benefit Kiwi consumers.
A group set up to boost education and promotion of wool says it has made positive strides during the first year of its three-year strategy.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods says despite a challenging business environment, it has posted a net profit before tax of $61 million for 2023.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.