Safer Farms Champions Promote Quad Bike Crush Protection Devices
Safer Farms Regional Champions are putting Crush Protection Devices (CPDs) through their paces and sharing their first-hand experiences with other farmers.
New Zealand buyers of quads and side x sides now have a wider choice with the arrival of the Chinese brand Hisun.
Set up about a year ago, Hisun Motors NZ has organised its distribution and support and is now recruiting dealers in 15 regions.
Hisun Industries, based in Chongqing, China was formed about 30 years ago. Beyond its home base it has a large presence in the US where much of its R&D and engineering is done.
Interestingly, the company will soon release an all-electric machine with a typical range of 80km.
The company makes about 40,000 petrol-powered units each year, some of them known to Kiwis as Massey Ferguson and Cub Cadet.
Under its own banner, Hisun markets 4WD quads and side x sides from 400 to 1000cc.
Predictably the prices are attractive, particularly so given the high levels of equipment offered as standard.
For example, the Vector 500cc four-wheel drive quad is priced at $12,500, powered by Hisun’s own single cylinder engine with Delphi fuel injection and mated to a Canadian CV Tech transmission with good downhill braking.
Standard equipment includes on-demand 4WD, a front locking diff, 26-inch rubber on alloy wheels and air-assisted shock absorbers, the latter giving a very comfortable ride even on tough terrain.
Towing capacity is 580kg and carrying capacity 250kg.
The machine comes fitted with a 3500lb, front-mounted winch, a mix of LED and halogen lighting, roof, windscreen, toolbox and 2-person seating in a bench-style layout.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.