Yamaha acquires NZ’s Robotics Plus, boosting agricultural automation
New Zealand-based company Robotics Plus, a specialist in agricultural automation, has announced an agreement for it to be acquired by Yamaha Motor to form Yamaha Agriculture.
Confirming a move signalled over a year ago, in response to a directive by the Australian federal government that all quad bikes must be fitted with operator protection devices, Honda will stop selling quad bikes in Australia on October 10.
Instead, the motorcycle and vehicle manufacturer says it will focus on developing its market for side-by-sides/UTVs in Australia, after failing to convince the federal authorities to overturn its decision to force manufacturers to fit OPDs on new or used units from October 11th.
Honda is one of several manufacturers that disagree with the mandatory requirement to fit protection devices.
Director of Honda Australia Motorcycle and Power Equipment, Peter Singleton, says "safety standards must be evidence-based, in both criteria and testing methods, to internationally accepted standards.
"Honda has provided research to show the negative outcomes of the government's proposal but unfortunately it was rejected".
While Honda is said to be disappointed with the outcome of the negotiations, it has confirmed that it will continue to support its current quad bike (ATV) users through the transition.
Honda has always been and continues to be a strong advocate for rider safety, supporting all of the known and proven safety measures recommended by experts and coronial inquests, including the mandating of safety helmet use for all ATV and side-by-side riders, rider training and the prohibition of riders under the age of 16 from riding adult size vehicles.
"This will continue to be a strong focus for Honda right across our operations from rider training to marketing, dealer networks and after-sales support," said Singleton.
In 2019, the federal governmnet agreed on a suite of safety standards for quad bikes as recommended by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), who investigated ATV-related deaths on farms in the past 20 years. ACCC chairman Rod Sims has made it clear in recent weeks the commission is determined to push ahead with the compulsory fitting of rollover protection devices on quads.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.