Hose runner saves time and effort
Rakaia-based equipment manufacturer Pluck’s Engineering will soon start production of a new machine designed to simplify the deployment and retrieval of temporary water troughs used in winter break feeding.
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.
The Primary Production Select Committee is calling for submissions on the Valuers Bill currently before Parliament.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through its Growing Change project.
Lucidome Bio, a New Zealand agricultural biotech company was recently selected as one of fourteen global finalists to pitch at the Animal Health, Nutrition and Technology Innovation USA event in Boston.
Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.
The DairyNZ Farmers Forum is back with three events - in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
OPINION: Last week's announcement of Prime Minister’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council hasn’t gone down too well in the…
OPINION: At its recent annual general meeting, Federated Farmers’ Auckland province called for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris…