Five year warranty deal
Hustler Equipment, manufacturer of livestock feeding machinery, has announced the introduction of a new, five-year warranty scheme for all their products manufactured in 2023 and later.
Feeding specialists Hustler have recently introduced a three point linkage bale feeder that looks to take conventional design thinking on its head.
The new SL360X is the result of an extensive 12 month testing programme here in New Zealand, and sees a new machine with a rated capacity of 1.25 tonnes; it is said to be 8% heavier and 30% stronger than previous models.
Described as multi-purpose, the machine has another fence that allows it to contain up to 1m3 of feed. It can feed pit, loose and maize silage, as well as fodder beet and cut grass.
Improvements have been made to the auto connect and release system using the patented Snaplox coupler that ensures accurate connect and disconnect every time, and incorporates a double-latching setup said to be stronger and to eliminate stress on the loading spears.
Bale spears have forged points that make bale penetration easier, and counter the need to push bales along the ground, risking soil contamination which can be a major problem with blunt tines.
A new thermo-formed floor design sees an increase in height around the feed platform, and encloses the machine drive shafts to prevent any crop buildup and reduce maintenance downtime.
A redesign of the machine's headstock now sees it easily adapted to fit to high capacity frontloaders or telehandlers; this opens up the possibility of feeding over barriers or into mixer/feeder wagons. An optional side-shift system allows up to 180mm of offset to the left or right and helps ensure accurate placement of feed in all situations.
A further series of upgrades sees the use of bearing covers, motor protection on the head unit, and self-aligning bearings used extensively, which are said to require less greasing, extending the routine maintenance schedules.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
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