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.
German ploughing and cultivations specialist Lemken has released a new cultivator said to have a low draught requirement, while at the same time, always pulling straight behind the tractor.
The Karat 10, available in mounted or semimounted versions from three to seven metres, features a three-beam configuration, allowing the tines to be arranged symmetrically to ensure intensive mixing while also avoiding side draft. The latter is particularly important when using the cultivator with track guidance systems.
Further improvements to the Karat cultivator include, widened wing shares for shallow cultivation or narrow shares for deep cultivation, both options available with carbide coatings to increase service life in abrasive soils.
In addition, DeltaCut shares can be used for ultra-shallow cultivation, while the standard quickchange system allows shares to be changed quickly and easily for working depths of up to 30 cm.
Centrally adjustable levelling tines are said to ensure even levelling, while for improved results in heavier soils, specially shaped levelling discs, are also an option. Newly available boundary discs and tines can be folded mechanically or hydraulically.
The cultivator can also be optioned with a hydraulically adjustable leading disc section that is able to deal with large volumes of organic matter and ensure that the residues are incorporated completely into the soil. The discs, individually suspended on leaf springs, are said to chop organic matter, and break up coarse soil clumps to allow the machine to mix soil intensively and work without under-beam blockages.
Further options include a traction booster and the ContourTrack system which ensures an even working depth in hilly terrain are available for the semimounted models, a wide range of rear roller configurations, following harrows and a range of drawbars for specific crop types or dual wheel equipment.
OPINION: The recent Federated Farmers / Rabobank 2024 Farming Salaries Report revealed strong growth in farm salaries over the past two years.
The low unemployment environment is one of the key factors driving on-farm salaries higher over the past 24 months, says Rabobank general manager for country banking Bruce Weir.
Fonterra has appointed a new chief financial officer, seven months after its last CFO’s shock resignation.
A seminar on rural dispute resolution has been organised at Lincoln University, Christchurch this month.
The legacy of Dr Peter Snow continues to inspire as the recipients of the 2023 and 2024 Peter Snow Memorial Awards were announced at the recent National Rural Health Conference.
One of Fonterra’s global customers, Mars is launching an ambitious sustainable dairy plan to work with dairy farmers and cut emissions by 50%.