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.
New Plymouth-based AgriQuip has been appointed as the exclusive importer and distributor of the Major Equipment brand, with the aim of distributing a selection of products from the company’s range of grasscutting equipment.
Mark Hamilton of AgriQuip says, “Major has a trusted reputation around the world for high quality, durable machines, particularly in the design and engineering of their grass-cutting ranges. Our customers are always looking for hard-working machinery to suit New Zealand conditions and the Major products fit the bill.”
AgriQuip will stock the Major Cyclone Mower, a hybrid machine combining the best features of batwing and flail mowers, available in 2m to 6.3m working widths. The rotary cutter delivers the same shredding capabilities as a flail mower, but with only half the fuel consumption and power requirements. The Cyclone is said to be ideal for grassland maintenance, crop stubble shredding and orchard floor management, as well as scrubland control and land clearance.
The Major Swift Roller Mower is designed for fine turf applications including parklands, sports grounds and roadway maintenance, engineered to deliver a superior finish. A geardriven driveline eliminates the issues associated with belt-driven machines, while full-width rollers follow ground contours offering precise height control and eliminating scalping. Available in linkage mounted or trailed configurations, the Swift Roller Mowers are available in working widths from 1.9m to 7.3m.
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.