Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
StocksAg has introduced a mounting kit to fit its Turbo Jet 8 or 10 units to pneumatic trailed SKY EasyDrills, allowing separate metering and accurate application of products like Avadex through an additional set of outlets behind the drill’s press wheel.
The mounting kit features a loading platform, steps, and guardrail that meet all safety regulations and maintain a safe working environment.
“The new mounting kit will meet the needs of EasyDrill owners looking for an applicator that will precisely meter and accurately spread Avadex granules through a separate distribution circuit,” says Greg Moore, Norwood brand manager – equipment.
The 240-litre hopper includes an Avadex feed block metering roller, 32mm seed hoses, and ten outlet spreader plates for an even application. Granules are applied directly to the seed bed behind the drill allowing for a consistent, even spread pattern.
A Turbo Jet Avadex applicator fitting kit is also available for the 4m and 8m EasyDrills: the 4m with a Turbo Jet 8 (8 outlets); the 8m EasyDrill with the Turbo Jet 10 (20 outlets) and the option of a 400-litre hopper.
For ease of operation, the Turbo Jet is fitted with the intuitive i-CON Control, which allows for rates to be automatically controlled in proportion to forward speed for ultimate accuracy.
When the Turbo Jet is not being used for applying Avadex, it can be used as an additional applicator, enabling a fully specified drill to apply five products at once through three different outlets at variable rates of product with mapping data using a GPS based touch screen.
“Although an ideal applicator for Avadex, the unit can also be used for applying clover seed, full-rate grass reseeds or cover crops if mounted to a wide variety of machines, including grass harrows and cultivators,” says Moore.
In news from Sky Agriculture, with a capacity from 2200 to 2400l, the Progress TF is claimed to be the first front hopper capable of managing up to four hoppers, via a single ISOBUS interface. Allowing the simultaneous delivery of four distinct products, through two independent air circuits, flow rate from the pressurised pneumatic circuit is up to 60 kg/min, while the wide opening cover is said to simplify filling and maintenance.
A single attachment point to the tractor, as well as keeping things simple, also maintains a constant angle between the TF and the side pipe. Fitted with work lights as standard, options include a twin-wheel front packer, and the EDrive system.
The latter allows in-cab control of the opening and closing of each row, for simplified and universal tramlining management, regardless of sprayer width, while it is also possible to seed every other row.
Additionally, with the new CCI console paired with a guidance system, automatic tramlining is possible.
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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