Lely order book 'slightly better'
Dairy automation company Lely reported a 3.4% decline in total turnover last year but notes that sales are picking up.
Triple 'butterfly' or dual mower combinations have become increasingly popular, offering increased output and better utilisation of tractors that keep gaining horsepower.
Working in straight runs and sufficient overlap between the front and rear mowing units, missed crop is not usually a problem, but during turns and depending on the length of the combination, strips can often be missed, leaving what is often described as a Mohican finish.
Seeking to deliver optimum tracking on turns, reduce losses and offer precision without time-consuming adjustments, Pottinger has launched new automatic curved side shifting on the Novacat F 3100 mower.
This side shift system on the front mower guarantees a perfect overlap with the rear mower and ensures the tractor drives along a clear track free of forage when cornering and working on steep ground. The curved arc of movement means that the entire working width of the cutter bars can be used at all times, offering maximum productivity, unlike competitive solutions that use straightline side shift solutions, which can still leave several centimetres of crop remaining uncut.
In operation, should the tractor drift sideways when cornering or on steep terrain, the rear tyre of the tractor does not run over uncut grass because the mower shifts towards the inner radius of the curve, ensuring that no forage is left uncut, as the front mower overlaps perfectly with the rear unit.
The system works via its ability to detect the changing degrees of overlap between the front mower and the tractor or rear mower(s) and respond automatically. Automatic mode allows the operator to concentrate on their surroundings and driving the tractor, with the added advantage of fewer turning manoeuvres to “tidy up”, meaning there is less damage to the sward and the ground.
An optional ISOBUS automation package controls the side shift of the mower automatically, depending on the turning angle of the tractor or the inclination of the slope to the left or right. This means that the driver’s workload is significantly reduced because no intervention is required.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) chair Kate Acland says there are clear governance processes in place to ensure fairness and transparency.
This International Women's Day, there are calls to address a reported gender disparity gap between men women New Zealand's horticulture industry leadership.
WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for a death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.
Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen (N) loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.
Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser SustaiN – which contains a urease inhibitor that reduces the amount of ammonia released to the air – has now been registered by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). It is the first fertiliser in New Zealand to achieve this status.
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