increase font size
ProAg-Wearparts is the third major distributor of hay and silage nets to join Plasback on-farm plastics recycling scheme.
Nationwide crop packaging distributor ProAg-Wearparts has joined the Plasback on-farm plastics recycling scheme.
By doing so, it becomes the third significant distributor of hay and silage nets, twines and wraps to join the Plasback scheme in 2022.
ProAg-Wearparts development manager Nathan Wycherley says the company joined Plasback to support its customers and the wider agricultural industry as they work to establish world-leading sustainability practices.
"We have been concerned about the life cycle of agricultural plastic for some time, and today there is much more awareness of the issue among farmers and the public," Wycherley says.
Plasback is currently the only government-approved product stewarship scheme in the country that deals with silage film.
Wycherley says Plasback has invested a lot of money to build up their service.
"We hope that our support will help them continue to develop a collection service that is economically viable to our customers and provides more efficient processing of used silage wrap."
Plasback commercial manager Neal Shaw applauds the leadership shown by ProAg and the other agricultural consumables suppliers that have joined the scheme.
"Now that ProAg has joined us, we have the support of the suppliers of more than 90% of the stretch film and silage covers sold in New Zealand.
"It sends a clear message to the wider industry and government that this sector is serious about recycling and product stewardship."
Shaw says that the Ministry for the Environment has set a target date of June 2024 to have a mandatory, industry-wide product stewarship scheme in place for all agricultural plastics.
Discussion about the shape of that scheme are now underway. Plasback wants to ensure any levies applied do not significantly increase the amount that farmers have to pay to cover the cost of recycling.
"Plasback has shown that when farmers and suppliers directly cover some of the cost of collection and reprocessing, it is possible to provide an efficient, cost-effective service. We want this model to be part of any future product stewardship scheme," Shaw says.
"Now that virtually all Kiwi silage wrap distributors are part of Plasback, we can advocate on their behalf and on behalf of industry bodies, such as Fonterra, that support our service."
Bigger, Better
Former Manawatu sheep, beef and deer farmer John Wycherley established ProAg in 2010. In 2018 ProAg acquired and merged with ag machinery parts supplier Wearparts.
Today ProAg-Wearparts provides wearing parts and crop packaging throughout New Zealand from their central base in Feilding and storage and dispatch centres in Dunedin, Christchurch and Auckland.
In addition to ProAg, the other companies that have become Plasback sponsors this year are Webbline and Integrated Packaging. Companies that joined the scheme prior to that are Grevilla Ag Tulloch Farm Machines, Nutritech, Donaghys and Agpac.
Shaw says as the pressure on farmers to deal with their waste plastic builds, some potential recyclers may look to cut corners by collecting loose plastic rather than use Plasback's bin and liner system. This can reduce the value of the waste plastic to manufacturers because it is dirty and more difficult to deal with.
"The bin and liner system we introduced to New Zealand almost 16 years ago works well, and the factories we sell to appreciate it. We don't want to see the New Zealand get a reputation for supplying low-quality recyclables."
Massey Ferguson has announced a strategic supply partnership with International Tractors Limited (ITL), a manufacturer of low-horsepower and compact tractors, with recognised brands such as Sonalika and Sollis, to expand its portfolio with a new tractor range.
With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
Becoming the norm in the automobile industry, but much less so in agriculture, Dutch self-propelled sprayer manufacturer Agrifac has developed a diesel-electric version of its Vanguard 55.
Building on the success of the existing Massey Ferguson 7S series, ahead of the upcoming EIMA Show, the manufacturer has announced the arrival of its new MF 7S MARK 2 range, offering six choices from 170 to 245hp, positioned between the current MF 7S and the MF 8S Xtra series.
French manufacturer Pichon has expanded its SV slurry tanker range with the launch of two new models.
OPINION: Political parties are getting plenty of advice and recommendations from sector groups as the election approaches.
In farming there are external factors that can influence behaviour of a whole herd, such as a bad weather event, triggering false positive heat detections or health attentions.
For Canterbury dairy farmer Cameron Henderson, supporting Meet the Need comes down to a simple question: how can the success of New Zealand farming benefit more than just those within the industry?
Fonterra board members are in line for a pay rise of around 3%.
Dairy processors are ready to further boost New Zealand’s export earnings but want the incoming government to match their ambition with good policy.
Federated Farmers has welcomed new rural policies released by ACT, saying they align closely with its own election priorities.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
