Feeding maize silage in winter: Setting the herd up for success
As I write this article, we have just had our first frost in the Waikato, a change in weather signalling that winter is upon us.
Ag machinery specialists Origin Agroup has recently been appointed exclusive importer and distributor of the Mammut range of forage handling equipment, following successful trials during the 2015 season.
The Austrian company's Silo Fox silage distributor features a rotating drum driven by the tractor's PTO that can be mounted at the front or rear of the prime mover, and is designed to spread silage in an even, uniform layer, to primarily increase consolidation.
This has benefits in terms of improved fermentation to achieve silages of higher feed values, but is also said to help with creating more stable silage stacks which are safer to drive over for operators.
For the 2016 season Origin will introduce the Mammut Gigant 280 unit, which offers a 2.8 metre working width, a drum diameter of 1.28m and a unit weight of 970kg. This weight can be adjusted higher with the addition of water to the drum, to suit the carrying tractor and optimise consolidation.
At the heart of the machine, an over-dimensioned gearbox uses either 540 or 1000 PTO input speeds to achieve optimal rotational and circumferential speed to result in perfect spreading of the ensiled material.
The quality of spread is further enhanced by twin hydraulic rams between the headstock and the drum, which allows angling to the left or right, and allows grass to be shifted tightly against walls, or indeed away from the edges of un-walled clamps.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.