Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
The latest version of root crop specialist Grimme’s GL420 Exacta potato planter offers four-row planting in 90cm row widths.
Like the previous two, four, six and eight-row cup planter options, the GL420 offers accurate tuber placement with variable rate control. This allows the machine to cover the ground quickly.
Including the latest Grimme i-Systems technology, the Clever Planting system calculates the optimum planting space to maximise yield. It also has Section Control that automatically turns off the planting elements in the headlands and tramlines to help save seed, time and money.
The GL420 Exacta combination planter also includes integrated soil cultivation thanks to a GR360 hook tine tiller. Infurrow chemical treatments are also possible as Grimme has included dedicated liquid and granular applicators for tuber dressing and soil treatment.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.

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