100 years of Farmall Tractors
Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of Ashburton on 6-7th April.
While global player John Deere and German manufacturer Horsch are believed to be well down the track with autonomous field robots, it looks like Dutch start-up company AgXeed will be the first to enter series production with the aptly named AgBot.
Power is provided by an off-the-shelf Deutz four-pot churning out 156hp, this in turn is mated to a generator that powers an electrical driveline at speeds of up to 13.5km/h.
The AgBot is also able to power implements with up to 136hp available through 700-volt electrical connections. An example is the Imants rotary spader/subsoiler, which was converted to electrical drive for field trial in the 2020 European autumn.
Offering infinitely variable track width from 1,800 to 3,000mm, the robot can carry up to three tonnes out front and upt to eight tonnes on the rear linkage and hydraulic flow of up to 80 litres per minute. Implement mounting is via a largely conventional three-point linkage, although implements are folded over the top of the unmanned machine for transport.
To move between farms a separate twin-wheel axle and drawbar assembly is used to move the unit.
The machine's autonomous functions combine technologies such as GPS, positional sensors and optical recognition to avoid obstacles.
A second unit is about to hit the paddocks of Europe in the coming weeks. This time it is configured with a 100kW (125hp) electrically-driven PTO system that will allow the use of standard implements like power harrows or rotary hoes. This unit, which will be followed by a third later in the year, will also feature independent track suspension.
The first 10 production machines are expected in 2022, with an expected price tag of around €250,000 (NZ$420,000). Larger volumes are expecte to follow the following year.
By that stage, the company says the AgBot will be available with interchangeable tracks with a maximum width of 910mm.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…
OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…