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.
Last year, Vredo released its DZ5 platform – a range of newly developed, innovative machines offering a solution to (re)seed professional grass in the fine turf sector.
The newly developed Stitch roller for its DZ5 series – recently introduced as the Synergy compact – uses a double-disc principle combined with this stitch roller seeding technique.
The “stitching” process is sowing grass seed into the soil, by thin sharp tines to make many small incisions (cuts) and better trapping the seed. Typical results show a 68% germination rate, which is significantly higher than the “dimple seeders” so far available on the market.
With the Stitch Compact, Vredo has developed a seeder that incorporates two pendulum-suspended Stitch rollers to make 1600 incisions per m2. The seed is broadly deposited in the interrupted cuts and guided into the soil. An even sowing pattern is formed, due to the 17mm narrow row spacing.
The machine is intended for seeding when there is a short recovery period – maybe between sports events or in loose (rolled) soil when first seeding.
As standard, the Stitch Compact is equipped with a smooth roller to further seal the cuts and ensures that the seed is well bedded in.
The machine has a large seed hopper, maintenance-free variator with seamless dosage adjustment and accurate seed dosage for high efficiency. It also incorporates a standard weight carrier for applying more weight.
www.norwood.co.nz
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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