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.
Handypiece is a portable shearing and tall trimming tool, available at a reasonable price that requires no mains power.
After many hours of brainstorming, trouble shooting and trialling, David Short “married” a traditional Lister handpiece with a direct drive brushless motor attached to the rear to create the Handypiece.
This is a portable shearing and tail trimming tool, available at a reasonable price, with no mains power required.
Slim to hold and familiar for anyone who has ever used a hand piece before, the unit allows users to keep on top of problems like fly strike, keeping animal health to the optimum. Offering variable speed from 2,600 – 3,500rpm, Handypiece can crutch between 300-400 sheep from one battery charge.
For dagging, crutching and trimming cows’ tails, the unit is typically at a mid-speed of 2,800 rpm. Those requiring a finer cut while shearing can wind the speed up to the 3,500rpm maximum.
The machine also allows alpaca shearers to use a traditional handpiece that is slim to hold but has the ability to reduce the speed to that of a clipper.
Handypiece also can be customised for left handed users or configured with the power cord out of the middle of the motor, by right and left-handed users.
Being a traditional handpiece, it takes all standard combs and cutters of any brand the user prefers.
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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