Lely order book 'slightly better'
Dairy automation company Lely reported a 3.4% decline in total turnover last year but notes that sales are picking up.
McIntosh beater wagons are getting praise from farmers who say that the unique design of its three PTO driven horizontal beaters allows better incorporation of different products and a more consistent output of the fodder than a conventional silage wagon.
Ideally suited for feed pad operations, yet still offering the versatility to be operated in the paddock, the wagons can handle a wide variety of products and feeds, with many farmers incorporating large square bales with their grass, cereal or maize pit silage as required.
Many farmers are using vegetable waste such as fodder beet that can be broken up far better in a Beater Wagon. Likewise, vegetable waste, citrus pulp and other products can be blended to a ration without going to the full expense of operating any other traditional silage or combi wagon.
There is no need for the tractor to be running during loading or stationary time to mix the products together, rather the PTO-driven beaters mix the feed as it is moved forward by the floor of the machine.
The company says some customers report that they have halved their labour and fuel costs by replacing their old mixer wagon with a McIntosh Beater Wagon, which doesn’t require additional mixing time, a high horsepower tractor or extended running times.
The versatility of these machines has also seen them utilised in different applications: Working closely with a grape grower in South Australia, the company developed a beater wagon for applying straw and compost directly on to the grapevine rows; the machine’s capacity, efficiency and even spread suiting this application.
Offered with capacities from 12 to 27 cubic metres, a heavy-duty construction sees a 5mm thick floor and 3mm sides with 75mm by 40mm channel floor slats. At the front of the machine, three PTO-driven, horizontal beater/augers with Bisalloy tips rotate towards the centre to create a homogenous mix as the floor moves forwards. A 900mm wide discharge conveyor allows a controlled delivery, while the extended range of options includes four floor chains, braking systems, 1200mm wide conveyor, a chain cross conveyor and a range of tyre options.
McIntosh Farm Machinery has strict attention to detail, long lasting value, and quality engineering and manufacturing ensures lasting value, widely recognised in the Australasian marketplace.
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The 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) chairman, Rangiora farmer Andrew Stewart, is predicting a successful event on the back of good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.
WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for a death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.
Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen (N) loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.
Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.
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Precision application of nitrogen can improve yields, but the costs of testing currently outweigh improved returns, according to new research from Plant and Food Research, MPI and Ravensdown.
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