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What's new in machinery and products.
John Deere used Agritechnica 15 to showcase a silver medal-winning system called E-Z Ballast. It uses a 1.7 tonne weight fitted to the underside of the tractor chassis. The system is said to be easily attached or removed from the driver's seat. In operation it does not compete with the linkage for space and helps optimise weight distribution for increased productivity.
Frontloader specialist Stoll has developed a semi-automatic system to enable easy programming of two preferred heights of operation. Called Boom Kick-Out, and available on the Profi-line range of loaders, it allows the operator to select a lower position, typically for loading, and a higher one for filling trailers or feeder/mixer wagons. Benefits include reductions in loading cycles, fuel consumption and wear and tear.
McCormick is about to launch the new X8 series comprising three models -- 264, 286 and 310hp. Using Beta Power engines sourced from FPT and mated to a ZF sourced CVT transmission, rear lift capacity is said to be 12 tonnes. A new cabin design completes the package.
Toyota luxury arm Lexus has unveiled a visionary concept that for a high output fuel cell system that would drive the car's rear wheels and send power to a pair of in-wheel motors at the front. The unique layout allows precise torque distribution between front and rear, giving exceptional handling and stability.
Krone has released its ActiveMow mower range, with some models at smaller working widths but featuring specifications from higher-end units including the flagship Big M self-propelled machine. SmartCut, SafeCut, cutter bar protection and a large headstock combine for best mowing performance, and a vertical storage design saves space in the machinery shed. Working widths are 2.05-3.61m.
Cultivation and drilling specialist Great Plains has unveiled its new Saxon range of cultivator drills. They come in working widths of 3 and 4m and suit minimal disturbance situations. The drill is dual purpose: it can plant directly into a no-till seedbed with heavy trash residues, or work in a plough-based system needing extra cultivation before drilling. The key to this is a turbo coulter that can be exchanged for the angled, notched cultivation discs found on the company's Centurion machine -- as conditions dictate. Seed delivery, placement and consolidation remain common across both ranges.
Twelve months after its release, the all-new John Deere S7 combine harvester has been put through its paces across a range of grain-growing regions, so producers can see first-hand its potential productivity and efficiency benefits.
Designed to allow customers to adopt technology and reduce costs, John Deere’s Precision Essentials Programme, offers those customers the option to either buy all their precision agriculture (PA) technology upfront, or select only the hardware and software that will be most valuable to their business.
Anyone who has been round baling and released a completed bale on a slope will remember the feeling of dread as the bale gathers speed and rolls off down the hillside, hopefully to be stopped by the hedgerow or the paddock levelling out.
While widely known for its extensive agricultural machinery ranges, German company is also a major producer of trailers for the commercial road haulage industry in Europe.
John Deere has started the New Year with the release of JDLink Boost, using a satellite connectivity solution to ensure customers continue seamless work in fields with little to no cellular coverage.
At a gala evening held at Palmerston North in March, the sporting and rural communities came together to celebrate the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
Assessing pasture cover has just been become easier, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) has appointed Dr Scott Champion as its new chief executive.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has launched a powerful new tool to help commercial beef farmers select the best bulls for their farm businesses.
Air quality is a major safety issue for New Zealand, with approximately 650 deaths per year caused by cancer attributable to airborne contaminants.
Three weeks on from Bremworth’s board overhaul, the carpet maker’s chief executive Greg Smith is stepping down.
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.
