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.
Swedish implement manufacturer Quicke is expanding its Powergrab series with two new models – designed for silage handling with front-end, telescopic and wheeled loaders.
The L+ model is designed for loaders with lift capacities up to 5.5 tonnes. Meanwhile, the XL+ is suitable for loaders with up to 10 tonnes lift capacity.
These two newcomers are powerful bucket grabs for silage handling. The models are suited to farms with high feed demands, utilising powerful hydraulic cylinders to handle all types of silage – including grass and corn silage, loose feed and liquids.
The two new models offer significant improvements. These include a grab design that uses four pivot bearings for improved stability, alongside a cut-out to allow it to be used on loaders with Z-link kinematics for the crowd and dump functions.
Both models hold silage loads securely in place. The side plates and side tines designed to prevent spillage, while the bucket body features an integrated spill guard at the top to prevent any losses.
The Powergrab L+ has an opening width of 2 metres and has a capacity of 2.1 cubic metres. While the higher capacity XL + unit opens to 2.14 metres with a capacity of 3 cubic metres.
Both models are available with the M24 bolt-on-hook system, making them suitable for all popular loader types, with availability for autumn 2024.
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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