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.
Quite often the need to regularly agitate dairy effluent ponds or tanks is overlooked in the initial design stages.
This will likely lead to problems later down the track with crusting, sludge and sand build-up, ultimately reducing storage capacity and likely causing pump or irrigator blockages.
In all cases of effluent storage and distribution, the theory is to keep the solids in suspension, meaning pumping so the sludge and sand is being constantly removed from the system to the paddock.
Yardmaster offers an extensive range of effluent stirrers that are designed to meet specific application requirements and customer feature preference. In recent years, safety and ease of service has seen a move towards shore-mounted solutions.
The Yardmaster shore-mounted stirrer comes in two lengths and with two power ratings. Features include a winch for prop height adjustment and adjustable slew angle, allowing a wide range of prop placement within the pond. This means all areas can be agitated and solids incorporated into the effluent.
The Yardmaster shore-mounted stirrer is ideal for ponds, offering the capability of stirring up to 9 million litres using 11kW.
An in-ground pond might not be a viable option in certain applications – such as a high-water table or difficult topography. In which case, it is likely that an above ground tank may be required. Yardmaster can deal with the agitation of such storage solutions.
A Yardmaster over-the-wall stirrer frame and submersible stirrer can be used, with the stirrer frame able to accommodate up to a 4.3 metre wall height tank. The submersible stirrer can be removed using the frame without needing to drain the tank or use a Hiab.
These stirrers are available in 1.5 to 7.5kW options and offer the ability to agitate up to 2 million litres.
Yardmaster stirrers are also available for inground tanks, floating pontoons and fixed wall installations.
Now in its fourth year, the 2026 Fencing Industry Awards, formed part of the proceedings of the FCANZ Conference, held in Nelson during August.
DairyNZ deputy chair Cameron Henderson has been re-appointed unopposed for another term.
OPINION: The stats speak for themselves.
Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are coming to the West Coast of the South Island.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…