A solution to forestry's woes
Forestry is never far from the news, not least because of the damage attributed to slash washing downstream during storms.
Fodder beet has seen a surge of interest, particularly in the South Island and, with this growth, importers have introduced machines for planting, harvesting and feeding.
One such machine for the latter group is the VDW beet cutter introduced by Agriline of Gore.
Offered in a range of four machines
with 850, 1200, 1700 and 3000kg capacities, these units are suitable for tractor/loader, tele-handler and payloader applications.
The 1200kg unit displayed at Fieldays would suit a 120hp, 6-cylinder tractor loader and would discharge its contents in around 80-90 seconds.
Its heavy duty hopper has a hydraulically driven chopping rotor in the base, chopping beet through a frame that releases hydraulically should any foreign objects such as stones or rocks be inadvertently loaded.
Mike Hamlin from Agriline says
stock fed unchopped beet took around three hours to consume 5kgDM, while those taking chopped beet consumed the same amount in 30-40 minutes, so the system gets much better crop utilisation rates.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand says it is seeing strong farmer interest in its newly launched nProve Beef genetics tool, with early feedback and usage insights confirming its value in helping farmers make better breeding decisions and drive genetic improvement in New Zealand's beef herd.
The Innovation Awards at June's National Fieldays showcased several new ideas, alongside previous entries that had reached commercial reality.
To assist the flower industry in reducing waste and drive up demand, Wonky Box has partnered with Burwood to create Wonky Flowers.
Three new directors are joining Horticulture New Zealand’s board from this month.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will leave the door wide open for continued conversions of productive sheep and beef farms into carbon forestry.
Federated Farmers says a report to Parliament on the subject of a ban on carbon forestry does not go far enough to prevent continued farm to forestry conversions.