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.
Released in Europe in 2024 and having just arrived in time for National Fieldays, Giltrap Agrizone will be exhibiting two new machines from Irish manufacturer Malone Farm Machinery.
The Tedd-air 1128T, trailed tedder, becomes the flagship in the range, offering a 11.2 metre (36-feet) working width, to complement the existing Tedd-air 840 T (8.4m/ 27.6-feet).
First introduced in 2015, the range is built for arduous conditions, featuring a robust frame and heavy-duty drivetrain, sourced from well-known manufacturers Walterscheid and Comer.
Up front, the tedder is coupled to the tractor’s lower link arms using a two-point headstock, rear transport wheels, with individual wheels, supporting eight tedding rotors, each of 1.6 metre diameter, carrying seven, “double-hook” spring steel tines.
The forward angled tines, configured with three-stage height adjustment allow the grass to be gently lifted, inverted and placed back on the ground behind the machine. Tipping the scales at 2860kg, despite its impressive working width, the 1128 T, hydraulically fold to a transport width of three metres, a height of 2.9 metres and an overall length of 5.6 metres.
Operated via a 540 speed PTO input, standard equipment includes a headland management curtain to keep crop away from fences lines, a locking system, lighting kit and 16 x 6 x 5.8 flotation tyre equipment, with a spare wheel/tyre mounted on the frame.
Also new from the Malone stable is a duo of disc-only mowers, the Procut 3000 and 3400 FP models, with mowing widths of 3.0 and 3.4 metres, respectively. Featuring a heavy-duty frame, the mower assemblies are mounted using a parallel linkage that effectively “pulls” rather than “pushes” the mower, meaning it achieves much greater ground adaptability and rises over, rather than ploughing through any immoveable objects.
The cutter-bar and gearbox modules are once again supplied by industry leader Comer, with the former equipped with either, seven or eight disc assemblies, each carrying twin, 4mm thick blades. PTO input is 1000rpm, via a heavy-duty Walterscheid assembly, protected by friction and over-run clutches, over-run protection and heavy-duty wear plates.
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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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