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.
Designed and assembled by David Short, a farmer and former shearer, Handypiece is a cordless shearing handpiece for portable shearing and tail trimming, powered by a long-life, rechargeable lithium battery.
The brushless motor means the battery lasts longer, offering the ability to crutch up to 400 sheep from a single charge.
The design features a traditional Lister handpiece barrel with a direct drive brushless motor attached to the rear, making it slim to hold and familiar for anyone, takes all standard combs & cutters of any brand, while the sealed unit is robust and easy care. Portable, with no power or shed to be used, the unit is quick to set up and noticeably quiet to use.
Offering convenience to keep on top of those dirty jobs, with resultant improved animal health, lifestyle shearers can use an optional customised cable to allow greater reach down the long blows and between the sheep legs.
The Handypiece Pro has the added feature of variable speed from 2600 – 3500rpm, typically being used at a mid-speed of around 2800rpm for dagging, crutching and trimming cows’ tails, while anyone requiring a better cut can wind it all the way up to 3500rpm.
The device also allows alpaca shearers to use a traditional handpiece that is slim to hold, with the advantage of being able to reduce the speed to the same as a clipper.
Visit www.handypiece.co.nz
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.