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Nexat a 270-degree rotating cab allows the unit to be driven manually between jobs and a prime position for monitoring in the paddock.
While popular in horticultural operations for harvesting over the past few decades, many growers have switched from gantry layouts in favour of very large self-propelled machines.
German company Kalverkamp is now looking to give the gantry a new lease of life. It recently took out the only gold medal for innovation offered by the Agritechnica Event.
Featuring autonomous operation, an electrical power source and modular construction – allowing operating widths from 6 to 24 metres – the machine can take care of tasks including cultivating, drilling, spraying and harvesting.
Called Nexat (next generation agricultural technology), a 270-degree rotating cab allows the unit to be driven manually between jobs and a prime position for process monitoring in the paddock.
While hydrogen power is planned for the future, currently the vehicle is fitted with twin 545hp (400kW) diesel engines that power electrical generators. This in turn powers the four rubber tracks, which rotate through 90 degrees for transport.
With the NexCo combine harvester module fitted, the vehicle is said to offer outputs of 130- 200 tonnes/hr, using a 5.8m-long dual axial rotor mounted transversely to the direction of travel, and a cutting width of 14 metres.
A 32 cubic metre grain tank is said to be large enough for most paddocks, with a 600 litre/ second unloading speed taking around one minute to empty at the headland.
Several manufacturers are involved in the development of implements for the system, such as Swedish company Väderstad, alongside German sprayer builder Damman.
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Samasz distributor FarmShop has introduced the new XDF Series Front Mowers, said to be refined for local conditions and to improve cutting precision and wear resistance.
There was much theatre in the Beehive before the Government's new Resource Management Act (RMA) reform bills were introduced into Parliament last week.
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The government is hailing the news that food and fibre exports are predicted to reach a record $62 billion in the next year.
The final Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction has delivered bad news for dairy farmers.
One person intimately involved in the new legislation to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) is the outgoing chief executive of the Ministry for the Environment, James Palmer, who's also worked in local government.
T&G Global says its 2025 New Zealand apple season has delivered higher returns for growers, reflecting strong global consumer demand and pricing across its Envy and Jazz apple brands.
