Tractor, harvester IT comes of age
Over the last halfdecade, digital technology has appeared to be the “must-have” for tractor and machinery companies, who believe that bringing IT to tractors and farming will offer its customers huge benefits.
Specialised root crop harvester manufacturer Grimme has announced updates to the third generation of its Varitron 470 self-propelled harvester.
These include a more modern design, a new suspension system to simplify attachment and removal of the haulm topper, and more input power for the haulm topper.
Further new features include the Speedtronic-web system. This provides automatic speed adjustment, allowing the main webs to be controlled according to forward speed and crop load.
Additionally, the rotational direction of the extraction unit can now be reversed, allowing the rollers to operate in an extraction or transfer mode. For the upcoming season, the Varitron 470 is also supplied standard with the CCI 1200 operator terminal.
The updates, included on wheeled and Terra Trac versions of the 470 also include a 460hp Stage 5 engine, brighter LED work lights.
There are also a range of intake configurations for harvesting potatoes, onions and carrots.
Meanwhile, Grimme’s two-row Evo 280 self-propelled machine can now be optioned with a 6.0 tonne, NonstopBunker, or a larger 7.5t capacity version, which despite its larger dimensions, still sees the harvester’s overall width remaining below three metres for road transport.
The German company has also introduced a new, two-row trailed elevator harvester for the 2023 season, called Select 200.
The ISOBUS-operated machine, available with a wide range of different separators, is equipped with automatic steering and telescoping axle that also keeps the road width below three metres.
Fonterra has appointed a new chief financial officer, seven months after its last CFO’s shock resignation.
A seminar on rural dispute resolution has been organised at Lincoln University, Christchurch this month.
The legacy of Dr Peter Snow continues to inspire as the recipients of the 2023 and 2024 Peter Snow Memorial Awards were announced at the recent National Rural Health Conference.
One of Fonterra’s global customers, Mars is launching an ambitious sustainable dairy plan to work with dairy farmers and cut emissions by 50%.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive for the past eight years, Sam McIvor is heading for new pastures at Ospri, which runs NZ’s integrated animal disease management and traceability service.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.