Impact of irrigation on the soil
OPINION: Soil organic matter was a hot topic for environmentalists, ecologists and primary producers in 2020.
For farmers or contractors working abrasive soils, the cost of wearing metals on ploughs, cultivators or powered implements can make a serious dent in their bottom line.
A new material called Ferobide has recently hit the market from specialist supplier Tenmat which promises to give better wear properties than tungsten carbide and is claimed to be easier to work with than traditional face hardening materials.
Key difference is a composition that sees the material using a hardened steel matrix that bonds particles together. This features allows it to be used easily onfarm where welding skills may be basic, and also gives the product some resistance to chipping, which can be a problem with traditional tungsten carbide facing materials.
The Ferobide tiles are easily cut to size and shape using a standard cutting wheel, or alternatively the cut line can be scored by a cutting wheel, held in a vice along the score line and sheared with a clean hammer blow.
The manufacturer claims that any welded joints are much stronger than brazed items, and will hugely prolong the life of wearing parts.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.