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Machinery demonstration at the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee.
A couple of the machines that will be on show at the 2023 SIAFD have effectively already done their live demonstration.
These have been used for planting out the maize that will used by other machines in harvesting at the event.
Ashburton-based Euro- Agri brought a Lemken combination consisting of an Azurit precision planter and Solitair seed wagon to the site in mid- October to plant out two of the three varieties of maize.
Product specialist Eliot Schofield says EuroAgri is the sole South Island distributor for Lemken, a German brand with a 243 year history. He says R&D on the Azurit line has been done in New Zealand.
“New Zealand has some of the most varying conditions in the world,” Schofield told Rural News.
The planter features what is called DeltaRow technology, in which each row effectively becomes two close rows, with seeds set in a zig-zag pattern and with the fertiliser band between them.
Commenting on the logistics of getting machines to customers, Schofield says it’s still quite difficult.
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SIAFD chairman Hayden Dorman reviews the layout at the Kirwee field days site. |
“But getting into the country isn’t the hard part now, it’s build slots.”
With gear being purchased all over the world and the continuing knockon effects of Covid, some machines are 12 or even 18 months away between ordering and coming out of the factory, he says.
Then, they are 12 weeks on the water before they get here.
Schofield says freight costs have “pretty much tripled” on what they were three years ago.
The future of New Zealand’s agricultural sector grew a little brighter, with the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) now accepting applications for its scholarships through Lincoln University, offering $10,500 to up to six exceptional students who are poised to become the next leaders in the primary industries.
The arrival of new F8 and F9 designations for its 8000 and 9000 series forage harvesters, signals a swag of upgrades from John Deere, highlighted by topping the 1000hp mark for the first time.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty farmer Hugh Jackson recently secured this year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year title in Invercargill.
Ashburton-based Carrfields has signed an agreement with Manitou to take over the distribution and retail rights for Manitou Agricultural Equipment covering the lower North Island and the South Island, effective August 1, 2025.
With June ending and following the most upbeat National Fieldays for several years, tractor dealers are reporting a lift in sales.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
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