Thursday, 16 March 2023 16:55

It's all about the gear

Written by  Nigel Malthus
Machinery demonstration at the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee. 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.

Hayden Dorman

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.

More like this

Featured

Editorial: Drones Are Not Toys

OPINION: David Seymour and James Meager's plan to make it easier for farmers and orchardists to operate drones can best be described a 'courageous' move.

Opuha Dam Commissions New Valve in Major Flood Safety Upgrade

Opuha Dam's ability to protect South Canterbury communities from major flooding has taken a significant step forward, with Opuha Water Limited (OWL) successfully commissioning a new outlet valve capable of releasing record volumes of water from the dam ahead of a weather event.

Freshwater Farm Plan Changes Welcomed by Primary Sector

There's been widespread support from the primary sector for the Government's announcement on changes to freshwater farm plans that come under the Natural Environment Bill, which is now set to replace the existing RMA.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter