Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
New Zealand's broadacre farmers are now able to access a complete picture of profitability with the launch of John Deere’s HarvestLab 3000 Grain Sensing on S700 Series Combines.
The machine was originally introduced to the forage industry in 2007 as HarvestLab, then upgraded to HarvestLab 3000 in 2017.
Now the systems sensor capabilities have been extended for use in the grains sector. This offers the ability to continuously measure and monitor protein, starch, oil and moisture values in wheat, barley or canola during real time during harvesting. The data can be viewed in the cab, or in John Deere Operations Center™. This allows farmers to make critical marketing and management decisions before the grain has left the field.
HarvestLab 3000 offers customers new-level insights into the quality of their crop and input effectiveness. It is available as a field kit, having undergone two years’ worth of testing with Australian farmers.
“Currently, most farmers usually assess samples of grain with a stationary protein analyser back in the shed,” explains John Deere Precision Ag Manager, Benji Blevin.
“HarvestLab 3000, will offer a complete map of grain quality, which can be overlaid with a yield map. Farmers can see exactly what parts of their paddocks are producing the highest quality grain.
They will also be able to utilise HarvestLab 3000 to plan future fertiliser programs based on how successfully nutrients were converted into yield, protein, starch, or oil.”
The technology works as the combine moves through the paddock, with a motor-driven auger pushing grain past the Harvest- Lab 3000’s near-infrared sensor. Together with the StarFire™ receiver, site-specific data is generated on the Generation 4 Display and sent to Operations Center via JDLink™.
HarvestLab 3000 is available to order from April for easy integration into 2018 or later S700 Series Combines, before the 2023 harvest season.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.