increase font size
Kubota’s new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.
Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.
Said to be targeted at the likes of self-propelled sprayer and mixer wagon manufacturers, while also suitable for static installations such as gensets and irrigation pumps, the 5.0-litre 9-series has already been a success in the construction sector for several years.
Having tweaked the power and torque characteristics to suit ag and forestry applications, the maximum output of 210hp occurs at 2200rpm, which the company says is well within the tested tolerances of the engine.
For those users that think that 200+hp is too much out of a four cylinder, Kubota says the block’s modular format means another two cylinders can be added should extra ‘boogie’ be required at some point. Indeed, when the 09-series first broke cover in 2017, there was a 7.5-litre six-pot in the line-up, so it might be a case of watch this space.
In other news, the company also showcased a 3.8-litre hydrogen-fuelled power-plant, currently under testing with Japanese genset maker Denyo. The unit is based on Kubota’s existing spark-ignition engines used in forklifts and usually run on LPG, methane or petrol.
To deal with hydrogen’s lower power density and burn characteristics, a wastegate turbocharger has been added, alongside extensive modification to the manifolds and injectors.
The company notes that, for now, the biggest challenge remains around on-board fuel storage.
Having already hit the headlines for recycling broken 2.4 metre vineyard posts into 1.8 and 1.6 metre, half and quarter posts for agriculture, Repost recently hit the milestone of one million posts recycled, diverting the CCA treated posts from landfill.
New Zealand-based company Robotics Plus, a specialist in agricultural automation, has announced an agreement for it to be acquired by Yamaha Motor to form Yamaha Agriculture.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Silage making is both a science and an art, but Claas says it offers onboard technology featured in its Claas Perfect Partners to help farmers make silage more efficiently and effectively.
Since Donald Trump’s import tariff announcement, the world has been on a wild economic ride.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…
OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.
