AGTEK and ARGO part ways
After 12 years of representing the Landini and McCormick brands in New Zealand, Bay of Plenty-based AGTEK and the brands’ manufacturer have mutually decided to wind up their long-standing agreement.
The Advanced Driving System available for the Landini Rex 4 series tractors won the Technical Innovation Award 2018 at the recent EIMA-18 the trade show in Bologna, Italy.
Operating specialty tractors in vineyards, orchards and vegetable farms requires lots of operator effort to control vehicle and implements, usually in areas with restricted access.
So the Advanced Driving System aims to enhance operator comfort by making it easier to control and manage operations rather than just driving the vehicle.
Landini Rex 4 series tractors can now be equipped with an innovative, hybrid driver-assist system that uses ‘mechatronic’ technologies to assist operators in manoeuvring in field and road, using the same principle adopted in cars: these make steering lighter or heavier as speed fluctuates, and they return the wheels to the central position automatically after a turn.
The new technology also offers connection to satellite guidance, memory and control of wheel position during slope and in-furrow operation and offsets the effects of external stresses on tractor steering accuracy. In addition, the operator can manage the functions of the machinery from a single terminal, as the monitor configuration automatically changes according to the functions being used.
Optimal efficiency in field operation is by a multi-function all-in-one joystick controlling up to seven electro-hydraulic spool valves.
Electronic management of operating hours, field and service reminders is handled by the Landini Fleet Management system that also allows real-time remote diagnosis from the tractor fleet manager’s desk.
Benefits of the system include leaving the operator free to concentrate on row operations, and the tractor ECU takes care of driving, recording operating hours, fuel consumption and service reminders.
Also, the fleet manager can manage scheduled maintenance or troubleshooting while managing field records automatically.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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