Valtra Reaches 1000th CVT Transmission Milestone
AGCO’s Valtra brand has announced a production milestone at its Suolahti, Finland, factory with the completion of the 1000th AGCO continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Warwick and Judy Brown have a history of working with Massey Ferguson that dates back many years.
Their stable already included a MF Super 44 bulldozer, a MF 35 diesel and an older model dating back to 1952.
The collection has been recently added to with the purchase of a new 4708ST and 4708ES, which have quickly become the perfect workhorses on the couple's two Morrinsville dairy farms.
The choice of a simple tractor was helped by their being plenty of contractors in the area to carry out heavy tasks on the farms.
Interestingly, Warwick Brown chose two different specifications, with the 4708ST offering a footstep platform, dry clutch with a synchronised F/R shuttle and mechanical dry brakes. The higher specification 4708 ES has a semi-platform operator station, wet clutch power shuttle for clutchless forward/reverse shifts, and the tractor is fitted with hydraulic wet brakes.
Power comes from AGCO Power 4-cylinder engines producing 82hp and complemented by 342Nm of torque at 1500rpm. The tractors have a 6-speed transmission with high and low ranges that give a choice of 12 forward and 12 reverse speeds and a maximum speed of 33km/h.
At the rear of the tractor a healthy 6200kg lift capacity is very useful, as is the 62L per minute oil flow and the two speed independent PTO system.
Both tractors are fitted with MF self-leveling frontloaders that are in daily use for feeding out and loading tasks.
"The peppy motor is complemented by the synchro gearbox and a comfortable ride, no doubt helped by the radial tyres," Brown told Rural News. "In the time the two tractors have been here we have been pleased with the way they have performed; they are straightforward and simple to operate."
Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).

A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…
OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…