Greendrill, a red-hot performer
Dubbed as a universal seeder, Amazone’s new GreenDrill 501 is said to be ideal for one-pass sowing of ‘catch crops’, fine seeds and undersown crops in combination with the company’s trailed cultivators.
The Gaspardo Contessa, a versatile cultivator/planter combination, has three key elements equipping it for multiple tasks in one pass, or individually.
First is a robust frame with large carrying wheels at the rear. Underslung is a choice of Maschio power harrow or Torro or Aquilla ranges with maximum power inputs of 380 and 300hp, respectively.
Second is a 2500L hopper assembly carried on a three point hitch directly above the rear wheels of the frame to spread the load; it can be used to carry fertiliser or seed for planting. The Gaspardo Flexseed roller system uses a volumetric design for fertiliser or seed output. The assembly has a wide opening with access stairs.
Third is the planting element that can be set up as a vacuum operated precision unit with either 6 or 8 rows at 75cm spacing, or a new 16 row unit at 37.5cm spacing that allows high plant densities per hectare and subsequent higher yields.
Alternatively, seeding can be by a more conventional double-disc opener drill system which is normally more suited to cereal production, offering 370mm staggered discs and 320mm press/gauge wheels that control planting depth from 0 to 8cm.
With operating widths of 4.6, 5.0 and 6.0m, control by Isobus and optional features such as E-drive and auto row shut-off via GPS signal, the unit should be useful to larger scale farmers or contractors.
Testing confirms H5 bird flu in a single northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa, says Dr Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Chief Veterinary Officer.
"What's for dinner?" may sound like a simple question, but for many Kiwi parents, answering it has become a job in itself.
Fifty Eight years ago, on the 16th of August 1968, August Claas, the founder of the harvesting company and father of Helmut Claas, personally presented a Claas Senator combine harvester to Scottish farmer John Steven.
New Zealand consumers are paying more for beef mince than ever before, with the average retail price now sitting above $24 per kilogram, according to Rabobank.
State farmer Pamu has delivered its strongest operating result on record.
Four years since it was first detected in New Zealand, researchers and growers now know much more about management of maize pest fall armyworm (FAW).

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