Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
Manufacturer Topcon announced a strategic distribution agreement with Power Farming New Zealand (PF), who import, distribute a comprehensive range of tractors and machinery, for agriculture and construction, which in turn is sold through its 21-strong dealer network.
The collaboration means that PF will now be able to offer and extend Topcon’s industry leading solutions beyond its existing customers to a wider audience, irrespective of their tractor or machinery brands.
Power Farming is wellversed in Topcon’s GPS and guidance systems, via a long-standing OEM agreement with Same Deutz Fahr (SDF), who supply PF with a wide offering of tractors from 60 to 340hp. The new tie-up will mean that customers will gain access to existing and emerging solutions that will make life easier, more efficient, traceable and increase bottom line returns.
Getting started means PF will reach a wider audience with Topcon’s Value line Series that includes a receiver, display unit and steering wheel motor, with an unlocked connection to the StarPoint Satellite for a correction signal, offering 15cm accuracy, at an extremely competitive $10,000. Upgrades include a licence to Star- Point Pro for 2.5cm pass-to-pass accuracy, or a RTK offering with a UHF frequency radio receiver connection for 1cm accuracy.
General manager SDF at Power Farming, Alistair Horrocks comments, “we already have more than a decade of experience with the Topcon products via the SDF OEM agreement, so it makes great sense to work together to expand the offering. The other point is that many of the implements we import are already compatible via integrated Topcon technology, easily accessed via integral ISOBUS systems”.
Horrocks goes on to explain that alongside what is typically described as GPS and steering, many customers are already using Auto Section Control and Variable Rate Application for fertiliser and spraying operations, alongside Auto Headland turns for a wide range of field operations.
Moving forwards, he believes the “norm” will include the likes of onthe- go yield monitoring, looking at variability and total yields, weighing systems for mixer wagons, with overall feed management, and even basic weighing for front-end loaders.
Additionally, as farmers and growers come under even more intense regulatory oversight, the latest technology will offer proof of placement, including application date, time, weather conditions and weights or volumes of fertiliser/effluent applied.
The new agreement allows Power Farming to further enhance the existing relationship and adds more support, with the recent appointment of a dedicated support manager, more training and more market specific offerings for new and existing customers of Topcon and Power Farming.
www.powerfarming.co.nz
