Don't throw stones
OPINION: The debate over whether it's okay to drive a petrol guzzling ute polluting our environment with carbon dioxide is getting personal.
The question of load restraint can be an issue on any ute used for work.
Various makers have their own solutions, normally anchor points built into the well-deck floor, which have limitations if the deck is full, or if the load sits higher than the sides -- perhaps in the case of a loaded pallet.
A clever solution from Transhold Systems in the shape of their Rope Grip kit might be the answer.
Each Rope Grip fitting is made from high grade alloy and serves two purposes: first, via a cleverly shaped profile, a rope can be pulled over the load and ‘wedged’ into the fitting, removing the need for loops or truckers’ knots to keep things secure; second, the fitting acts as a mount for the side rails which run the length of the well-deck.
The combination of the grip and the side rail means users can choose whether to use rope or ratchet tie-downs for added security, or use both together.
Each Rope Grip is NZS certified to 215kg, and the system is said to be suitable to use with tonneau covers.
Each kit includes two side rails, each carrying five Rope Grip grips; mounting is straightforward, requiring 6mm holes drilled along the edge of the well-side and secured with a Nyloc nut.
Dairy News is also reliably informed that in the spirit of Kiwi ingenuity the Rope Grips make perfect bottle openers.
The 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) chairman, Rangiora farmer Andrew Stewart, is predicting a successful event on the back of good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.
WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for a death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.
Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen (N) loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.
Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser SustaiN – which contains a urease inhibitor that reduces the amount of ammonia released to the air – has now been registered by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). It is the first fertiliser in New Zealand to achieve this status.
Precision application of nitrogen can improve yields, but the costs of testing currently outweigh improved returns, according to new research from Plant and Food Research, MPI and Ravensdown.
OPINION: Henry Dimbleby, author of the UK's Food Strategy, recently told the BBC: "Meat production is about 85% of our…
OPINION: For the last few weeks, we've witnessed a parade of complaints about New Zealand's school lunch program: 'It's arriving…