Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
The T8 Series tractor with Raven Autonomy enables a farmer to monitor and operate the driverless T8 tractor from the cab of the combine harvester in grain carting situations.
New Holland has released details of its T8 Series tractor with Raven Autonomy, dubbed the ‘next step’ in the development of its precision and autonomous technology.
The T8 with Raven Autonomy enables a farmer to monitor and operate the driverless T8 tractor from the cab of the combine harvester in grain carting situations.
The system enables a farmer to set a field plan, stage locations and adjust the tractor’s speeds and monitor location activity. They can also control the tractor pulling a grain cart alongside the combine harvester as it offloads on the go.
The automated synchronization of combine and cart saves grain spilling during offloading. After the grain bin is full, the tractor will return to a predetermined unloading area. The entire operation is completed without a second driver.
The intuitive system helps a farmer manage his or her fleet efficiently by tracking their combine harvesters’ coverage in real-time.
It also monitors tractor and combine performance analytics, fuel status and run time and real-time monitoring of all their machines’ locations. All the data is backed up and stored on a cloud-based platform.
The new T8 with Raven Autonomy integrates OMNiDRIVE, the first driverless agriculture technology for grain carting harvest operations. This was originated as an aftermarket solution and developed by Raven in 2019.
Given that the state of regulations on autonomy today is diverse around the globe, the manufacturer suggests that it cannot predict how regulations are going to evolve.
So, it is preparing for different scenarios – an approach that will allow it to be proactive as regulations allow for market introduction.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.

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