Marlborough Demo Highlights Role of AGVs in Sustainable Winegrowing
The air was unseasonably crisp in the upper Wairau Valley in mid-December as two autonomous ground vehicles moved methodically through the vines, spraying each row in turn.
Dairy automation and refrigeration systems will be prominent on the Tru-Test site, as will livestock electronic ID and weighing equipment, says Verne Atmore, New Zealand sales and marketing manager.
The dairy gear will include the recently released VatManager all-in-one vat controller and monitor.
Tru-Test Group, after 50 years of farming innovation and manufacture, “has innovation deeply embedded in its philosophy, and strives to seek out and encourage creative thinking, drive innovation internally and commercialise great ideas from farmers,” Atmore says.
“The company looks constantly at better ways to help farmers optimise their assets. Grassroots innovation has been [our foundation] since Waikato dairy farmer John Hartstone came up with his idea in 1963 on how to sample milk.”
Atmore suggests farmers “come and talk to us about what can make a difference to productivity onfarm. We can help with NAIT requirements and managing data integration.
“We can clarify what’s happening with MPI’s new cooling regulations for raw milk and how to invest wisely in dairy refrigeration to minimise the risk of having milk rejected.
“And we can show you options for identifying best producers, managing mating, drying off and culling to get the best out of a dairy herd, and growing out young stock well to optimise genetic input. The advice is free and can save money.”
The company is again sponsoring the Grassroots Innovation Award, an award seen as a ‘launch pad’ for many Kiwi inventions and ideas.
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