Machinery & Products

Smart Machines: Oxin gains traction in the US

Marlborough-based agritech company Smart Machines has reached a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionise vineyard management.

UV-C Treatment: Viticulture game changer

A system that combines UV-C light for disinfection could provide chemical free treatment of plant pathogens and diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis on berry, vine and tree crops.

H2Ortigator - the plant babysitter

A New Zealand startup is offering a novel approach to irrigation and nutrition management, specifically designed to optimise the growth of young plants in vineyards and orchards.

Streamlining nitrogen testing in winemaking

A Kiwi start-up is harnessing enzyme technology to simplify nitrogen testing for winemakers, a critical factor in producing quality wines.

Apping into old ways of farming

New technology can enable older ways of winegrowing, says Abby Rose, who developed the Sectormentor app for her family’s farm and vineyard in Chile in 2014, as an “observation hub” for the land.

Balancing innovation, cost and integration

In the rapidly advancing world of viticulture, technology is becoming an indispensable ally.

Spraying smarter to grow better

In a competitive and dynamic landscape such as viticulture, the ability to effectively trial, evaluate and embed innovations can provide a distinct advantage.

Strong as an Oxin

Marlborough-based startup SmartMachine has established a firm footprint in the future of vitculture, with the pioneering Oxin uncrewed ground vehicle.

Go forth and Prospr

A quiet revolution is underway in New Zealand vineyards, and Marlborough’s Matua Wines is on the leading edge.

V3 the weeding wonder

Developing Cloudy Bay's autonomous vineyard tractor has been a "dream experience" for Murray Faber, who began the project with a pile of scrap metal in the depths of Covid-19.

Stellar support for Cropsy

New Zealand-based agritech startup Cropsy Technologies has raised $1.7 million in an extended and oversubscribed capital raise, including support from United States investor Seraph Group.

Strong as Oxin

Grape Growers in Hawke’s Bay have been invited to view two Oxin in action at a vineyard field day in January.

Compact seeder makes for light work between the vines

Grass cover in vineyards is an ideal method of erosion control, particularly on slopes, as well as offering grazing for sheep during the winter period.

BioScout: Taking the guesswork out of fungal diseases

Lewis Collins was working on spore trapping as part of his microbiology studies when he thought about the challenge of analysing airborne diseases. By the time useful data was received, it was typically too late to avoid an outbreak within a crop.

New Holland’s new TE6 Straddle Tractor Range

New Holland has introduced the new Straddle Tractor TE6 Range, a multi-function tractor designed for narrow vineyards that require a machine with extreme manoeuvrability and compact dimensions.

Scare Tactics: Robotic technologies applied to bird scaring

Small autonomous robots are being trialled as bird deterrents across Marlborough this growing season as the developer looks to demonstrate their utility in the role.

Weed Eater for Wider Areas

With the wine industry seeking mechanical weeding options to reduce chemical reliance in vineyards, Italian manufacturer Orizzonti has introduced the Speed Green machine, with a novel, yet proven, solution.

New SAM on the block

Well known for its spreaders, feed wagons, tip trailers and quick hitches, Hamilton-based Coombridge and Alexander has added a new Orchard Spreader to its SAM machinery range.

Cropsy: Keeping a close eye on the vineyard

Cropsy is on a quest to help viticulturists reach their full potential using a unique and scalable artificial intelligence computer-vision system. The Kiwi start-up won the Early Stage and Young Innovators Awards, along with cheques for $11,000, at the recent National Fieldays Innovation Awards.

Callaghan Innovation: Technology opportunities in Covid crisis

Covid-19 has escalated the need for greater automated solutions within vineyards, orchards and farms, says Nicky Molloy, Business Innovation Manager for Agritech at Callaghan Innovation.

Short on stature, big on performance

With a minimum width of just one metre, Claas Nexos compact tractors are ideally suited to working in the narrowest vineyards.

Torque Talk: Spend Wisely But Get the Spec Right

Choosing the right new vineyard tractor is an important decision, given the major capital outlay.

Ted on tour

A new and improved version of Naïo Technologies’ autonomous weeding robot, Ted, has been revealed prior to a tour of French vineyards.

Smart Sprayer

Claimed to be some of the most revolutionary spray technology to enter the Australasian market, the BA Smart Sprayer powered by Smart-Appl, provides viticulturists and horticulturists with reduced chemical use, economical spray application and advanced crop mapping.