Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
While there is still a major reliance on diesel engines, global tractor manufacturer John Deere is paying close attention to the electric route.
The GridCon concept, first shown in January 2019 and later that same year at the Agritechnica Event, takes power from an oversized 1,000 metre extension lead. This is capable of delivering 2.5kW/300kW and managed by a reeler system as the tractor moves up and down the paddock.
GridCon 2 takes things a stage further, featuring a cable reeler extended to 3,000 metres and offer a maximum delivery of 8kV/1,000kW. The key difference is the ability to simultaneously power up to five autonomous tractor/implement combinations via an overhead supply line. The “swarm” concept is nothing new to John Deere. However, the rapid evolution from the realms of science fiction to machines in the field, begs one to ask whether this type of technology is ready to be adopted by large scale farmers or contractors.
Likewise, the complexity of dragging power cables around a paddock – in this case 3,000 metres of cable – also begs the question, did JD miss the mark altogether and should it be looking at rapidly evolving technologies targeted at the green evolution, such as hydrogen?
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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