Success for Argo tractors
The judges at last year’s Agritechnica event picked the Italian-built Landini Rex 4-120GT Robo- Shift Dynamic as the Best of Specialised category at its Tractor of the Year 2024 Awards.
It's taken Argo a while, considering the re-birth of McCormick took place in 2001, but the company has recognised the need for a 'vario' type tractor and launched the X and-VT range.
Continuously variable transmissions (CVT) – or varios – have found increasing favour especially with contractors who need continuous adjustment of speed during, say, harvesting, baling or transport work. There a conventional fixed ratio power shift set-up might not offer the exact speed required.
The McCormick VT range has three, 4-cyl models from 144 to 166hp, with 'power boost' in PTO and transport work taking output to 175hp. Also offered are two 6-cyl units rated at 165 and 177hp, with 'boost' giving a maximum of 192hp.
For the VT project the company has partnered with transmission industry leader ZF, whose latest Terramatic unit
has software developed by Argo.
Product specialist Paul Wade says "the design brief was to make the VT easy and intuitive to drive. First time users can jump on and drive away, and over time explore the tractors' sophisticated features".
In operation the VT system offers four driving modes:
auto – push the pedal and go, just like the family car
manual – upper and lower engine speeds are set and the driver controls the travel speed. This is useful for keeping the tractor in a power band that exploits the torque and power available, so would be good for heavy draft work
Cruise control for constant speed
PTO mode which maintains shaft speed and adjusts travel speed as load demands.
Supplementing the four driving modes are four speeds bands – 0-3km/h, 0-12km/h, 0-21km/h and 0-40 or 50km/h – which can be pre-programmed for specific tasks. It is interesting to note that the change between each of the speed ranges is seamless, unlike some other two range systems on the market that require the tractor to be stationary before the change can be made.
The cabin and drivers spaces focuses on ergonomics; a noatable feature is a seat mounted control console with a 12 inch touch screen displaying transmission, engine, PTO and hydraulic functions, and optional display of GPS and ISOBUS control through the same screen
Generally the rest of the tractors' specifications are the same as the semi-power shift X7 Pro-Drive models introduced last year, with features such as 9300kg lift capacity, 123L hydraulic flow via a load sensing system, and a total of up to 4 rear and 2 mid-mount remotes.
Expect to see first models in NZ mid 2016.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…