increase font size
Kuhn’s new twin-rotor rake uniquely also features a 1.8m central pick-up assembly.
With the huge German Agritechnica Event scheduled to take place in Hanover in November, the next few months will undoubtedly see a host of manufacturers teasing us with some of their latest innovations.
One of the first to show one of their latest ideas, Kuhn has released details of its GA 8131CL, an 8.0 metre, twin-rotor rake, that uniquely also features a 1.8m central pick-up assembly.
Over the last decade or so, twin-rotor rakes or swathers have become the “go to” for delivering large windrows to feed the increasing appetites of self-propelled foragers and round or square balers. Typically bringing the two outside rows of crop onto the central row, outputs can be increased, but the negative is a central move that sits on wetter ground and is flattened by the moved material.
Kuhn’s solution started as far back as 2016, with an idea to get more air into the crop, with several solutions considered, including a rotor that was eventually dismissed as it moved material to one side.
The patented idea sees a 1.8m wide pick up mounted on the main frame ahead of the twin rotors that lifts and aerates the central swath that is not worked by the rotors. Part of the standard specification of the rake, the 480mm diameter unit is hydraulically powered, with rotational speed controlled by a restrictor valve. Lifted and lowered automatically during headland turns, the swather has a minimum power requirement of around 60hp.
In other Kuhn news, the company will also premiere an autonomous solution for arable farms, running on rubber tracks, called Karl. Part of the company’s €400m spent on R&D over the last decade, the project began around six years ago, with four generations of prototypes being evaluated. The company stresses that Karl is not a tractor, rather a concept born from the ‘tools’ the implement manufacturer produces.
Twin rotor swathers have become the ‘go-to’ for forming swaths to feed hungry harvesters and balers, however, the design layout often means that crop located between the two rotors is not picked up, turned over or incorporated into the swath formed for subsequent harvesting.
Operating large tractors became more expensive back in March due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz conflict, meaning contractors had to introduce fuel surcharges and farmers had to adjust their budget forecasts.
Close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, Motueka is known for apples, pear and kiwifruit orchards, alongside specialised crops such as hops. Indeed, that specialisation, saw the area being the New Zealand centre of the tobacco growing, until the early 1980s.
Can-Am has introduced its 2027 range of side-by-side vehicles (SSV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV), including the industry leading Defender, the Maverick R and the hugely capable Outlander ATV, incorporating a host of advancements designed to deliver an exceptional riding experience.
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
