Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes – the CropVision Plus.
Following the CropVision, launched in 2020, the new version promises to revolutionise optical sorting with technological innovations to meet the growing demands for precision and efficiency among potato producers.
The CropVision Plus brings several improvements including eight times more powerful processors for accelerated and optimised data processing, delivering better sorting performance.
Advanced lighting technology enhances defect detection, ensuring optimal sorting even for the most challenging potato varieties.
A newly designed user interface offers improved ergonomics, simplifying operation and configuration for users of all levels.
Market-first connectivity features enable real-time monitoring, remote updates, and simplified data management for maintenance.
Building on the success of previous versions, the 2025 edition also expands sorting functionalities to include onions, opening new opportunities for producers. AI-driven assistance simplifies the adjustment of sorter settings, boosting efficiency and enhancing sorting quality.
Meanwhile, a new operating system is exclusively compatible with the CropVision Plus range, featuring an intuitive interface designed for seamless operation akin to smartphone usage, while the launch of the MyCropVision App offers an intuitive customer application accessible across all devices.
Key features of the MyCropVision app include centralised access to comprehensive information about the CropVision Plus sorter, real-time supervision with remote status updates, personalised alerts and real-time incident notifications.
“With the CropVision Plus, Downs once again demonstrates its commitment to providing innovative solutions for potato producers, combining precision, speed, and user-friendliness,” says Downs managing director Damien Dubrulle.
“We have listened to our customers’ feedback and worked to integrate features that address the specific needs of our ever-evolving market.”
An Auckland gelato shop and an established New Zealand ice cream maker have both been named Supreme Champions at the NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2026.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household grocery budgets, new figures show pork remains one of the most affordable fresh meat options for New Zealand families.
OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.
Farmers can spend less time on paperwork, thanks to a new data sharing agreement between DairyNZ’s DairyBase and LIC’s MINDA software.
Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.
Rural New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s recent package of rural healthcare initiatives.

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