Robotics an answer to labour?
Tauranga-based Robotics Plus has launched its autonomous multi-use, modular vehicle platform for agriculture.
A new device which combines robotics, mechanics and chemistry is set to hit the market to combat one of the biggest problems on dairy farms – nitrogen leaching from cow urine patches.
Mini-Me is a robotic device that tows Spikey, which detects urine patches and then sprays them with a liquid nitrogen inhibitor to defuse the patch and encourage greater grass growth around it.
It’s the work of three men: Bert Quin, well known in the fertiliser industry; Geoff Bates, a robotic specialist; and a soil chemist, Peter Bishop.
They demonstrated the device at the recent Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre conference at Massey University last week.
Bates says the pollution source on dairy farms that hasn’t been able to be controlled until now is leaching nitrates; the worst culprit is cow urine patches. “The urine patches are concentrated and the grass can’t absorb it,” he says.
Spikey is fully operational, for towing around paddocks by a quad. Mini-Me, the robot, is in the final stage of development. The plan is to hitch Spikey to Mini Me and unleash them on paddocks.
Quin says the spikes on Spikey cut through herbage in a paddock and ensure the sensors and the spray equipment work properly. The prototype on show has the spikes exposed, but in the commercial version these will be covered, much like a lawn mower.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
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.
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.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
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