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.
Specialised root crop harvester manufacturer Grimme has announced updates to the third generation of its Varitron 470 self-propelled harvester.
These include a more modern design, a new suspension system to simplify attachment and removal of the haulm topper, and more input power for the haulm topper.
Further new features include the Speedtronic-web system. This provides automatic speed adjustment, allowing the main webs to be controlled according to forward speed and crop load.
Additionally, the rotational direction of the extraction unit can now be reversed, allowing the rollers to operate in an extraction or transfer mode. For the upcoming season, the Varitron 470 is also supplied standard with the CCI 1200 operator terminal.
The updates, included on wheeled and Terra Trac versions of the 470 also include a 460hp Stage 5 engine, brighter LED work lights.
There are also a range of intake configurations for harvesting potatoes, onions and carrots.
Meanwhile, Grimme’s two-row Evo 280 self-propelled machine can now be optioned with a 6.0 tonne, NonstopBunker, or a larger 7.5t capacity version, which despite its larger dimensions, still sees the harvester’s overall width remaining below three metres for road transport.
The German company has also introduced a new, two-row trailed elevator harvester for the 2023 season, called Select 200.
The ISOBUS-operated machine, available with a wide range of different separators, is equipped with automatic steering and telescoping axle that also keeps the road width below three metres.
Now in its fourth year, the 2026 Fencing Industry Awards, formed part of the proceedings of the FCANZ Conference, held in Nelson during August.
DairyNZ deputy chair Cameron Henderson has been re-appointed unopposed for another term.
OPINION: The stats speak for themselves.
Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are coming to the West Coast of the South Island.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…