Impact of irrigation on the soil
OPINION: Soil organic matter was a hot topic for environmentalists, ecologists and primary producers in 2020.
For farmers or contractors working abrasive soils, the cost of wearing metals on ploughs, cultivators or powered implements can make a serious dent in their bottom line.
A new material called Ferobide has recently hit the market from specialist supplier Tenmat which promises to give better wear properties than tungsten carbide and is claimed to be easier to work with than traditional face hardening materials.
Key difference is a composition that sees the material using a hardened steel matrix that bonds particles together. This features allows it to be used easily onfarm where welding skills may be basic, and also gives the product some resistance to chipping, which can be a problem with traditional tungsten carbide facing materials.
The Ferobide tiles are easily cut to size and shape using a standard cutting wheel, or alternatively the cut line can be scored by a cutting wheel, held in a vice along the score line and sheared with a clean hammer blow.
The manufacturer claims that any welded joints are much stronger than brazed items, and will hugely prolong the life of wearing parts.
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…