Fieldays hold out the begging bowl
OPINION: When someone says “we don’t want a handout, we need a hand up” it usually means they have both palms out and they want your money.
Aimed at the contractor market, or at end users who demand a top-quality machine to achieve low operating costs, the Bunning Lowlander GT4 muck spreaders, imported into the North Island by Hamilton-based Ag and Civil Limited, fits the bill.
Designed to spread all types of manure, the key 105 Compact and 150 models both feature a fully welded, heavy-duty construction, using 4mm steel plate for the sides and 5mm thick material for the floor. With capacities of 12.6 and 16.6 tonnes respectively, a 1500mm wide, tapered body can carry loads of 12.9 to 21 cubic metres. This is moved rearwards, by a variable speed hydraulic floor drive, utilising a combination of 16mm/32 tonne capacity floor chains and full-width beaters.
At the rear of the machine, dynamically balanced, twin vertical beaters take their drive from a centrally mounted gearbox, with an intermediate cushioned drive to protect against shock loads.
In the event of an immoveable object shear bolt protection in the beater driveline prevents damage.
Equipped with 10mm thick Boron steel flights and cutters, the rotors offer spreading widths of up to 16 metres, depending on material, with a rear canopy for spreading fine materials like chicken manure.
Meanwhile, a lift-off configuration, means the rotor module can be quickly removed to allow the trailer to be used for other haulage duties.
Both machines feature on-board weighing systems, in the case of the 105, a Topcon GT400 system, while the 150 model uses a full specification ISOSCAN application rate controller, allowing a targeted application rated by automatically adjusting the floor speed to travel speed, or via a predefined application map can be loaded via the USB port. The system also allows live weighing using 20-tonne weigh cells situated on both axle and drawbar.
Standard equipment includes a rear vertical slurry door, 1000 rpm PTO input, hydraulic brakes and parking jack, with the whole machine covered by a three-year warranty.
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Expect greater collaboration between Massey University’s school of Agriculture and Environment and Ireland’s leading agriculture university, the University College of Dublin (UCD), in the future.
A partnership between Torere Macadamias Ltd and the Riddet Institute aims to unlock value from macadamia nuts while growing the next generation of Māori agribusiness researchers.
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Despite some trying circumstances recently, the cherry season looks set to emerge on top of things.
Changed logos on shirts otherwise it will be business as usual when Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses are expected to change hands next month.