Canterbury Farmer Builds on 160 Years of Dairy Legacy
Gareth Hale is the current custodian of a 160-year legacy that saw his great grandfather dairying in Taranaki since the mid-1850s and grandfather dairying in the Waikato from the early 1900s.
John Deere has recently launched its new 5GL low profile series tractor.
Designed for use where headroom is restricted, these tractors will suit greenhouses, low hanging vineyards and orchards with restricted canopies. As well as a low overall height, the centre of gravity is lowered, making the tractors suitable for working in hilly conditions.
Overall height to the hood is 1234mm, and to the fenders 1089mm when fitted with 20 inch rear tyres.
A Tier 3a 4-cyl engine gives the choice of 75 or 85hp and the transmission offers 24 forward and 24 reverse speed, with directional changes made through a shuttle lever and a synchro shuttle/dry clutch set-up. 4WD is part of the package and should ensure the tractor keeps moving in all conditions underfoot.
The PTO has two speeds, with the choice of 540/540E or 540/1000 rpm.
The rear end has an open-centred hydraulic system with tandem pumps to deliver up to 94L/min via up to three remotes; the three point linkage offers an impressive 2600kg lift capacity.
The open platform layout allows easy access by the operator, and the fold-down ROPS structure allows easy access when height is limited under restrictive crops.
The bodywork and fenders are profiled for clean lines, and should offer no hook-up points for low hanging branches or vines.
In Dacre, near Invercargill in New Zealand’s South Island, Bruce Dinnington is running a dairy operation unlike any other.
A free online platform aggregating governance vacancies across rural and regional New Zealand has been launched.
Environment Minister Nicola Grigg has announced details of a new rural plastics recycling scheme.
Agricultural drone operators say that a government decision to allow lower-risk drone work without certification won’t lower standards but drive innovation and efficiency.
OPINION: Warning bells are ringing in the arable sector.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.