Amazing Amazone drill - 75 years and counting
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Amazone seed drill – the 2m wide horse-drawn D1 launched in 1949.
The latest offerings from Claas, Amazone, JCB and Trioliet will be on show at the Claas Harvest Centre display at Fieldays.
Making its debut, the Trioliet Triomaster S slices up to 45cm of silage from the face of a silage pit. Unlike conventional silage grabs or buckets that pull the silage from the pit, the Triomaster S has a fixed blade that shears through silage without affecting the structure of the wall or the stack itself. With a capacity of 2 or 3cu.m, it can be fitted to any telehandler or frontloader with a lift capacity of more than 3.5 tonnes.
Claas Harvest Centre’s sales manager NZ, Luke Wheeler, says the use of a silage cutter maintains silage quality and consistency by helping to create a well-sealed silage face, which in turn results in a reduction in secondary fermentation. Says Wheeler, “If you go the trouble of producing top quality silage it makes sense to use the best machinery to feed it out and get the best results”.
And first time on display at Mystery Creek will be the Claas Arion 600 and 400 series of tractors and the high-speed JCB Fastrac 8330.
The seven-model Arion 600 series builds on the marque’s previous models with rated power outputs from 125 to 205hp to suit all types of operations, with a choice of operating systems, cabin configurations and equipment options.
The new Arion 400 series, with six models from 90 to 140hp, boasts an array of features and technology normally only found on more powerful tractors: an optional continuous windscreen-roof panel, front linkages, automatic differential locking, automatic four-wheel drive and PTO activation/deactivation, headland management systems and dynamic steering.
The JCB Fastrac 8330, the world’s only tractor with all-round self-levelling suspension, has continuously variable transmission, ABS disc brakes on four wheels and a top speed of 70km/h, helping the machine raise the bar in productivity, comfort, safety and versatility.
As usual, the site will show a complete line-up of forage harvesting technology from Claas.
The complete range of Disco mowers and mower-conditioners, Volto tedders and Liner rakes will also be on display, alongside the range of Amazone spreaders and sprayers.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
Rural trader PGG Wrightson has revised its operating earnings guidance, saying trading conditions have deteriorated since the last market update in February.