Testing centre helps deliver excellence
The technology and Innovation Centre (TIZ 3) at Grieskirchen in Austria was founded in 2002 and is operated by three shareholders.
Grassland and cultivation specialist Pottinger claims a first for its new range of round balers, achieving chop quality usually associated with loader wagons.
The Impress range will be offered with fixed or variable chambers with a combined wrapper and with a choice of master or pro specification.
The feed route to the bale chamber has been redesigned: the maker's Liftup carries the crop over the feed rotor rather than the traditional route that takes crop under. The Liftup rotor carries a series of tines arranged in a patented spiral layout, which push the crop into the chamber at an angle.
This offers the benefit of high feed rates with low 'leaf shatter' and creates a filling effect across the full width of the chamber. It also removes the need to steer left and right to create good shaped bales.
The company says the units work equally well in wet or dry conditions and suit all types of crop.
Chopper versions have the Flex Cut system of 32 twin-blade reversible knives which offer a theoretical chop length of 36mm across the full bale width.
A patented knife switching system further enhances chop length flexibility and removes the need to remove blades and fit dummy units to the exposed slots.
Pottinger says the very short chop lengths increase bale density, so reducing the number of bales per hectare, cutting haulage costs and saving storage space. Also the bales break up easily for mixing in feed mixer wagons, and chopped straw is easily fed or spread with low power input.
The Impress chopper balers have a swing-out knife system with easily moved knife banks, providing good maintenance access at workbench height outside the bale chamber – important given the large number of knives in the machine.
Expect to see evaluation machines in 2016 and machines on sale for the 2017 season.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
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.