New folding mower unveils innovation
Krone's EasyCut F 400 CV Fold has built itself a following in the front-mounted mowing arena, with practical innovation and clever engineering.
German harvest machinery specialist Krone has released new digital technology said to enable contractors to accurately record each job in real time, benefitting users and their customers.
At the heart of the system, the Krone SmartConnect controller manages the data stream from the machine to a tablet in the operator cabin.
Depending on the machine in use, the system can use GPS tracking to show the farmer/owner where each bale is in the field. It also displays the weight and moisture content of each bale and the composition, including data on fibre, starch and ME.
Also, to suit administration, data can be provided on the time taken to complete a job, with track and tracing from the office to generate invoices as work is completed.
The system is already built into Krone BiG-M mower and BiG-X forage harvesters. The latter can be equipped with optional moisture and flow rate meters to measure tonnage through the machine.
The newly released BiG-X 1180 flagship harvester also uses NIR (near infrared) sensors to detect the nutritional value of a crop.
SmartConnect can also be retrofitted in Krone’s current round and square balers. And the BigPack square baler can collect data on bale drop position, count, moisture and weight.
Comprima round balers will soon provide data on bale count, operating time and weight.
The SmartConnect will in future form the interface to the ‘agrirouter’ – a universal interface, joint project between leading European manufacturers. This will allow farmers, contractors and app developers to share machine data irrespective of machine brand.
As SmartConnect is ISOBUS capable it can also work seamlessly with similarly equipped brands.
Dealer training is underway, centred on the Krone machine data interface tool that will allow software updating and configuration of an ever-expanding range of optional equipment.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.