MACHINERY
South Island leads tractor sales as the North Island stalls
Some implements now control the tractor, with balers stopping, binding and opening without the operator.
GPS sprayers target weeds instead of covering a whole crop
Affordable steering systems bring precision farming within reach of smaller operations and older tractors.
Heavy farm machinery weight exemptions target early next year
Consultation is under way on exempting rigid agricultural vehicles from standard weight limits.
Carrfields helps keep machines moving through silage season
Farmers who settle a few fallback options before silage season are less likely to make a rushed call mid-harvest that they regret a couple of days later.
Tabula builds AI platform to keep farm data in-house
Tabula, which began as TracMap 20 years ago, is building its own AI platform to keep customer data inside the business.
Hybrid drones can spray wilding pines for up to two hours
A drone maker says hybrid spray drones flying up to two hours can spot spray wilding pines and gorse in hard-to-reach country.
Thieves strip copper cable from Canterbury irrigators
Thieves are stripping copper cable from Canterbury pivot irrigators, often from part-circle machines parked along fence lines, says Waterforce.
WorkSafe inspectors to visit sheep and beef farms
WorkSafe will phone or door-knock sheep and beef farmers to book a time before inspectors visit from October to December this year.
Farm vehicles must be fit for purpose under new codes of practice
A Safer Farms champion says two new approved codes of practice should push farmers to build safety into every job.
Standardised assurance gives red meat a stronger market position
NZFAI Chair Craig Hattle says whole-chain traceability is required for fibre re-exported out of India.