Equipment

Field Days fencing competition fun

For those of you attending the 44th NZ national agricultural Field Days at Hamilton this June (10-13), don’t forget to have some fun while there. Fairbrother Industries, the name behind Kinghitter and Hooper Cultivation, will run two speed-fencing competitions to test your rural handiwork. Its now famous 3 Batten Race and Farmers Challenge will be open to all from Wednesday morning right through to Friday afternoon at the Fairbrother exhibitions sites M61/63/65, offering a prize pool of $500 in each competition. The 3 Batten Race involves stapling 3 wooden battens on to a pre-built nine wire fence in the shortest possible time using a hand held hammer of your choice. The Farmers Challenge can test you for how fast (and how well, of course) you can strain a wire between two posts. And, if you want to see how complete novices work, on Thursday at 2.30pm our Bachelor event tests white collar workers from various workplaces to hang a gate and apply a tie finishing knot around the post.

Rural Contractors question machinery and parts costs

Rural Contractors New Zealand is questioning the high cost of machinery and parts that contractors and farmers are currently paying. RCNZ President, Steve Levet says with the falling forecast milk price for the coming season dairy farmers are going to be careful when making decisions this year – and cost cutting will be top of mind. “With the reality of a lower dairy payout this year, sheep and beef farmers already under the pump and arable producers also feeling the squeeze – further pressure is going to come on contractors to at least hold or reduce our costs,” he explains. “Rural contractors do not have the luxury or the ability to absorb continued cost increases and just pass them on in our pricing to clients. So while farmers are not able to wear any price increases; contractors certainly cannot afford to carry on losing money either.” Mr Levet says rural contracting is a tough business and in today’s highly competitive environment it is not easy to make a profit.“Contractors are already running pretty tight operations and there is not a lot – or in most cases any – fat to cut.” He says like their farmer clients rural contractors will have to look at reducing their costs. “For most rural contracting business; one key area of cost is that of machinery and parts. Ask anyone about the costs of parts and they will all tell you the same thing: eye-watering!” Mr Levet says this has seen many contractors – and farmers – look at sourcing parts from either non-aligned dealers and/or the internet. “Just like consumers in the other parts of the economy; many rural contractors are finding the attraction and availability of cheaper goods via the internet a genuine way for them to cut costs.” He admits there are […]

Bayer launches three new crop protection products

Global innovation leader Bayer has launched three new crop protection products designed to increase yields and put more money in farmers’ pockets. The new products – two fungicides and one herbicide – are part of a EUR 2.4 billion (NZ$3.9 billion) global innovation investment by Bayer into safeguarding vital crops and increasing crop yields. Bayer New Zealand managing director Holger Detje, who heads the company’s local agricultural sub group, Bayer CropScience, says the new products are part of a strong innovation pipeline. “Bayer CropScience globally files 40% of all new agricultural chemistry patents around the world each year. As a result we have a tremendously strong pipeline of new products that we look forward to rolling out in New Zealand in coming years. “We believe the three products we are launching today will not only effectively combat disease and weeds, but also lead to increased yields and ultimately more money in farmers’ pockets.” Two of the new products, Aviator® Xpro and Prosaro®, are dual combination fungicides for controlling the main foliar disease in wheat – Septoria tritici – as well as other diseases. The third product, Betanal® quattro, is a four-in-one combination herbicide for controlling weeds in beet crops, including fodder beet, which is becoming an important energy-rich food source for cattle and dairy cows over winter. “These products have all been extensively trialled in New Zealand over the last three of four years and produced fantastic results,” says Detje. “For example, in the case of Aviator Xpro, we increased wheat yields by almost half-a-tonne per hectare. That equates to an extra $130 per hectare for the farmer after costs are taken into account.” Detje says interest in the three new products is already high and he expects a busy spring season for his CropScience team. The three new products […]

Drying Solutions Limited on Stand 2100 at Foodtech Packtech 2014

The REXMOI® Heat Pump Dehumidifier Dryer was originally developed to dry nuts at lower temperatures. Since then we have found various other products that need drying. Over the years we have developed the technology that enables drying to take place at temperatures anywhere between 10oC to 70oC (most efficiently between 20oC to 40oC). The units are electronically controlled allowing a wide range of applications. With this air drying method in an enclosed insulated chamber, the heat is not lost and is recovered with only the moisture removed. This means that the energy use is much lower and is not affected by external conditions. For around 2Kw input you get 6Kw heat and you can remove 6 to 7 litres per hour or around 180 litres of water per 24 hours (depending on the product and conditions). The current units are portable and are available for test drying. The analysis and information obtained from testing assist in designing units to specific specifications. The same principles are used where there is a need to control humidity and/or temperature in manufacturing areas. With this method of drying nothing is removed except water. The dryers are fully enclosed so the drying is not affected by external weather conditions, atmosphere, or contaminants. The trays are all food grade stainless steel. Any product that has excess moisture can be dried. For more information visit: www.dryingsolutions.co.nz