Farms and Farm Machinery Issue 398

Honda’s latest addition to its side-by-side range is due to be released in Australia this month. The Pioneer 520 was announced late last year as an improvement on the Pioneer 500, which is currently the smallest model in the Japanese manufacturer’s range. At the time, Honda only said it would be released in the second quarter of 2021 but has since confirmed it would be headed to Australia in May. Its release is particularly relevant as Honda has identified side-by-sides as its new target for Australian farmers, following the company’s decision to abandon quad bikes due to the federal government’s rollover protection laws Honda describes the Pioneer 520 as a side-by-side “that punches well above its size and weight”. It is compact, having the same 127cm width as the Pioneer 500, however its 518cc engine…

Honda has confirmed it will exit the Australian quad bike market once new safety laws come into effect in October. The changes, which will require all new quad bikes sold in Australia to be fitted with rollover protection, were announced by the federal government in 2019 and officially come into force on October 11 this year. Honda had already flagged it would stop selling quad bikes, but the decision has now been confirmed by the company’s Australian director of motorcycle and power equipment Peter Singleton. “Safety standards must be evidence-based, in both criteria and testing methods, to internationally accepted standards,” Singleton says. “Honda has provided research to show the negative outcomes of the government’s proposal but unfortunately it was rejected, and we are here in this position today.” Singleton says the company supported other safety…

Both of Segway’s AT6-S and AT6-L S models will include additional safety measures and technologies in order to meet and exceed the Australian government standards for ATVs in the country. Among the new additions to all of Segway’s Powersports models in Australia is the Telematics Box (T-Box) – a connection terminal that delivers a number of online applications for the operator. Among its functions is increased mobile phone integration, SOS alerts, vehicle remote monitoring and Bluetooth. The T-Box allows for operators to add an emergency contact person who will automatically receive an SMS with the precise location of the vehicle and operator in the event of a serious roll or collision. Real-time data can also be accessed through Segway’s Smart Commanding System (SCS), which provides industry-leading interaction and safety to best operate the…

Landini has released a new tractor – the Discovery 60 – which is a smaller version of the Discovery 75 released by the Italian manufacturer last year but with many of the same specifications. The Discovery 60 4WD ROPS (rollover protection system) has been designed as a strong, value-for-money tractor when the 75 horsepower (56kW) of its stablemate is not required. With a 3.7 litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, the 60hp (45kW) model has a base weight of 3,150kg and a hydraulic three-point linkage lift capacity of 2,500kg, with a total hydraulic capacity of 67 litres/minute. The base weight, linkage lift capacity, tractor length (4.16m) and engine capacity (3707cc) are all the same on both the Discovery 60 and 75. Two sets of hydraulic remote outlets are standard on the Discovery 60, as is a…

Toowoomba-based Equipment Specialists is the new Australian distributor of Solis Tractors, with new models available now. The tractors, produced by Indian manufacturer Sonalika Tractors, will be sold alongside Equipment Specialists’ ranges of Alfa tractors and Lovol earthmoving machinery. The distribution handover had been in the works for the past nine months, but the process was slightly delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, only being finalised this year. Equipment Specialists operations manager, Lawrence Perkins, says the Solis machines have already proved popular as it builds up its inventory. “We have already sold a few already and we’ve got more ordered to come,” says Perkins. “We’re ready to sell units now. It’s been a nine month process to sort everything out because of the virus but it’s been formally sorted for three months or so and we’re…

A new weeding robot that uniquely uses lasers to exterminate unwanted plants has been released by Carbon Robotics in the US. The Seattle-based company has released its third generation Autonomous Weeder, which uses a combination of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and laser technology to safely and effectively drive through crop fields to identify, target and eliminate weeds. However, if you are on the market for one of these robots you will have to wait until 2022 as all the 2021 models have already sold out. New models for the 2022 growing season are available for pre-order. Unlike other weeding technologies, Carbon Robotics’ machines utilise high-power lasers to eradicate weeds through thermal energy, without disturbing the soil. Farmers who operate automated robots have the ability to reduce their use of herbicides, reduce labour and costs,…