Farms and Farm Machinery Issue 404

Kubota will acquire automatic steering products manufacturer AgJunction in an all-cash deal, about a year after AgJunction’s Novariant subsidiary developed a modular automation system for the company. The purchase is valued at CAD$91 million (A$98 million) and involves a full buyout of AgJunction, which has its headquarters in the United States and which announced the closure of its Brisbane facilities in 2019. Despite the closure of its Brisbane facilities, AgJunction did start shipping autosteering technologies from its Wheelman product portfolio to Australia in August. Kubota says the purchase should strengthen its hand in the growing agricultural automation market, by providing it with access to over 200 patents and patents pending owned and licensed by AgJunction. These technologies are used by 30 of the world’s leading precision agriculture manufacturers and solution providers, AgJunction says, describing…

Dates have been confirmed for the Henty Machinery Field Day (HMFD) in 2022, with organisers scheduling the event for September 20–22 next year. The event, located in southern New South Wales, was cancelled in the previous two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its longstanding ramifications. Initially, organisers were investigating the viability of the event being held in March next year. However, it was confirmed only one event would take place in 2022 following consultations with exhibitors. HMFD chief executive Belinda Anderson says the option to potentially shift the event to March did not appeal to exhibitors, who often travel interstate to attend the field day. “After surveying the exhibitors booked for the 2021 field days, it was clear a replication of the field days in March followed by our annual…

McCormick’s newest range of tractors is the most powerful ever produced by the Italian manufacturer, and the first units are due to arrive in Australia next month (December) through local distributor Clark Equipment. The X8 series will include three models ranging between 264hp and 310 horsepower (194–228kW) and boasts a completely redesigned cabin. The tractors are powered by 6.7-litre, six-cylinder Iveco engines and have VT-Drive four-stage continuously variable transmission. The X8’s hydraulic system features up to six rear-mounted remote valves, a three-way flow divider, two mid-mounted and three front-mounted remote valves, all of which are controlled electronically and can be configured by the tractor’s touch screen monitor. The system provides a total flow of 212L/minute and supplies 140L/minute to the 11 valves. As part of the emphasis on power, McCormick has designed the X8 to…

Ten Vanderfield dealerships in New South Wales and Queensland will start offering equipment produced by Kuhn, the French agricultural machinery manufacturer has announced. Sales of the Kuhn products will start at Vanderfield dealerships in Beaudesert, Cabooluture, Dalby, Goondiwindi and Loganholme in Queensland and Lismore, Inverell, Moree, Taree and Rutherford in New South Wales. With the change, Kuhn products will be sold at 115 dealerships across the country – 22 of which are Vanderfield dealerships. Kuhn says the agreement continues its decade-long partnership with Vanderfield, bringing its products to what once were Chesterfield Australia dealerships. Vanderfield product marketing manager Paul Slatter says the increased partnership between the two will help support more customers while providing more opportunities for both businesses into the future. "Kuhn is a well-known global brand and provides an extensive product range in…

A new optional twin hydraulic front attachment drive system on Claas’s Jaguar 900 forage harvesters will help the crop intake match the ground speed during harvest time The new front attachment option is one of a series of changes announced for the 2022 delivery Jaguar 900 forage harvesters, which Claas Harvest Centre product manager for Jaguar Luke Wheeler says is a game-changer for pick up work. “With this option, the pick up intake auger continues to be driven via the quick-release coupler, and can adjust its speed in accordance with the feed intake rollers, which is dependent on the length of cut setting,” he says. “The all-new hydraulic drive means the speed of the reel can now be automatically adjusted to match ground speed of the harvester independently of the speed of the…

With a more powerful 420 horsepower (313kW) engine and intelligent hydraulic system, CNH says the 9000 model will help cane growers tackle the global cane market more effectively. The Austoft 9000 is available for purchase now, with the first machines set to arrive in Australia from Brazil early next year. Several technologies have been added to the 9000 model to boost performance in the field, including the AFS Auto guidance system and new 4G-compatable telematics system – the first Austoft model to offer the feature. The Austoft 9000’s redesigned hydraulics system provides operators with a 10 per cent higher harvesting capacity, 10 per cent lower fuel consumption and 50 per cent longer engine life. Case IH Australian product manager for sugarcane harvesters Lawrence Polga says customer feedback has been vital to the design of…