The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2017 - Issue 53 | Page 64

Machinery Intelligent plough system brings precision farming to inversion cultivations » » KUHN FARM MACHINERY has launched an innovative section control system to its range of ploughs: the “Smart Ploughing” system uses a GPS- based precision farming system to automatically lift and lower each individual plough body into and out of the ground at the start and end points of each furrow. The new system, for which KUHN has filed a patent application, has been awarded a silver medal for innovation at AGRITECHNICA 2017 for its ability to ensure uniform ploughing across the full field width. Raising and lowering each plough body individually eliminates the Z-shaped furrow edge and minimises overlap at the end of furrows. This not only reduces the number of times the tractor passes over the headland, thereby reducing soil compaction, but also ensures all surface trash at the furrow/ headland interface is buried effectively. ‘easier and less time-consuming’ The new technology also makes ploughing easier and less time-consuming as the automated lifting and lowering of the plough bodies leaves the operator free to concentrate fully on driving the tractor The Smart Ploughing system will be available across a selection of KUHN ploughs. MCCORMICK DISTRIBUTOR AIMS TO SUPPORT CONTRACTORS THROUGH NAAC PARTNERSHIP » » THE UK AND IRELAND DISTRIBUTOR contractors, being held on 14 December of McCormick tractors – AgriArgo UK – at the East of England Showground, aims to support the activities of Britain’s Peterborough. “The programme should attract everyone agricultural contractors by joining their representative organisation as a corporate with an interest in providing contract partner. services,” suggests Ray Spinks. “With speakers such as the NFU president, a Ray Spinks, general manager and sales director at AgriArgo, says the National food chain expert and the national adviser Association of Agricultural Contractors with the agricultural valuers’ association, (NAAC) is widely recognised as doing the event should provide some useful insights into the future role of contractors, a good job for professional operators providing services in agriculture and other has created good working practice especially in a post-Brexit British land-based sectors. standards to reinforce professionalism agriculture.” “Apart from generally promoting the advantages of using contractors and provides valuable guidance on many aspects of business management. AgriArgo aims to forge closer links with contractors through its NAAC partnership “Individual contractors have just one and contribute its views and information on information, the NAAC does a lot of voice; but as members of the NAAC, they issues such as farm vehicle roadworthiness, behind-the-scenes work, representing have a much stronger collective voice to operator training standards, and the the interests of contractors at the highest express their views and interests.” machinery supply chain. and supporting them with advice and level,” he points out. “The NAAC contributes contractor AgriArgo will make its corporate member debut at the NAAC’s Contractor 2017 event, perspectives in consultations by the only national gathering organised government and regulating authorities, specifically for professional land-based 64 Oct/Nov 2017 www.farmers-mart.co.uk McCormick products are distributed in Great Britain by AgriArgo UK Ltd Email: [email protected]