Advertise with us
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 39

New Holland releasing new T7.300 long wheelbase tractor

agrimachinery
-
0

A new power-to-weight ratio and performance standard is being set by New Holland Agriculture with the North America introduction of the T7.300 Long Wheelbase (LWB) tractor with PLM Intelligence.

As the most powerful and compact tractor in its power bracket, it delivers more power while maintaining the dimensions and maneuverability of other T7 models. Complementing this performance, the new model utilizes the superior operator environment of the Horizon™ Ultra cab and a range of inter-cab technology and features to maximize productivity, efficiency and uptime.

“Our customers told us they wanted a tractor with more power without the downside of bigger frames and more weight, and they didn’t want to sacrifice maneuverability,” said Oscar Baroncelli, Head of Tractors New Holland.

“We took up their challenge and developed the new T7.300 Long Wheelbase: it delivers greater engine power with larger tires, with no increase at all in overall dimension – it’s a design feature we call Ultimate Performance Density.”

Ultimate performance power starts under the hood

The tractor features an enhanced FPT Industrial NEF 6 engine that delivers 280 HP maximum power for draft work and 300 HP for PTO and haulage jobs. It also includes the new Electronic Variable Geometry Turbo, which ensures high torque and fuel efficiency at lower RPMs. Contributing to overall efficiency is an upgraded version of the Auto Command™ transmission function, the best-in-class driveline for tractive effort. Overall, the new T7.300 LWB tractor helps operators reduce stops by increasing fuel capacity by 18% and decreasing service intervals by 50% compared to some competitors.

The capabilities of the T7.300 LWB tractor continue to go above and beyond with increased axle functions and higher weight-holding features. The increased traction and soil performance of 2.05-meter/6.7-foot-tall tires, along with dimension continuity from previous T7 models, enables the T7.300 LWB tractor to deliver ultimate performance on any terrain.

Smart innovations take the T7.300 LWB to the next level

The T7.300 LWB tractor provides more processing power, superior implement connectivity and in-cab convenience to meet customer needs. The new model comes equipped with a variety of smart technology features, including Tractor Implement Management (TIM), a system that allows two-way communication between the tractor and implements for improved operator control. For example, when using the Integrated Large Square Baler Control the interaction with this tractor, cab movement will be reduced by 15% and fuel consumption is reduced by 12%, while maintaining a consistent PTO speed and reducing input costs.

Additionally, the T7.300 LWB tractor sports the New Holland’s PLM Intelligence™ system, which integrates data technology to connect operators and farmers to the field to optimize yield potential. This includes the:

  • IntelliView™ monitor that gives operators a complete view of the fieldwork ahead.
  • IntelliSteer™ autosteering and IntelliTurn™ automated end-of-row turning are added features to increase productivity.

In addition to advanced connectivity, customers can connect to PLM products through MyPLM Connect to view real-time information from the field, while dealers can provide remote diagnostic support through the monitor to help the operator get back to work.

Superior comfort and ergonomics in the quietest cab on the market

Comfort and smooth riding are pillars of the new T7.300 LWB tractor. This tractor leverages the superior comfort of the Horizon™ Ultra cab, the quietest cab on the market with 66 decibels, and new Comfort Ride™ suspension, the active electro-hydraulics system that mitigates cab movement from the chassis with a “skyhook” control logic. The result is a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride, which combined with the supreme forward visibility and the ergonomic controls, make the T7.300 a new benchmark for heavy front loader works.

All T7 models have a reputation for providing high-level hydraulic performance, this T7.300 is no different. It utilizes new features like high flow, electro-hydraulic remotes that have fully configurable controls, and a new hydraulic circuit with an optimized design to reduce connections by 30% and feature remote test ports for fast fault finding.

Customers will also be able to manage heavy implements with confidence with the new self-centering hydraulic stabilizers with adjustable lock point. The customizable advanced joystick controls up to 6 remote valves, providing excellent operator ergonomics.

Also Read

State of tractor sales in South Africa in the month of February 2023

Case IH Launches AFS Connect Puma tractor

CEAT partners with CNH Industrial for agriculture radial tire fitments

agrimachinery
-
0
CEAT partners with CNH Industrial for agriculture radial tire fitments

CEAT Specialty (a division of CEAT Tires) has entered into an agreement with CNH Industrial to supply FARMAX agricultural radial tires for their Case IH and New Holland tractors being produced in Brazil and Argentina.

The agreement was locked after several rounds of assessment and audits by the OEM of the Mumbai-based radial plant of CEAT and after multiple tests done on tires on various parameters.

“We have always been confident about the quality of our agriculture radials ever since we introduced them to the world in 2017. We have invested in world class technologies and the best people to design our products.

This partnership with CNH Industrial further lends credibility to that. We hope to be a long-term partner to them and want to help farmers grow their productivity,” says Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty.

CEAT Specialty Tires, with its North American headquarters in Jefferson City, MO, has been selling Ag tires in North America for six years now with steadily gaining market share.

FARMAX Radials

Durable and efficient, FARMAX radial farm tractor tires are designed to deliver enhanced roadability, superior traction, and longer service life, raising the levels of efficiency on farms and ranches across North America. The reviews from tire dealers and farmers have been outstanding.

Also Read

Syngenta unveils major crop protection Centre in Kenya

RegenZ, Solynta partner to bring hybrid potatoes to South Africa

 

RegenZ, Solynta partner to bring hybrid potatoes to South Africa

agrimachinery
-
0

South African seed potato producer RegenZ and European hybrid potato seed innovator Solynta announced recently a partnership to bring hybrid true potatoes to the South African farming community.

The companies will collaborate in further trials and join forces to facilitate the introduction of Solynta’s ‘climate smart’ and disease-free genetics to the South African farmer. With limited water resources, reduced farming land area and further limits on chemical inputs, the Solynta hybrid true potato seeds offer the best starting material for good yields and healthy potatoes.

“We believe that introduction of Solynta’s innovative hybrid potato technology in South Africa will bring huge benefits to the potato producing farming communities,” says Justin Platt, Managing Director of RegenZ.

“We see from Solynta field trials in the region that the technology can contribute towards a more efficient and sustainable potato production. Hybrid True Potato Seeds (HTPS) have the capacity to address food security goals in line with South African government objectives. With its unique ability to build in disease resistances, Solynta’s hybrids will deliver a predictable and rapid flow of improved products.

By delivering these genetics through true seeds, many other advantages, such as the provision of disease-free seed and a reduction in storage and transport costs, will be achieved. Therefore, we believe it has great value to both commercial and smallholder potato farmers to collaborate with Solynta on the formal introduction of hybrid true potato seed in South Africa.”

Charles Miller, Solynta’s Commercial Director, emphasizes the global impact of the new hybrid potato varieties.

“This partnership marks the shared values of our companies,” says Miller. “Like RegenZ, Solynta is committed to developing sustainable innovations that improve the quality of life. For Solynta, that means ensuring that nutritious, easy-to-grow potatoes are abundantly available to fight food insecurity.”

“Solynta’s new hybrid true potato varieties have been developed to offer an answer to the nutrition security challenges that the world is facing,” he adds. “Our non-GMO, disease-free potato seed delivers highly delicious and nutritious potatoes and requires fewer pesticides to produce great yield.”

On the partnership with RegenZ, he says, “The goal of this collaboration, for Solynta, is to benefit local farmers – in South Africa and worldwide. As potato production makes up 45% of the country’s total vegetable production, exceeding 51 000 ha per year, it is clearly one of the most important vegetable crops in South Africa.

With Solynta’s seeds, local farmers will benefit from using the best, clean and disease-free starting material for their potato production. We look forward to working with RegenZ to develop and introduce potato cultivars that will thrive and prosper in South Africa. Acting as Solynta’s representative in the region, RegenZ is playing a critical role in navigating the commercial and regulatory challenges associated with establishing HTPS in South and Southern Africa.

This includes collaborating with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development [DALRRD] and other key industry stakeholders on establishing a suitable regulatory framework for the safe introduction of HTPS into the market.”

Also Read

Syngenta unveils major crop protection Centre in Kenya

Changing consumer attitudes with late-blight-resistant GM potatoes

Changing consumer attitudes with late-blight-resistant GM potatoes

agrimachinery
-
0

Pests and diseases have been a scourge to agriculture since agriculture began, and they still destroy about 20 percent of crops planted globally, even though farmers spray 2.7 million tons of insecticides and fungicides on fields globally each year.

Those agrochemicals constitute a significant expense and risk to human and environmental health, but the good news is breeding approaches to develop disease-resistant varieties of staple crops are progressing in leaps and bounds. This is particularly the case with biotechnology, yet consumer fears are holding back the development or release of many biotech varieties, leaving the field clear for devastating outbreaks of crop diseases such as potato late blight.

A ubiquitous, airborne disease that destroyed potato crops in Ireland and resulted in a famine that caused one million deaths in the 19th century, late blight still affects most of the 18 million hectares used to grow potato crops today. While fungicide spraying can reduce the losses it causes, not all farmers have access to or can afford that agrochemical, especially small-scale growers in developing countries, where late blight costs farmers an estimated USD 2.75 billion annually in production loss and fungicides.

Breeders have successfully developed high-yielding potato varieties well-adapted to a wide range of countries, but resistance to late blight has been a challenge. While some of the potato’s wild relatives are highly resistant, getting the genes responsible for that resistance from wild potatoes into commercially viable ones has resulted in potatoes with bitterness or other characteristics people don’t like. This requires a long and tedious process of backcrossing to weed out undesirable “wild” traits.

“It could take multiple decades to produce a variety that has the wild plants’ disease resistance and the characteristics of a commercially popular potato,” explains Marc Ghislain, Principal Scientist, Biotechnology at the International Potato Center (CIP) and a co-author of the study. “

Ghislain explains that biotechnology has enabled breeders to transfer resistance genes from wild potato species into established varieties without changing any of their other characteristics. “Farmers who grow those potatoes have little risk of crop loss or need for fungicides. They are also likely to quickly adopt them because they know there is market demand for them,” he says. “To take those varieties to scale, however, we need consumer support.”

While food safety agencies agree that crop varieties developed using gene technology in plant breeding are as safe for human consumption as those bred conventionally, genetically modified (GM) food crops continue to evoke strong consumer reactions – mostly negative – particularly in Europe.

Ongoing field trials in southern Sweden presented an opportunity for researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences to let a group of consumers see one of those crops for themselves.

They placed an advert on social media inviting people to join a visit to a potato field trial, making no mention of the crops they were going to see being transgenic. The 28 participants who attended that field day completed a questionnaire before and after the visit to capture changes in attitudes and willingness to purchase.

The trials were of a late-blight-resistant transgenic potato developed from the King Edward variety – a 100-year-old variety that is still very important in Sweden – into which three genes from two potato wild relatives had been introduced. The results of three years of trials showed that this transgenic version of King Edward was completely late blight resistant.

“We could reduce the use of agricultural fungicides in Sweden by several percent just by using this new resistant potato,” says Erik Andreasson, co-author and Professor in Plant Protection at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

While the transgenic potato had shown good results over three seasons in terms of resistance, reduced costs, and the time it would take to get the improved variety into farmers’ fields, we know from previous studies that just communicating facts is not enough to gain consumer acceptance; you need to address the reasons behind their concerns,” says Ghislain.

Feedback captured from the participants prior to the field visit indicated some important acceptability issues for GM crops, including that they should be perceived as being healthier than other potatoes, be the same price or cheaper, and be organically produced. Other concerns included perceptions that GM crops help big businesses more than they help farmers and consumers, and that using biotechnology in plant breeding leads to unacceptable risks.

Following the field visit, there was a positive change in risk perceptions and attitudes, indicating that personal experience and access to reliable sources of scientific information, in combination with discussion with public sector scientists, can increase the acceptance of GM products. Though the study sample was small and not representative of the wider population, it does present an approach that could be scaled up and used on other types of products.

“Farmers stand to benefit from resistant varieties improved through biotechnology, which have positive implications for human health and the environment, since fewer potentially harmful and expensive chemicals such as fungicides will need to be used,” observes Marc Ghislain.

“GM crops cannot solve all the problems farmers face on their own, but early evidence shows that if we can overcome regulatory barriers and create more positive consumer attitudes toward them, they could certainly make a significant contribution to farmer incomes, food security, and the environment,” concludes Ghislain.

Full article: Genetically modified (GM) late blight-resistant potato and consumer attitudes before and after a field visit (tandfonline.com).

Also Read

Stress memory in plants could hold key to growing disease resistant crops

New study gives hope in fight against deadly wheat virus

Syngenta unveils major crop protection Centre in Kenya

agrimachinery
-
0

Syngenta has opened a Crop Protection Development (CPD) Knowledge Centre in Kenya  to help farmers aware of emerging challenges such as climate change and novel pests affecting crops. 

The facility which was launched in Lioki, Githunguri Sub-County will offer various skills of farming to farmers to enable them change their ways of farming from mono crops/staple foods to more diversified commercial farming.

Syngenta head of business in East Africa Mr. Fredrick Otieno who spoke during the launch said the timely launch of the facility will help tackle agriculture’s most complex challenges, increase innovation, and advance more sustainable agriculture for food security in Kenya, East Africa and beyond.

He further said low food production in Kenya has been enabled by poor agronomic knowledge and continued practice of traditional agricultural methods since there is no coherence in service provision or farm products readily available for them.

Additionally, he noted that Syngenta will collaborate with government institutions, youths, students and researchers to take farming in Kenya to the next level.

Mukuna Mutura, an extension officer with Syngenta added that the launch of the facility closer to the farmer will bring harmony between technology and innovation from the laboratory to the farm.

“Part of the problem is that most agricultural research still occurs on the research station, where scientists experience conditions quite different from those experienced by farmers, as a company we want to localize innovation and research closer to the farmer; this will in turn boost global food security through testing new varieties and training trainers’’, he added.

Mutura said agricultural extension to improve yields of food crops and close the yield gap often entails general recommendations on soil fertility, seedlings management and right use of pesticides that are distributed to farmers

Joseph Ndichu one of the local farmers lauded the initiative saying the knowledge centre will impact farmers with safe modern farming techniques.

He noted that farmers in the area have been experiencing low food production especially in maize farming as a result of purchasing and planting the wrong seeds.

“There is hope for improving our food production going by the clinics I have attended and training offered here, we now know how to practice diversified farming for example; initially we would plant maize and potatoes but now as you can see, we can produce wheat and water melons’’ he added.

Kiambu CECM for Agriculture Wilfred Kiara challenged Syngenta to set up such facilities in dry zones like Ndeiya in Kiambu West and Ngoliba in Kiambu East in order to make the areas food sufficient.

Kiara also urged the Agritech company to set up vertical farming centers in parts of Kiambu’s urban sub counties which have now become concrete jungles.

“I challenge you to not only focus on horizontal farming and also farm in more productive areas but move to dry zones and urban areas,’’ he added.

Otieno said that Syngenta will launch a second knowledge Centre in the food basket rich Uasin Ngishu county in the coming months.

By Grace Naishoo, KNA

Robust agriculture sector can boost chad economy-IFC, World Bank Report says

agrimachinery
-
0

Chad can diversify its economy, reduce poverty, and spur inclusive development by increasing private sector investment in high-growth agriculture value chains and in the energy, infrastructure, and access to finance sectors that support crop and livestock development, according to a report published today by IFC and the World Bank.

The Chad Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) analyzes private sector challenges and opportunities in Chad, identifies areas for reform, and highlights sectors with the greatest potential to drive sustainable and inclusive private sector–led growth in alignment with Chad’s development agenda In Vision 2030: The Chad We Want.

The CPSD highlights livestock, sesame seed, gum arabic, and cotton as value chains with high potential for development impact. Increasing private participation in cold-chain infrastructure, industrial-scale breeding, and water management, along with support to farmers to help them access quality seeds and fertilizers, will also boost agricultural development, according to the report.

The report comes as Chad, an increasingly oil-dependent economy, continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing other significant challenges, including food insecurity, oil price volatility, and climate change. Agriculture and pastoralism account for 73 percent of household income and 54 percent of GDP.

“Chad aspires to diversify its economy in order to achieve the promises of its national development plan. Through the CPSD, the World Bank and IFC intend to support the Government of Chad’s efforts to make the private sector the engine of job creation and economic transformation,” said Rasit Pertev, World Bank Country Manager for Chad.

“Chad boasts considerable opportunities for private sector investment in agriculture value chains that can drive structural transformation and job creation,” said Sylvain Kakou, IFC Country Manager for Chad. “The CPSD explores in detail how Chad can better harness its agricultural resource endowments to generate more economic opportunities and reach its development goals”.

The report also underscores the need for Chad to implement reforms to remove constraints in energy, infrastructure, access to finance, and the digital economy, which are hindering the country’s agriculture sector. For example, establishing mini-grids and independent power plants and providing credit guarantees for SME’s could boost farmers’ and producers’ productivity.

In line with the CPSD’s findings, the World Bank Group’s strategy for Chad focuses on agribusiness, infrastructure, power, ICT, manufacturing, transport, and logistics.

Also Read

Mechanizing agriculture is key to food security

Agroecology is the future for Africa’s farming youth

John Deere Invests in ag-tech company Hello Tractor

agrimachinery
-
0

John Deere has made a minority investment in Hello Tractor, an ag-tech company based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hello Tractor connects tractor owners with smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia through a farm-equipment-sharing app, which allows farmers to track and manage their fleet, book customers, and access financing options.

Hello Tractor was among the first group of companies to participate in John Deere’s Startup Collaborator program, launched in 2019 to enhance and deepen Deere’s interaction with startup companies whose technology could add value for customers.

“John Deere sees this as an opportunity to support Hello Tractor’s innovative work to provide technologies and solutions to agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia,” said Jason Brantley, Director, Ag & Turf Sales & Marketing – Africa and Asia, at John Deere. “Hello Tractor’s work also aligns with the John Deere Strategy and the Ag & Turf Division’s Leap Ambitions to ensure 100% of new Small Ag equipment is connectivity-enabled by 2026.”

“The partnership between Hello Tractor and John Deere has been building since our participation in John Deere’s Startup Collaborator program,” said Jehiel Oliver, Hello Tractor founder. “We look forward to continuing to work together to ultimately help drive better economic outcomes for smallholder farmers.”

Hello Tractor has approximately 25 employees and will continue to operate from its current location in Africa.

Also Read

State of tractor sales in South Africa in the month of February 2023

Case IH Launches AFS Connect Puma tractor

6 benefits of VF agriculture tyres?

agrimachinery
-
0

When it comes to agricultural machinery, tyres are a crucial component. They are responsible for carrying heavy loads, providing traction, and ensuring the stability and safety of the equipment.

Agriculture tyre has come a long way in recent years, with the introduction of VF (Very High Flexion) tyres revolutionizing the industry. In this blog post, we’ll explore the hidden benefits of VF agricultural tyres and why they are becoming increasingly popular among farmers.

  1. Improved Efficiency

VF agricultural tyres offer a significant advantage in terms of efficiency improvement. They can carry heavier loads at the same inflation pressure as standard agricultural tyres. This means fewer trips are required to complete the same amount of work. This saves time. This also reduces fuel consumption and wear and tear on the machinery.

  1. Increased Yield

VF tractor tyre has the potential to increase crop yield. VF tyres have a broader surface area that enables them to distribute the weight of the machinery more evenly, decreasing soil compaction. This allows the soil to retain more water and nutrients, providing the ideal crop-growing conditions. Additionally, the improved flotation of VF tyres enables farmers to access their fields earlier, resulting in a longer growing season and potentially higher yields.

  1. Improved Safety

Safety is always a top priority when it comes to agricultural machinery. VF farm tyre provides improved stability and traction, reducing the risk of accidents and crop damage. Moreover, the wider contact area of VF tyres lowers ground pressure. This helps in preventing tyre slippage and reduces the possibility of getting stuck in wet or muddy terrain.

  1. Longer Tyre Life

The designers have developed VF Ag tyre to endure heavy loads and offer outstanding durability, resulting in a longer tyre lifespan than standard agricultural tyres. This can significantly reduce the cost of replacing tyres and the downtime required for maintenance and repairs.

  1. Environmental Benefits

VF Agri tyre has environmental benefits. Reducing the number of trips required to complete work can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from machinery. The reduced soil compaction and improved soil health can also lead to better carbon sequestration in the soil, helping to combat climate change.

  1. Reduced Soil Compaction

The VF technology has a positive impact on soil health. Since VF farm tractor tyres require lower inflation pressure, they create a larger tyre footprint that minimizes soil compaction.

VF agricultural tyres offer a range of hidden benefits to farmers in the UK. From improving efficiency and increasing yield to enhancing safety and environmental sustainability, VF tyres are a valuable investment for farmers looking to optimize their agricultural machinery.

CEAT Specialty’s experienced technicians are responsible for assessing your requirements and guiding you in choosing the optimal tyre, including determining whether a VF tyre is the most appropriate and effective option for your needs.

With a vast selection of tyres available, selecting the appropriate one can be daunting, but feel free to seek expert advice. When choosing the best tyre, no questions are considered wrong.

Also Read

Two New Mitas AGRITERRA 02 Tyre Sizes for Special Agricultural Machines

Bridgestone commences solar power generation at tire plants in Japan

CEAT Spraymax Tyres: The Ideal Solution for UK Agricultural Sprayers

agrimachinery
-
0

Agricultural sprayers are an essential part of modern farming practices. They allow farmers to effectively manage and control pests and weeds while minimizing the use of harmful chemicals.

However, have the right equipment, including the right agriculture tyre, to get the most out of your sprayer.

CEAT Specialty, one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, launched Spraymax Tyre. It is designed specifically for agricultural sprayers in the UK. CEAT engineers the Spraymax tyre to offer superior performance and durability in the harsh conditions where agricultural sprayers operate.

Here are the key features and benefits of the best Spraymax tractor tyre:

Unique tread pattern: CEAT Spraymax Tyres have a unique tread pattern designed to provide excellent traction and stability on wet and muddy fields. This helps to minimize slippage and ensures that the sprayer can operate smoothly and efficiently, even in rugged terrain.

Maximized sprayer tyre life: As farms expand, self-propelled sprayers spend more time traveling between fields and farms. This has made on-road capabilities almost as critical as in-field performance. To address this concern, CEAT Spraymax tyres are designed with a center tie bar that smooths out unevenness on the road, allowing optimal speeds. Additionally, the farm tractor tyres have a high non-skid depth, which enhances their durability and extends their life, ultimately maximizing the lifespan of sprayer tyres.

Rigid construction: CEAT Specialty manufactures Spraymax Tyre using high-quality materials with exceptional durability and resistance to punctures and cuts. This helps to minimize downtime and ensures that your sprayer can keep operating, even in challenging conditions.

Optimal load-carrying capacity: CEAT Specialty designs the best Spraymax tractor tyre to bear heavy loads effortlessly. This makes it an ideal option for agricultural sprayers requiring substantial liquids and chemicals.

Boost productivity: Another advantage of using very high flexion (VF) tyre technology, especially for improving your sprayer’s performance, is its increased load-carrying capacity. CEAT Specialty designs the Spraymax tyre with robust and flexible sidewalls, empowering them to bear 40% more weight than a standard radial tyre of the same size, operating at the same pressure.

For farmers and contractors looking to enhance operational efficiency by upgrading to a sprayer with a larger tank capacity, sprayer tyres can increase productivity by reducing non-spraying time through fewer refills.

Comfortable ride: CEAT Spraymax Tyres feature a unique construction that helps to absorb shocks and vibrations, providing a smooth and comfortable ride for the operator.

Fuel-efficient: CEAT Specialty’s best Spraymax tractor tyre is fuel-efficient. It helps to reduce the overall operating costs of your agricultural sprayer.

Minimized soil compaction: CEAT Spraymax VF, classified as a very high flexion tyre, can transport an equivalent weight with 40% less pressure than standard tyres of the exact dimensions. This results in an extended and broader tyre footprint that distributes the sprayer’s weight across a greater contact patch, lowering ground pressure and decreasing soil compaction. This, in turn, facilitates plant growth by improving root development while reducing the amount of fuel and steel required to fix any compaction issues before the next crop.

In addition to these features, CEAT Spraymax Tyres are also easy to install and maintain, making them a cost-effective choice for farmers and agricultural contractors across the UK.

Overall, CEAT Spraymax Tyres are the ideal solution for UK agricultural sprayers that need reliable and durable tyres that can perform in various challenging conditions. With their unique design and exceptional performance, CEAT Spraymax Tyres are an excellent investment for anyone looking to get the most out of their agricultural sprayer.

Also Read

New Holland highlights future of precision agriculture

Hitech spraying solution from Bosch BASF Smart Farming

UK awards £9.13m to develop cutting-edge farming technology

agrimachinery
-
0

Three cutting-edge projects will receive a share of £9.13 million in government funding to carry out research and development on proposals to boost agricultural productivity, sustainability and climate resilience, it has been announced today.

The funding will support projects developing robotic crop harvesting for horticulture, an autonomous system to change cows’ bedding to improve their health, welfare and productivity, and a more environmentally-friendly approach to potato cultivation.

The three projects are being supported through the Large R&D Partnership competition, which is part of the government’s £270 million Farming Innovation Programme, and a second round of the competition is currently open for applications.

This is all part of the government’s commitment to spend around £600 million on grants to provide support for farmers to invest in productivity, animal health and welfare, innovation, research and development over three years. It will be funded from the £2.4 billion annual farming budget, which is being maintained at its current level for the rest of this current Parliament.

Alongside the ongoing roll-out of the Environmental Land Management schemes, the grants will help to deliver long-term sustainable food production and support farmers to halt and reverse the decline of nature as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan. Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

It’s important that we fund projects like these – and those still to come in future rounds – as we support farmers to deliver sustainable food production and protect the environment.

Innovation, research and development will help keep the sector at the cutting edge of technology as we look into the future.

 

Katrina Hayter, Interim Executive Director  Healthy Living & Agriculture, Innovate UK, said:

These projects have all demonstrated not only an innovative solution to a real-life, on-farm problem, but also the value of partnerships and collaboration between different sector experts. For novel technology to truly succeed, it needs the input of the farmers themselves for the day-to-day realities of its use.

 

We’re really pleased that these partnerships have this idea at their core, and we now look forward to working with them as they develop their solutions further and bring the benefits to life.

 

Successful projects

The Agri-Opencore project, led by APS Produce, has been awarded over £3.8m to accelerate the delivery of robotic crop systems for horticulture. With labour shortages affecting the horticulture sector around the world, there are huge opportunities to reduce costs and labour requirements.

The funding will help the project create the world’s first open development platform (software and hardware) for agri-robotic crop harvesting. The open development platform will enable multiple organisations to contribute, allowing cross-sector collaboration and demonstration of technologies on English farms. It is hoped that the project will help to accelerate the adoption of robotic picking by two years. Phil Pearson, from APS Produce, said:

The AGRI-OPENCORE robotics project is an exciting, and vital project for the fresh produce industry. It promises to deliver the significant progress required to automate fresh produce harvesting in the UK. As this work brings leading technology providers, Dogtooth, Xihelm and Wootzano, with the academic excellence of the University of Lincoln team, we can expect significant progress towards autonomous harvesting.

The AG ARC project, led by Garnett Farm Engineering, has been awarded over £2.5m towards the development of an autonomous cow cubicle bedding unit. Cow comfort is a key factor in reducing the chances of cows suffering from mastitis, a fatal inflammation of their mammary gland, with dry and clean bedding and careful management of cubicles being vital.

Currently, this must be done manually by farmers, but this project will develop an intelligent robotic cubicle bedder to monitor and respond to key sensor data to optimise dispensing of bedding. This will help to boost cow health and welfare, improve farm productivity and reduce costs through efficient use of bedding.

Andrew Garnett, of AG Products, said:

We look forward to collaborating with the University of Liverpool on this exciting project to further enhance our cattle bedding solutions to farmers, improving cow welfare and productivity. Our passion for innovation has seen the recent launch of the AG Duo; the AG ARC will further revolutionise the industry’s approach to cattle bedding.

The Potato-LITE project has been awarded £2,830,000 to explore optimised systems for potato cultivation. Current systems require the soil to be cultivated to create a deep and uniform seedbed, free from stones and clods, to provide a favourable environment for potato growth. Whilst reduced tillage technologies have enabled regenerative agriculture in cereal systems, this technology has not been developed for the production of potatoes and other root crops. Potato-LITE will transform potato tillage through developing new cultivation equipment and systems, delivered through a leading partnership between food manufacturers (PepsiCo and McCain), a machinery manufacturer (Grimme), growers (Strawson Ltd, JRO Griffiths, H Sutton & Son and JM Bubb & Son) and research organisations (Cranfield University, Harper Adams University and CHAP). The project focuses on reducing the depth, intensity and number of operations required, which will improve soil health and reduce the environmental impact of potato production whilst also reducing costs, making the £824 million potato sector more resilient and sustainable.

Shaunagh Slack, Project Lead for Potato-LITE, Regen Ag Scientist, Agricultural Science, PepsiCo, said:

“At PepsiCo, agriculture is core to our business and we believe that sustainable agricultural practices are pivotal in protecting and enhancing our natural resources. Through Potato-LITE, we have a unique opportunity to form a leading industry and academic partnership to transform potato tillage and quantify the benefits on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions.  This four year research project will enable the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices among UK farming communities as we work towards a net zero future.”

Also Read

GDM continues to grow in the South African soybean genetics market

Syngenta launches new agricultural innovation “Shoots by Syngenta”

1...383940...56Page 39 of 56

Quick Links

Top categories

Our Media Network

CCE NEWS – Construction & Engineering News
The Africa Logistics – Transport & Supply Chain
Linkbly – Digital Advertising & Link Building

Newslatter

Contacts

Editorial: editor@agrimachinery.africa
Advertising: ads@agrimachinery.africa
Guest Posts: marketing@agrimachinery.africa
News Tips: news@agrimachinery.africa

Follow Us

© 2026 Agrimachinery Africa. All Rights Reserved.
Africa’s trusted source for agricultural machinery, farm equipment, and agribusiness technology news.