Lagoon Crawler unusual vehicle for agitating large slurry lagoons
Used for agitating liquid manure lagoons, it is a boat equipped with wheels, and four wheel drive to help it get to the centre of the lagoon, and drive out to refuel, or when the job is done.
It is effectively an amphibious pump on wheels designed for agitating large slurry lagoons.
Manufacturer Nuhn Industries, based in Ontario, Canada, says it can cost a dairy farmer with just 100 cows $10,000 to remove sand build-up in lagoons. Instead, their crawler will blast away sand and solids, to increase the storage capacity of a lagoon.
The Crawler can pump 10,000 gallons per minute of liquid manure, and its pump does not need priming, because it is located on the bottom of the machine, and is submerged at all times.
Once the lagoon is emptied, the wheels can be dropped to give the vehicle about five feet of ground clearance, for driving out.
Lagoon crawlers are in use in Canada, the US, and Russia.
Agricultural tyre pressure information is just a photo and a couple of clicks away, for smartphone users who have Michelin’s new farm tyre pressure app.
It can instantly work out the most appropriate tyre pressures for the desired load and speed on any farm tractor.
Firstly, the user must enter the weight of the load supported by the front and rear axle. Then they select the size and type of Michelin tyre fitted to the front and rear of the tractor.
Then the farmer takes a photo of the tractor with their smartphone. The app’s built-in camera function can calculate the precise load distribution and the length of the overhang, measured from the wheels, to help define the optimum pressure recommendations.
Results can be saved in a special folder, or by email.
Downloadable for free on Android devices, and due for release shortly in iOS (for Apple devices), the app helps farmers and contractors set their tyres to the optimum pressure, and early feedback has surpassed expectations, according to the company.
Livestock-Live have launched a free online livestock buying and selling platform for marts and mart users.
Introduced earlier this year, Livestock Live’s online auction software also becomes free now for all existing and new individual users. All users can advertise, buy and sell, or browse market prices and auction activities, for free.
The company says marts could benefit from advantages such as advertising livestock for sale up to four weeks in advance of a mart, with uploaded images and video of animals.
Video streaming live from mart rings is available.
Potential online buyers can contact sellers through an internal communications tool, where they can ask questions or arrange to view animals or other items for sale.
