In The Spotlight
Case IH is launching the new AF9 and AF10 combines, redesigned to maximise capacity and crop flow with efficient horsepower, simplified maintenance and built-in connectivity at base
Launched in early 2024, with the AF11–a Class 10+, high-capacity powerhouse, the single-rotor AF9 and AF10 combines complete the new AF series. Featuring three models across Class 9 and 10+, the revolutionary combine series helps farmers cover more acres in less time with power, efficiency and throughput.
The AF9’s 634 horsepower and the AF10’s 775 horsepower provides the power to maximise crop flow while increasing speeds, taxing the machines less. Built upon the legacy of Axial-Flow single-rotor technology, the AFXL rotor of the AF9 and AF10 is 40% longer than the 260 series, offering increased throughput. Grain handling capacity is maximised and matched from header to spreader to harvest more with every engine hour.
The AF series offers a full suite of precision technology, including dual Pro 1200 displays, Harvest Command combine automation and RowGuide Pro technologies. Additionally, the introduction of Connectivity Included leverages subscription-free connectivity, feeding yield and machine data directly to Case IH FieldOps—providing farmers with a comprehensive management solution across their entire operation. These features are purposefully designed to create a customer experience that delivers peace of mind through a simplified harvest season.
Case IH is also offering a corn head series that pairs with the AF series and late model Axial-Flow combines for the ultimate harvesting package. The C500 series corn head ensures peak productivity with independent drive lines for row unit and chopper drives. The series offers options to meet nearly any grower’s needs, including sizes from eight to 18 rows, chopping and non-chopping options, and narrow or standard-row configurations that boost grain savings and performance with clean and fast picking, even in downed corn.
The Case IH harvesting lineup will be on dislay at the 2024 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Oowa.
New Holland Agriculture North America will debut a range of new equipment and technology offerings at the upcoming 2024 Farm Progress Show taking place from 27-29 August scheduled to take place in Boone, Iowa
From combines to high-horsepower tractors to round balers, the show will display more than 15 pieces of equipment from New Holland. For the first time in North America, the company will also unveil equipment and technology launches from across five product categories, including a new Class 9 CR combine, a new telehandler series, upgrades to the T7 tractor line, an all-new Forage Cruiser harvester and a suite of precision and digital technologies that are elevating the New Holland technology stack.
Additionally, New Holland will participate in the havesting demos organised by the Farm progress Show, during which the company will be running in tandem its new CR11 combine, one of the industry’s biggest and most productive combines, and Grain Cart Automation, a sophisticated system that synchronises combine and grain cart movements to ensure a streamlined activity while combining and unloading simultaneously on the go.
A notable autonomous technology company on display for show attendees is Bluewhite. In June 2024, this company which enables AI-driven autonomous farming, announced its entry into a multi-phase partnership to collaborate on the distribution, manufacturing and integration of Bluewhite’s autonomous solutions for New Holland tractors. The company will offer a window into its technology's potential and in the future for livestock and row crop applications.
Agricultural delegation from the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) recently embarked on an eight-day exposure visit to various ICRISAT-led project sites in India to provide insights into innovative climate-smart agricultural practices and effective water and soil management technologies
Starting their visit in Uttar Pradesh's Nota village, the research, development and policy stakeholders engaged with members of the ‘Progressive Bundelkhand Farmer Producer Company’ (FPC), while discussing the FPC’s activities and initiatives, gaining valuable insights into how ICRISAT supports local farmers by organising them as FPOs and FPCs.
ICRISAT’s principal scientist & cluster head, Dr Ramesh Singh provided an elaborate overview of the soil and water management challenges affecting 40 villages in the region, further enriching the delegation's understanding of the critical issues faced by the community.
In Jhansi district's Bhadokhar village, the delegation came across various rainwater conservation methods including structures known as haveli cultivation and learned about their importance in preventing soil erosion. ICRISAT's Horticulture scientist, Dr Rohan Khopade explained fruit-based agroforestry practices, while scientific officer, Dr Ashok Shukla highlighted the benefits of the equipment installed by ICRISAT, such as the Automatic Weather Station (AWS), Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR) for measuring soil moisture, a groundwater-level indicator, and runoff measuring devices.
Moreover, the delegation proceeded to exploring other parts of the state including Sutta and Singar villages in Jhansi and Pura Birdha in Lalitpur. In addition to hearing firsthand accounts from local farmers, the delegation also interacted with public representatives, including Member of Parliament, Anurag Sharm and Chief Development Officer of Jhansi, Junaid Ahmad to understand the role of local and national administration in the successful implementation of projects.
In Odisha, the delegation explored a number of ICRISAT-facilitated model sites where they observed the role of women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in successful enterprises, such as the Dwarf Coconut Nursery, which produces 100,000 seedlings annually, and ventures into ornamental nurseries and apiculture as alternative livelihoods. Other notable community projects such as the Waste-to-Wealth Management project provided adequate insight into the transformation of waste into valuable resources, while also efficiently converting invasive species like water hyacinth into compost, in turn helping to maintain clean water bodies to grow organic vegetables.
Their visit finally concluded with an exploration of the state-of-the-art facilities of Genebank, Agromet Lab, Living Lab, Centre of Excellence in Climate Change Research for Plant Protection, Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, and the Agri-Business Incubation Centre.
Senior agriculturist at the Bureau of Agricultural Research in the Philippines, Kris Thea Marie Hernandez underscored the group's commitment to applying learnings from the visit to their local communities, particularly in rainfed areas, in pursuit of the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s goal to increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security.
While sustainable food production through aquaponic systems is promising, achieving economic sustainability requires the addressing of specific technical challenges, writes Saurabh Maral
Sustainable food production through aquaponic systems is promising. Consegic Business Intelligence analyses that the aquaponics market size is growing with a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period (2023-2031), and is projected to be valued at US$2,151.97mn by 2031. The following are the major areas that should be carefully examined for the proper functioning of the systems and to ensure that they are profitable:
Balancing nutrient supply and demand
One of the biggest issues in aquaponics is to make the waste of fish nutrient producers in the same way as plants need it. Fish produce waste as ammonia, which is converted to nitrites and nitrates by bacteria. Besides, plants rely on these compounds to grow, though the unbalance can lead to poor nutrient use or else toxic conditions for fish. A multi-stage biofiltration system will be a successful part of the process of the plant requirements with the desired quality of biofertiliser. Both the bacteria conversion part and the phytoplankton assimilation part from plants should be framed within the biofiltration and recycling of the waste in the closed aquatic ecosystem.
Maintaining water quality
Quality of water is very critical for the well-being of both fish and plants. However, critical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature should be constantly monitored to prevent any growth issues or mortality in the system. Water monitoring systems that are automated with sensors can provide data in real time and make adjustments as necessary. On the other hand, incorporating machine learning algorithms allows predictive maintenance to take place, thus, reducing the risk of system failure. Additionally, water testing on a regular basis, along with filter maintenance, also plays a huge role in maintaining smooth operation.
Energy efficiency
Aquaponic systems can require a lot of power because of water pumping, aeration, and temperature control. Eroding the profit margin through high energy bills makes energy efficiency a crucial element of sustainability. Energy-conservation equipment such as variable-speed pumps, which are quiet and can be run at different speeds, and high-efficiency aerators can significantly save energy. Besides this, companies can also contribute to absorbing energy costs by employing solar panels and optimising the system design so that water traveling distance would be minimised to lower energy consumption.
Fish and plant species selection
For the aquaponic system to be successful, it is important the appropriate fish and plants are chosen as not all of them are suitable for such kind of systems. The fish that are going to be introduced into the system need to be sturdy because sometimes water conditions can be less than ideal. Also, the plants should get their nutrients from the fish waste. Tilapia, catfish, and trout are the species of fish that are widely used for their robustness, while leafy greens and herbs like lettuces and basil are plants that are particularly recommended. Small-scale trials on different species arrangements will give the combination of plants and fish that will result in the best performance of the system.
Scaling the system economically
The project of upgrading a layer that grows in the system of aquaponics to a commercial level conduces to the augmentation of the complexity in front of high upfront costs, increased production of labour, and more complex system dynamics. The goal of achieving economies of scale without a decrease in the sustainability of the system is of utmost importance. The modular system design helps scale down the size of the farm gradually while at the same time reducing the risks and the initial investment. Automation of the main processes in the life cycle such as feeding, water circulation, and environmental control will minimise labeling work. Data-based tools for analysing the performance of the systems guarantee scalability and constant yield development.
Conclusion
To attain a profitable aquaponic model, it is imperative to deal with main difficulties like nutrient balance, water quality, energy efficiency, species selection, and system scalability. By employing innovative biofiltration systems, automation technologies, power-efficient building components, and data-centric decision support systems, managers will be able to get the most out of the system at the same time as reducing operating expenditures. By means of such approaches, aquaponics promises to be a sustainable food production method that is environmentally friendly and economically sound for the long term.
Over the years, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has proceeded to become one of humanity's biggest threats, urging farming researchers to join the global fight against this creeping pandemic
Eight new networks comprising a combination of different research specialisms will support diverse teams of AMR researchers to develop approaches aimed at tackling AMR across various sectors and disciplines. Approximately US6.3mn will be shared from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), awarded as part of its tackling infections strategic theme. Drawing on a dedicated budget of around US$9.2mn, the programme will continue next year with a new opportunity for ambitious new transdisciplinary research programmes.
The networks include:
- The AMAST (AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary) Network: Led by Matthew Gilmour of the Quadram Institute, this network will coordinate the agri-food trans-disciplinary community engaged in AMR activities covering crop, livestock and aquaculture sectors, while also interactions with industry, trade associations, policy makers, and academia involved in food production.
- The Climate Change Impacts on AMR Using a Planetary Health Framework (CLIMAR) Network: Led by William Gaze from the University of Exeter, this network aims to find transdisciplinary solutions to reduce AMR infections while promoting innovations for alternative treatments.
- The ARREST-AMR (Accurate, Rapid, Robust and Economical One Health DiagnoSTics for antimicrobial resistance) Network: Led by Mark Bradley from the Queen Mary University of London, this network will focus on diagnostic tools in a One Health context.
- The Fungal One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Network: Led by Darius Armstrong-James from Imperial College London, this network will cover healthcare, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries as well as key government departments and end users in these settings.
- The Futures AMR Network (FAN): Led by Linda Oyama from the Queen's University Belfast, FAN will support early career researchers across a range of disciplines to become future leaders in AMR and tackle it in agri-food health, environment and medicine using approaches in the arts and artificial intelligence, behavioral economics, clinical engineering and discovery.
- IMPACT AMR: a Transdisciplinary Network: Led by Clare Chandler from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, this network will address key policy questions around AMR mitigation strategies, by working with policymakers and stakeholders to prioritise effective interventions that reduce the AMR burden in a feasible, socially acceptable, and economically beneficial manner.
- The People AMR Network: Led by Sarah Tonkin-Crine from the University of Oxford, this network will explore ways to help people make decisions about antibiotic use, develop new strategies and tools, and to study these to ensure they target the right people, the right behaviours, and the right settings to have maximum and timely impact at the lowest possible cost.
- The Transdisciplinary Antimicrobial Resistance Genomics (TARGet) Network: Led by Willem van Schaik from the University of Birmingham, this network will utilise recent genomic advances to better understand AMR, thereby covering the needs of academia, business, NHS, social care settings and veterinary medicine.
According to head of strategy, Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Growth at UKRI, Dr. Colin Miles, AMR is a large, complex problem with 10 million people expected to lose their lives to it each year by 2050.
“Rather than taking single-discipline approaches, we need researchers from across disciplines to come together and look at all aspects of the problem – from human behaviour and how we grow crops and rear animals for consumption to how we manage the environment or use technology, clinical management strategies and challenging established cultural norms,” said Dr. Miles.
Gridtractor, Monarch Tractor, and Borg Warner have achieved a significant milestone by successfully demonstrating Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities utilising a Monarch MK-V tractor, a Borg Warner 60 kW DC fast charger, and Gridtractor’s cloud-based charge management system employing the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)
Case IH is launching the new AF9 and AF10 combines, redesigned to maximise capacity and crop flow with efficient horsepower, simplified maintenance and built-in connectivity at base
Launched in early 2024, with the AF11–a Class 10+, high-capacity powerhouse, the single-rotor AF9 and AF10 combines complete the new AF series. Featuring three models across Class 9 and 10+, the revolutionary combine series helps farmers cover more acres in less time with power, efficiency and throughput.
The AF9’s 634 horsepower and the AF10’s 775 horsepower provides the power to maximise crop flow while increasing speeds, taxing the machines less. Built upon the legacy of Axial-Flow single-rotor technology, the AFXL rotor of the AF9 and AF10 is 40% longer than the 260 series, offering increased throughput. Grain handling capacity is maximised and matched from header to spreader to harvest more with every engine hour.
The AF series offers a full suite of precision technology, including dual Pro 1200 displays, Harvest Command combine automation and RowGuide Pro technologies. Additionally, the introduction of Connectivity Included leverages subscription-free connectivity, feeding yield and machine data directly to Case IH FieldOps—providing farmers with a comprehensive management solution across their entire operation. These features are purposefully designed to create a customer experience that delivers peace of mind through a simplified harvest season.
Case IH is also offering a corn head series that pairs with the AF series and late model Axial-Flow combines for the ultimate harvesting package. The C500 series corn head ensures peak productivity with independent drive lines for row unit and chopper drives. The series offers options to meet nearly any grower’s needs, including sizes from eight to 18 rows, chopping and non-chopping options, and narrow or standard-row configurations that boost grain savings and performance with clean and fast picking, even in downed corn.
The Case IH harvesting lineup will be on dislay at the 2024 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Oowa.