Kubota joins forces with Hurricanes
Japanese agricultural equipment maker Kubota will have its stamp on the home jersey for the Hurricanes.
Over the last few years Kubota has indicated it intends to become a major global player, and its 2015 results seem to confirm things are under way.
With a change to its fiscal year to end in December 2015, the final nine months showed sales of $US11.024 billion -- an increase of 9% over the same period in 2014. Export revenues rose significantly in North America from sales of compact tractors, and in Europe sales of tractors, construction gear and engines increased, though farm implements "stagnated", the company said.
Mechanisation increased in Asian countries, e.g. tractors and combines in Vietnam and China saw increased combine sales as the government reinstated subsidies; but sales in Thailand dropped because of a prolonged drought.
For the year 2016 the company is forecasting a rise in revenues of around 3.6%, driven by expansion in North America, Europe and Asia.
The chair of Beef + Lamb NZ, Kate Acland says the rush appears to be on to purchase farms and convert them to forestry before new rules limiting this come into effect.
New Zealand farmers will face higher urea prices this year, mainly on the back of tight global supply and a weak Kiwi dollar.
Andy Caughey of Wool Impact says a lot of people in NZ have been saying it's crazy that we are not using natural fibres in our buildings and houses.
Former chief executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July.
Avian flu getting into New Zealand's poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
The annual domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.