Kuhn Group Sales Dip 9% in 2025 but Orders Signal Recovery
Kuhn Group recorded net sales of NZ$2.27 billion in 2025, finishing around 9% lower than in 2024.
The fully mounted unit comes with a working width of 14.5m and features four 3.1m, seven-disc equipped cutter-bars at the rear.
With most forage harvester manufacturers offering machines touching 1000hp, the logistics puzzle has always been ‘dropping” grass and pulling into a swath big enough to feed the “beast”.
French manufacturer Kuhn appears to have taken up the challenge in the world of high output mowing, with the recent release of the GMD15030.
The fully mounted unit, with a working width of 14.5metres features four 3.1metre, seven-disc equipped cutter- bars at the rear and combined with a 3.1m wide GMD plain or FC-F conditioner equipped front mower. The company notes that the latter allows the cut grass to be placed in a narrower swath, rather than be driven over.
Tipping the scales at 3.8 tonnes, which the maker says is comparable with a 6.2m butterfly seup equipped with groupers, the rear unit folds to only 3.0m wide and just under 4.0m tall.
The narrow transport width is achieved by using the gearbox housings of the two outer mowers to form a 180- degree hinge. In addition, mechanically driven throughout, the two mowers are synchronised, rather than being offset, so there is no need for an additional overlap.
A ram between the two beds limits the amount of movement when in-work, limiting the range to between -4.0˚ to +6.0˚. Each wing assembly features a hydraulic break-back system, alongside friction clutches on each side to protect the driveline.
Power requirement is said to be around 230hp, resulting in an output of 20ha/hr at a typical forward speed of 15km/hr, less any turning time on headlands, with an overlap between the two machines of 300-500mm.
Cutter-bar ground pressure is controlled hydraulically using the manufacturers well known Lift-Control system, with overall control via a dedicated KFA12 control box or through an ISOBUS integration kit, which allows mower control through the in-cab joystick and tractor terminal.
In other news, the manufacturer has also announced an augerbased merger on a new butterfly mower, aimed at bulky forage crops up to 2.0m tall.
The GMD 9530RV features a 500mm diameter auger, mounted rearwards of each mower unit, rotating at up to 900 rpm, to deliver a central swath of 1.60 to 2.20 metres wide. 50cm of hydraulic side-shift on each of the mowers on each mower is partly used to set the swath size. The augers feature replaceable wear edges made of Hardox steel, while primarily protected by a cam clutch and a shear bolt, as the last line of defence against any foreign objects.
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region prepares for Cyclone Vaianu to hit the area.
Farmers will get an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in sheep genetics at the Sheep Breeder Forum this May.
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
A group of old Otago uni mates with a love of South Island back-country have gone the lengths of Waiau Toa Clarence from source to sea. Tim Fulton, who joined the group in the final fun to the river mouth, tells their story.
Operating with a completely different format from conventional tractors and combine harvesters, the NEXAT prime mover combines all steps of crop production in one modular carrier vehicle, from tillage, through seeding to harvesting.
Reports of severe weather forecast to move over the vast majority of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards this weekend will be very concerning for a significant number of growers.