increase font size
It’s easy to see that Paul Smith has a bit of a thing going with the Giltrap brand.
When it comes to favourite car brands, Kiwis tend to fall into the Holden or Ford camps.
In Paul Smith’s case it’s the latter, but when the subject turns to the farm machinery he prefers, it’s a case of designed and manufactured on this side of the ditch by Otorohanga-based Giltrap Engineering.
Paul started his farming career as a general farm worker, progressing through equity partnerships for several years, then buying his current property in 2014/2015 in a partnership with a South Waikato veterinarian.
Located at Whakamaru, south of Tokoroa, the farm runs to 113ha (105ha effective) carrying 330 dairy cows, with another eighty or so followers currently being grazed at Piopio on the western side of the Waikato. A grass operation, cropping includes 15ha maize for silage production, with any excess growth of grass taken as baleage in chopped round bales.
It’s easy to see that Paul has a bit of a thing going with the Giltrap brand with a machinery shed that includes a tip trailer, log splitter and the latest arrival, his fourth Giltrap feed wagon – a RF13 model. Replacing an existing RF13 with eight seasons under, or more correctly, over its belts, the quality of the general construction and the care that Paul lavishes on his investments had the local salesman from Giltrap Agrizone (GAZ) in Taupo, doubting the machine’s real age.
The latest addition, like its predecessor, offers thirteen cubic metres capacity with the bin carried on a double chassis that in Paul’s case includes the optional wireless weighing system.
Material is moved forwards using four floor chains, running over the 35mm thick tongue and grooved pine floor, to the beater system, that in this case uses an optional 1200mm wide chain and slat discharge conveyor. This was chosen over a belt conveyor fitted to the old machine that Paul traded, as he felt that the belt set-up required more fine tuning during the season to maintain proper belt tracking.
Standard equipment on the RF 13 includes tandem axles, for ground contouring, reduced ground compaction and operator comfort, ladder access, mudguards/walkways for cleanliness and safe operation, stainless steel side panels for corrosion and wear resistance and a centralised greasing system.
On the farm, the RF13 is used to feed the grass and maize silage, alongside the chopped baleage, handling all fodders with ease.
Paul comments, “I’ve always been a fan of the Giltrap products, given that they are locally manufactured, very dependable with minimal maintenance costs and any advice only a phone call away. I also admit that I quite like the colour, which is great match to the Case IH tractors we run on the farm.”
Interestingly, Paul says he would have been more than happy to keep his existing wagon for a few more seasons but was offered a demonstration by GAZ of a competitive brand feeder.
“Greig Singer from GAZ offered me a demo, that in reality, failed to impress me, but eventually we went through and exercise to swap like for like, that ended up with a changeover figure I would have been crazy not to accept and certainly confirmed the low cost of ownership of a Giltrap wagon. Would I buy another? Ask me that in eight or nine-years’ time, but as they say, once you’ve gone purple, you’ll never turn turtle, or once you buy from Otorohanga, you’ll sleep peacefully for a lot longer.”
Twin rotor swathers have become the ‘go-to’ for forming swaths to feed hungry harvesters and balers, however, the design layout often means that crop located between the two rotors is not picked up, turned over or incorporated into the swath formed for subsequent harvesting.
Operating large tractors became more expensive back in March due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz conflict, meaning contractors had to introduce fuel surcharges and farmers had to adjust their budget forecasts.
Close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, Motueka is known for apples, pear and kiwifruit orchards, alongside specialised crops such as hops. Indeed, that specialisation, saw the area being the New Zealand centre of the tobacco growing, until the early 1980s.
Can-Am has introduced its 2027 range of side-by-side vehicles (SSV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV), including the industry leading Defender, the Maverick R and the hugely capable Outlander ATV, incorporating a host of advancements designed to deliver an exceptional riding experience.
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
