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Given that current diesel pricing is a bit like a ride on a fairground roller coaster, it should be no surprise to hear that manufacturers are looking for alternatives.
At Brazil’s recent Agrishow 2026 - the largest in South America - Massey Ferguson introduced a new ethanol-powered engine concept, developed by AGCO Power as a purpose-built platform, rather than a modified diesel unit.
The project is said to be driven by a strategic decision towards the use of alternative fuels tailored to regional availability, particularly in markets such as Brazil, where ethanol production and distribution is widespread.
The engine is aimed at the 200–300hp range, making it ideal for agricultural applications such as row-crop tractors, planting operations, and heavy transport tasks.
The concept has been driven by Brazilian engineering teams, involving over three years of R&D and over 10,000 hours of field testing, suggesting a strong focus on real-world durability and performance parity with diesel engines.
Unlike retrofit or conversion of existing diesel engines, the concept is designed from the ground up to handle ethanol’s specific combustion characteristics, including differences in energy density and lubrication behaviours.
Sources report that the key objectives are to deliver comparable torque, responsiveness, and reliability under continuous high-load conditions typically seen in widespread agricultural use.
Ideally suited to regions with established bio-fuel ecosystems, particularly in the case of ethanol, which can be locally sourced or even produced on-farm from crops such as sugarcane or corn, the initiative suggests that AGCO is possibly looking at a multi-fuel platform strategy, typically including ethanol, hydrogen and electrification, rather than pursuing a single global solution.
Massey Ferguson has announced the release of the SB.1436DB small square baler to New Zealand, featuring a unique layout producing two rows of bales during each pass, doubling output over a single baler producing 14-by-18-inch bales.
With the rapid rise of diesel prices since the start of the Iran conflict, farmers and growers are taking fuel consumption seriously as their bottom line is being eroded.
AGCO Power, part of the AGCO corporation, has won Diesel Engine of the Year with its Core80 Engine.
The parent company of Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra – AGCO – reports lower net sales of around US10.1 billion in 2025, but forecasts a lift in 2026.
Since its official release to the New Zealand market in July 2025, the Massey Ferguson 5M Series has steadily solidified its position.
Despite difficult trading conditions for European machinery manufacturers brought about conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, alongside the United States imposing punitive tariffs, Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo, has seen turnover increase 12% in 2025 to €390 million (NZ$775m) with a net profit of €11.2 million (NZ$22.3).
New Zealand innovation company Techion, best known for its animal diagnostics platform, FECPAK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to its customers.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.
Westgold butter has been named New Zealand's tastiest in a blind tasting conducted by Consumer New Zealand.
A New Zealand agritech and dairy services group has big plans as it expands its dairy services footprint across dairy hygiene, data, and milk cooling with the purchase of nationwide refrigeration business Dairy Technology Services (DTS).
