A walk around any agricultural field day or a dealership yard will find several potential customers moaning that tractors are getting too expensive, too complicated and carrying too much electronic componentry - leading to more specialised and expensive servicing. 

While yet to be confirmed, Caterpillar has reportedly bought the technology behind the self-driving electric tractors made by American firm Monarch Tractor, who more recently were planning a move away from tractors towards autonomous operations.

Specialist handling experts Manitou Group has announced the launch of the new MLT-X 738 telehandler, which it claims combines enhanced performance, superior comfort, and increased profitability for farmers and agricultural contractors across New Zealand.

For the first three months of 2026, new tractor deliveries saw an increase over the previous two months, resulting in year-to-date deliveries climbing to 649 units - around 5% ahead of the same period in 2025.

While April 23 was just another day for many manufacturers across the globe, it marked Reman Day, a timely reminder for farmers of the operational and cost-effective benefits re-manufactured parts can offer to their ongoing machinery maintenance, while also minimising environmental impact.

Having represented New Zealand at the 2024 and 2005 World Ploughing Championships, in Estonia and The Czech Republic respectively, Southland contractor Mark Dillon was at Methven last month for the NZ Ploughing Champs.

Penske Australia & New Zealand has appointed Stephen Kelly as the general manager of its Penske NZ operations, effective immediately In this role he will oversee all NZ branch operations, including energy solutions, mining, commercial vehicles, defence, marine, and rail, while continuing to be based at Penske’s Christchurch branch.

With wearables becoming the “must have” for dairy and, more recently, for beef operations, fitting collars for virtual fencing or health monitoring can be an awkward and potentially risky job in the cattle yards.

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.

With emission regulations meaning more tractors are incorporating engine technology such as exhaust gas recirculation and ad-blue, AGTEK set out to source a tractor that didn’t require these add-ons, featured more mechanical systems rather than electronics, and offered something a little more “bulletproof”.