CB Norwood Distributors, importers of Vaderstad cultivators, has launched the maker’s Carrier L and XL cultivators.

When Smythe Contractors, Hautapu, recently won the contract to install the irrigation system for the new second drier being constructed at Fonterra Lichfield, it was a case of déjà vu. 

Warren Darling from Timaru knows a bit about growing barley, so much so he broke the Guinness World Record for the crop with 13.8 tonnes/ha in April, with crop harvested on January 23 this year.

Like many engineers, Des James’ early days were focussed on tractors. 

Combine harvesters are the final piece of the jigsaw in growing a successful crop.

While the the world’s farm machinery industry is feeling it tough, sitting alongside an agricultural sector that appears to be in the doldrums, it’s encouraging to hear one big company is looking to the future.

As farmers and contractors seek more efficiencies, we see average horsepower climbing while implements get wider, longer or heavier. The biggest change in the last decade is the increase in tractor speeds.

With tractor sales for the first half of 2015 down 17% on the same period in 2014, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) sees strong prospects for a recovery long term.

Pottinger has introduced upgrades from the large trailed HIT tedder series to smaller 8-rotor models with working widths of up to 8.86m.

Versatile has a good pedigree when it comes to building tractors.