Many agricultural contractors use off-the-shelf machinery to deliver their services, but others ingeniously modify such gear or design bespoke implements to fulfil a particular need.

Twin or four rotor tine-based swathers tend to dominate the market for machines that will satisfy the voracious appetites of self-propelled foragers and large balers.

Wearing parts for soil engaging implements are a hefty cost for any farmer or contractor, so selection should be based on factors such as prevailing conditions and areas to be covered.

The Canadian off-road vehicle maker Can-Am, which claims the top spot in the side-by-side sector with its Defender range, went on tour recently to show its machines NZ-wide.

Erratic weather and seismic events, more frequent these days, are prompting many farmers to have standby generators on site.

Now part of the Kubota Corporation, machinery manufacturer Kverneland is on a roll, particularly with new products coming to market.

Crop establishment, particularly various ways of doing it, was the focus of a recent field day near Taupo.

Applying chemicals to arable or grassland crops has many variables — differing chemical formats and target volumes, and forward speeds that vary with undulating terrain.

Matamata farmer Matthew Zonderop says he’s never looked back since he started using a Tow and Fert unit about three years ago.

Heavy metal fans in the US are getting a glimpse of new tractors from Case IH and New Holland.