Fendt Unveils Next-Generation 600 Series Tractors
Taking pride of place at Central Districts Field Days, the new 600 Series was Fendt’s incarnation of a compact and manoeuvrable 4-cylinder tractor in the 150-200hp sector.
Over 30,000 people attended this year’s Central Districts Field Days, which attracts visitors and exhibitors from all over the country.
The Feilding based event is now in its 22nd year and includes three days of agricultural events, products, and displays.
This year saw the introduction of a new programme dedicated to promoting and fostering careers in agriculture. Branded as Get Ahead, this initiative allowed students to talk to champions about the jobs they do. Students were also tasked with a simple challenge in return for a free haircut - Get a haircut and get a real job! The hairdressers on site mowed through 120 haircuts over the three days.
Organisers say exhibitors at the site were up on last year, reaching almost 560, with 111 new exhibitors.
The stock-handling systems, in particular, were a popular choice, with sales continuing right through until the final day of the event. Exhibitors with "big ticket" items like machinery and tractors also saw good transactions.
Among the more popular attractions was the FoodHQ site, giving farmers and visitors an insight into New Zealand's international centre for food innovation. Visitors had the opportunity to taste preservative-free brownies and ginger slice with an export shelf life of four months, and discover the potential value in broad beans as a fodder crop, a protein source, a nitrogen-fixer in our soils and a healthy snack food.
FoodHQ was also the venue for a number of events and networking functions, including presentations by the regional development task force, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy, and an FMG breakfast hosted by Jamie McKay from radio's Farming Show.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
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