increase font size
TAMA president Kyle Baxter says despite sales volumes being down members remain confident.
New Zealand's agricultural equipment sector remains in a positive mood, according to the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA), which represents the sector in manufacturing, retailing and distribution.
Sales statistics for the year to date (September 30) are down by around 18%, compared with 2019‘s record-breaking year. However, indicators remain positive as New Zealand enters the peak of another growing season.
TAMA president Kyle Baxter says despite sales volumes being down in some equipment ranges, members are confident. He says customers are already discussing their machine requirements for autumn and spring 2021, which was a really encouraging sign.
“Everyone has benefited from a mostly favourable winter around the country. This weather was greatly appreciated by many customers in a year that has seen a never-ending list of challenges.”
Baxter says one big challenge still facing TAMA members is the continuation of international border restrictions.
“Many TAMA members rely on overseas staff to fulfil a broad range of roles within dealerships, manufacturing and technical support roles,” he says. “With these roles not being able to be filled from overseas during the season, and possibly beyond, TAMA is urging its members to look at other options available.”
Baxter says these options include COVID-19 government funding for businesses that take on new apprentices or retrain unemployed people from other sectors.
A recent TAMA triennial employment survey, released in August, showed the industry currently had 318 apprentices, but needs 176 more. The survey also showed that around 25% of the workforce is likely retire in the next 15 years, while only 32% of staff are aged under 30.
“We want to attract more under 30s into our industry to help ensure sound succession planning,” Baxter says.
“Given the huge uptake and integration of new technology into our sector, the job opportunities continue to develop as quickly as the technology. It’s hugely encouraging to hear from members who have had successes with the new apprenticeship funding, and I am positive that this success will continue into 2021 and beyond.”
First up to the podium at the recent Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) Conference in Wellington, Minster for Agriculture, Todd McClay, reflected on a difficult 12 months, but hinted at signs that things were turning the corner, saying “when ag does well, New Zealand does well”.
A 2022 Nuffield scholar, Lucie Douma, was brought up on a Southland dairy farm and as a hobby likes the risky business of trail running and ultra marathons.
The recent Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) conference in Wellington was signalling cautious optimism on the back of rising milk and store cattle prices and drops in interest rates.
Deere NZ territory manager Jaiden Drought was elected new president of the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) at its August annual meeting.
Following a couple of bumper sales years when the rolling year-to-date figure for 2022 hit about 16,250 tractors, it looks like things are changing in the Australian farm machinery landscape.
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).
