Farmer’s tractor order delivers an extra set of wheels

Originally, a new Case IH Maxxum 125 tractor for the Darke’s dairy operation was on the cards for early 2026. That changed when son Will saw there was a Case IH competition that offered the chance to win a 2025 RAM pickup truck for tractors purchased and delivered between April 1 and July 31. So the Darkes brought their order forward and, as the saying goes, they hit the jackpot.

The new Maxxum 125 joins a Maxxum 110 and a Puma 210, both tasked with a range of different jobs around Rockland Farms, including carting feed, carting gravel from the property’s quarry for the cow races in the sheds, muck spreading and cropping activities. The Darkes also grow summer turnips and maize on about 60ha to supplement the feeding needs of the dairy herd.

John Gilbert, CNH New Zealand business manager, made a call to Matthew a call in October to deliver the good news.

“When he rang, I thought we hadn’t filled in our documentation for the new tractor correctly, but when he asked, ‘do you know why I’m ringing?’, I knew the competition was due to be drawn, so I thought that it may be about that,” Matthew said.

The 2025 RAM 1500 Laramie Sport truck now sits on the driveway of the Darkes’ 500ha property at Aria, south of Hamilton, where they milk a herd of 1250 jersey cows, once a day.

The switch to OAD milking started 18 years ago when Matthew returned to the family property and converted it from a sheep and beef operation to dairy. While more NZ dairy farmers are moving to OAD, Matthew says it was considered unusual back in the day.

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“We had the lifestyle we wanted with the sheep and beef, so when we changed to dairy cattle, we decided we weren’t going to milk twice a day,” Matthew said.

“It was a lifestyle decision for us, meaning we can get up, have breakfast with the kids, and then go off and milk the cows. Milking at 7.30am has also made it easier to source labour. Indeed, we employ several women who put their kids on the school bus and then they come to us.

“We have two sheds on the farm, each accommodating about 650 cows, so we need a number of employees. It’s a lot of cows, and a big operation, but by milking once a day, it changes it all completely,” says Matthew.

With milk prices at record highs, due in part to strong export demand, Matthew says the NZ dairy industry is in a good place.

“Prices have never been better, so you’ve got to enjoy and take advantage of these good years, because when the not-so-good years come around, things can change pretty quickly,” Matthew says.