Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
The Brandt Group of Companies recently acquired the assets of AGrowQuip NZ Ltd.
This transaction came into effect on 30 January 2023. Brandt Group says it will ensure access to the industry’s broadest support infrastructure for customers throughout the North Island – delivering the products, parts and service they need, wherever they are operating.
“Our customers can look forward to service enhancements via investment in a best-in-class field service truck fleet and upgrades to existing facilities,” says Brandt chief executive, Shaun Semple.
“Brandt is fully committed to building a comprehensive dealer infrastructure that delivers unmatched support for New Zealand construction, forestry and agricultural businesses, every single day.”
With this acquisition, Brandt now owns and operates 138 dealerships across New Zealand, Australia and Canada. The company’s extensive experience in the agriculture, construction, and forestry sectors enables them to deliver the quality products and industry-best support services that New Zealand equipment owners need to help them grow their businesses.
“As a family-owned business for over 90 years, Brandt’s number one focus is always on the people and our customers,” Semple adds.
“Whether it’s getting to know our new team, helping our customers succeed or supporting the communities in which they live, we look forward to deepening our roots on the North Island.”
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).