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Ross Barker with his Maxxum 125
Bay of Plenty dairy farmer Ross Barker was always keen on Case IH tractors, but needed the support of a local dealer before he bought his Maxxum 125 Silver two years ago.
Barker and his family farm 190ha at Reporoa, milking 530 cows. They ran Case IH tractors a decade ago. Then they heard Giltrap Agrizone was setting up locally.
“You need a good service outlet. I’ve always believed that it’s good having a tractor, but we need someone out here locally to service and maintain it. We decided to look at the Maxxum 125.”
Barker wanted a 125-140hp 6-cylinder tractor with a front-end loader, to tow a 13m3 feedout wagon.
“It had to be a decent size but I didn’t want a beast…. It’s an awesome tractor. It’s manoeuvrable getting into gateways, as it’s not a very long tractor. It seems to be a bit shorter for the same horsepower so it gets around easily. It’s also great for loading silage.”
Maxxum tractors are designed for livestock operations, rowcrop applications and roadside mowing. Features include cab visibility, thoughtfully designed controls and comfort, and good PTO, hydraulics and transport power boost.
Barker says the cab is well laid out, with everything located in a logical place. It is also simple to operate.
The Maxxum Multicontroller provides access to all tractor controls and moves with the seat, allowing better vision and control of the implement at work.
“These tractors are getting quite techno but with farm workers you need something that someone can just jump in and drive. The Maxxum is like that. We have two other workers operating it regularly and they have no trouble with it.”
The Case IH Maxxum 125 is also comfortable to operate. The cab suspension reduces shock loads by 25%.
A power boost of up to 25hp can be achieved with the 6-cylinder Maxxum models, allowing work in tough conditions and on steep inclines without losing speed or productivity.
The engines have a high-pressure common rail fuel system that offers more power, faster throttle response, better fuel economy, less noise and lower exhaust emissions due to more efficient and more complete fuel combustion.
Currently available in New Zealand in 250, 270, 300 and 400 horsepower options, Case IH’s Optum Series is being readied for expansion with the announcement of three new additional models, the 360, 390 and 440.
Case IH has unveiled a new 3-metre centre set-up for the the Optum tractor range, designed to meet the needs of growers operating under Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) practices.
Case IH has announced new G500V VariCut variable knife grain headers for its Axial-Flow combine harvesters with features aimed at enhancing performance and easing operator workloads.
Case IH is expanding its popular Puma range in New Zealand, with a new model that was released at Fieldays.
Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.
BNZ says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through an innovative new initiative that helps make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Lincoln University Dairy Farm will be tweaking some management practices after an animal welfare complaint laid in mid-August, despite the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into the complaint finding no cause for action.
A large slice of the $3.2 billion proposed capital return for Fonterra farmer shareholders could end up with the banks.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
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