John Deere Names 2026 Technician of the Year Finalists
John Deere has announced the finalists for its 2026 Technician of the Year Awards, with 30 regional finalists being named in five award categories.
According to the industry respected independent DLG PowerMix test, John Deere appears to be the best choice of tractor for transport applications with its new 7R330 model.
Having already achieved a best ever DLG PowerMix transport test result in 2018 with the 6250R, and still holding that record, the new 7R330 – with a new Stage V engine – has set the benchmark for all tractors rated at 250hp or more.
Delivering a combined fuel consumption of only 375g/kWh diesel and 17g/kWh DEF, the tractor delivered an 8g/kWh diesel plus 28g/kWh DEF advantage over the next best competitor in this horsepower class. Depending on local fuel and DEF pricing, the result is said to equate to hourly savings of 1.5 to more than 2 Euros in transport applications.
Launched at Agritechnica 2019, the 7R330 tractor delivers a maximum power rating of 373hp with IPM and an advantageous power to weight ratio of only 30kg/hp.
This has a further positive impact on performance, acceleration and fuel consumption.
Available since 2017, the 6R Series flagship 6250R tractor provides up to 300hp – thanks to an engine boost of 50hp with intelligent power management (IPM), alongside a maximum permissible weight that allows a 5.7t payload.
Both tractors undertook PowerMix test at the DLG test centre in Groß-Umstadt, Germany, where the individual test cycles are designed to replicate typical heavy and light transport work.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.