Carrfields Appointed New Authorised Fendt IDEAL Combine Dealer Across New Zealand
Ashburton based Carrfields has announced its appointment as the new authorised Fendt IDEAL combine harvester dealer across New Zealand with immediate effect.
While telescopic handlers are increasingly popular on New Zealand farms, the arrival of German tractor maker Fendt in the sector takes things to a higher level – literally in the case of the operator.
Fendt had desired to be a ‘long-liner’, and the cargo designation had already been ‘pinned’ to the company’s frontloaders. Now a T-designation marks the arrival of its first telehandler.
Built in a co-operation with the German builder Sennebogen Machinefabrik – known for its port cranes and HD telescopic handlers – Fendt’s Cargo T955 has a maximum load capacity of 5.5 tonnes with a lift height of up to 8.5m.
Its standout feature is a unique lifting cabin that also has vibration damping.
It has the key advantages of a conventional telehandler – reach, overall lift height, low body height and high manoeuvrability.
And its cabin can rise in tandem with the telescopic arm to a maximum height of 4.25m, giving an exceptional view of the job at hand. It has no dashboard to obstruct the lower part of the front screen, so there’s floor to ceiling visibility -- particularly useful when placing loads at high levels or filling high-sided trailers or truck bodies.
Fendt says that even raising the cabin by 20 to 30 cms from its normal ‘parked’ position gives visibility only normally achieved by heavy duty, wheeled loading shovels.
It weighs a hefty 11.8 tonnes, is powered by a 4-cylinder 165hp engine, has a 200L/min hydraulic system, 40km/h road speed and 2.4 tonnes lift capacity at maximum reach.
Rural News has yet to learn on whether the Cargo T955 will be available on the New Zealand market.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.
Farmers have voted to continue the Milksolids Levy that funds DairyNZ.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.

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