New Broom
OPINION: The old saying 'a new broom sweeps clean' doesn't always hold up, if you ask the Hound.
The latest offerings from Claas, Amazone, JCB and Trioliet will be on show at the Claas Harvest Centre display at Fieldays.
Making its debut, the Trioliet Triomaster S slices up to 45cm of silage from the face of a silage pit. Unlike conventional silage grabs or buckets that pull the silage from the pit, the Triomaster S has a fixed blade that shears through silage without affecting the structure of the wall or the stack itself. With a capacity of 2 or 3cu.m, it can be fitted to any telehandler or frontloader with a lift capacity of more than 3.5 tonnes.
Claas Harvest Centre’s sales manager NZ, Luke Wheeler, says the use of a silage cutter maintains silage quality and consistency by helping to create a well-sealed silage face, which in turn results in a reduction in secondary fermentation. Says Wheeler, “If you go the trouble of producing top quality silage it makes sense to use the best machinery to feed it out and get the best results”.
And first time on display at Mystery Creek will be the Claas Arion 600 and 400 series of tractors and the high-speed JCB Fastrac 8330.
The seven-model Arion 600 series builds on the marque’s previous models with rated power outputs from 125 to 205hp to suit all types of operations, with a choice of operating systems, cabin configurations and equipment options.
The new Arion 400 series, with six models from 90 to 140hp, boasts an array of features and technology normally only found on more powerful tractors: an optional continuous windscreen-roof panel, front linkages, automatic differential locking, automatic four-wheel drive and PTO activation/deactivation, headland management systems and dynamic steering.
The JCB Fastrac 8330, the world’s only tractor with all-round self-levelling suspension, has continuously variable transmission, ABS disc brakes on four wheels and a top speed of 70km/h, helping the machine raise the bar in productivity, comfort, safety and versatility.
As usual, the site will show a complete line-up of forage harvesting technology from Claas.
The complete range of Disco mowers and mower-conditioners, Volto tedders and Liner rakes will also be on display, alongside the range of Amazone spreaders and sprayers.
Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today congratulated the winners of the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards at Fieldays.
The Government has announced $60,000 to provide one-off grants of $1,000 to each of the 60 New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) clubs across the country.
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.

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