Bigfoot comes up trumps
Call them what you will, but UTV’s, side by sides or ROV’s have certainly found a place in much of New Zealand’s rural sector.
Kawasaki's recently introduced Pro-MX UTV sits between the larger, three-seater Mule Pro-FX and the compact Mule-SX.
The new machine’s vital statistics are 2795mm long and 1525mm wide with a wheelbase of 2005mm.
Power is from a single-cylinder engine of 700cc that pumps out 45hp and 58Nm torque, with electronic injection. CVT transmission offers smooth response and predictable engine braking. Electrically selected 2 or 4WD is complemented by a dual-mode rear differential to help in sticky condition or protect turf – dependent on the mode selected.
Its 25-inch tyres are mounted on 12-inch rims offering good ground clearance, with front and rear disc brakes bringing things to a halt.
Electric power steering offers excellent feedback and helps drivers achieve a tight 4.2m turning radius.
A bench seat, with obligatory seat belts, provides ample room and security for the driver and a passenger. Neat half doors keep limbs inside and dirt and mud out of the cabin area.
At the rear of the machine, a large cargo bed carries 317kg and gas struts assist tipping. Also, the Pro-MX offers a useful 680kg of towing capacity via a standard 2-inch receiver.
Watch out for an in-depth review and user opinions in the pre-Christmas issue of Rural News.
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.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.
New Zealand's dairy and beef industries say they welcome the announcement that the Government will invest $10.49 million in the Dairy Beef Opportunities (DBO) programme.

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