Claas Balers Turn 30
Claas built its first variable chamber round baler - the Variant 100 - in 1996, so 2026 marks 30 years and the fifth generation of the Variant name, recently complemented by the new Cerex Series introduced in 2025.
The Vapormatic brand has been officially added to John Deere's range of 'Alternative Parts' in New Zealand.
John Deere has expanded its repair and replacement part offerings, with the Vapormatic brand officially added to its range of ‘Alternative Parts’ in New Zealand.
A subsidiary of John Deere, UK-based Vapormatic has served the agricultural industry for more than 70 years exporting a range of more than 30,000 tractor and agricultural machinery parts and accessories to 90 countries.
The addition bolsters John Deere’s Alternative Parts offering, with JD Australia and New Zealand director of aftermarket and customer support, Emma Ford, commenting: “These parts have been manufactured to fit John Deere equipment and are priced at a lower cost than genuine John Deere parts, while still giving customers peace of mind they are backed by a 12-month warranty. Adding Vapormatic to the range helps provide more repair solutions for customers no matter their budget. With challenges like increased production costs, it’s important we provide a wide range of parts to suit all budgets and repair scenarios.”
John Deere’s full range of parts include Genuine, Reman (or remanufactured) and Alternative. Genuine parts are built specifically for John Deere machines, meaning they are identical to the new parts fitted at the factory. Remanufactured parts feature components which have been replaced or remanufactured to deliver like-new performance at a lower cost than brand new parts. They have undergone extensive testing by factory engineers to ensure they meet or exceed original performance specifications.
As the name suggests, Alternative Parts are an economical, alternative choice which will still deliver the performance and reliability expected of John Deere parts.
“Expanding our Alternative Parts offering with the addition of Vapormatic is part of our commitment to offering our customers the right part at the right price,” says Ford. “Customers who want to find out more about the range of parts designed for John Deere equipment, should contact their local dealership.”
Farmers have until the end of this week to help shape DairyNZ’s future focus.
Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, has resigned and will leave the organisation on 15 January 2027.
The New Zealand dairy sector set a record in the 2025/26 season, producing more than two billion kilograms of milksolids for the first time.
Milk powder prices are continuing their merry run, firming up a potential $10/kgMS farmgate price this season.
Teachers are welcoming the outgoing Government’s U-turn allowing agriculture and horticultural science to remain a standalone Year 11 subject.
Outgoing ACT MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron says Saturday’s election result reflects voters deeply impacted by the cost of living.

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