Some good news on the horizon for dairy farmers.

Nearing twelve months since CNH Industrial cancelled its distribution agreement for Case IH and New Holland products with CB Norwood Distributors on July 1, 2022, followed by the establishment of a new retail footprint for New Zealand, with Norwood now having departed from the CNH Industrial dealer network in January 2023, the events have ushered in some big changes that are creating more positive outcomes for customers across the country.

In a move that sees further realignment in the New Zealand farm machinery market, Palmerston North headquartered Norwood and German manufacturer Horsch have announced they will end their exclusive distribution and retail agreement.

Valtra Unlimited, the specialist division of Finnish manufacturer Valtra, is celebrating its first decade, over which time around a third of all tractors produced have passed through its doors, taking customisation to a new level, so that bespoke machines are created to suit individual customer’s exact requirements.

A rapid antigen test (RAT) aimed at early detection of facial eczema (FE) in ruminants may help manage a disease that costs the New Zealand economy millions of dollars each year.

Dairy

The 15% pay increase for community nurses, announced by the Government late last month, is not in effect an increase, according to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).

New Zealand runs the risk of being caught up in the economic war between China and the US, according to Rabobank's head of global economics and research, Jan Lambregts.

Farmers and their advisors are scratching their heads trying to work out the best way to deal with metre deep silt that is sitting on top of high-quality lowland pastures in the Hawke's Bay region.

The Government's Three Waters reforms, now rebranded as the ‘Affordable Water Reforms’, is more of a rebrand than an actual policy reset.