Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
Initially only operating a few months of the year with a single tractor and machine, the business now operates year-round, employing full-time and seasonal part-time staff.
The nature of the business means that owner Matthew Sandford requires well made, reliable and productive tractors and machinery he can rely on.
Having purchased a Kubota M7152 Premium KVT with front linkage and PTO two and half years ago, brought on board to replace an older tractor, he has been delighted with the purchase.
“The one thing I would say about the Kubota M7152 is that it is a very surprising machine and while it doesn’t look like a lot, it has really blown me away,” says Sandford.
“As the business has grown, the Kubota tractor has become a machine that we can always rely on, has never broken down or seen us forced to wait for parts or service support.”
Equipped with Kubota’s own 6.1-litre, four-cylinder engine, delivering 148hp with up to 20hp extra boost, is mated to a stepless, variable transmission delivering precise control between 0-50km/h. The cab and front axle suspension offers adaptation over all types of terrain. “We really enjoy driving the Kubota, as it’s quiet and comfortable, while the excellent visibility makes it easier to drive, but is a great safety feature too,” says Matthew.
At the business end of the tractor, a closed centre, load sensing hydraulic system offer up to 110l/min hydraulic flow, lift capacity is over 5.3 tonnes, while the four-speed PTO system delivers 120hp at the shaft.
Despite being initially purchased to replace one of the businesses smaller tractors, Matthew says the M7 certainly pulls its weight amongst the larger tractors, indeed taking on jobs that other tractors can’t do and completing them in record time.
“The M7152 is extremely versatile and can complete any job that my larger tractor does, whether that be driving double mowers, towing the round combi-baler, medium square baler, seed drill or roadside mowing,” Sandford says.
“Kubota has done an excellent job in making their tractors economical without compromising their performance. I honestly can’t fault it – they’ve done it right and I haven’t had to go back to them about anything at all, so we’re now looking to buy another,” he says.
