Changing of the guard at TAMA
Deere NZ territory manager Jaiden Drought was elected new president of the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) at its August annual meeting.
The New Zealand tractor market remains affected by the depressed dairy economy: overall sales are down about 14% on the same period last year.
Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) president Mark Hamilton-Manns says "certainly dairy payouts have impacted traditional sales. However, many customers are now choosing tractors with less-expensive options to ensure plant replacement continues".
Dairy-dominated markets have seen fewer tractors sold: Waikato was down 19%, Taranaki 36% and Southland 31%.
Says Hamilton-Manns, "Although we expect tractor sales will lag behind last year, we are confident the buoyancy in viticulture, beef and sheep and contractors will ensure we finish the year strongly with around 3200 unit sales.
"Marlborough's booming viticulture sector alone has created industry growth of 7% and we expect this will mean demand for tractors."
He says despite the reduction in overall numbers TAMA member companies keep introducing new products and investing in parts support and technician training.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
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