Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
Housing John Deere’s largest production facility outside of North America, the German Manheim plant, recently celebrated the milestone of producing its two millionth tractor.
Having taken 37 years to hit the one million mark, it has been a further 30 years to reach this latest milestone. An impressive achievement given that as average horsepower has increased, volumes and sales have declined in most of the major markets around the world during the last two decades.
Looking back over the Manheim story, in the early 1950s, John Deere was looking at expansion overseas, particularly in Europe. This initially fell at the first hurdle after plans to build a Scottish factory were stymied by a change in British government policy.
At around the same time, they were approached by a German banker trying to sell a near bankrupt company called Lanz. Despite its pre-war market share of 40% with its Bulldog model, the company was failing to keep up with more modern designs.
Undecided on the relative merits of establishing a new factory or buying an existing manufacturer, John Deere initially rejected the takeover offer in 1956, before a rethink saw it agree to buy Lanz in a deal that came with its factory at Manheim.
The deal also included Lanz’s stock of unsold tractors, which were subsequently painted in the well-known yellow and green livery and sold as John Deeres.
Now, all of John Deere’s mid-range tractors are built at Mannheim.
The two millionth example was a 6R 250, wrapped in portrait photos of more than 300 staff as a thank you gesture. The tractor was unveiled in the presence of John Deere chief executive John C. May and will eventually be given a place of honour in the factory museum next to the one millionth tractor – a JD 6400.
Currently, the plant is undergoing an $80m investment programme encompassing environmental technology to significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions, alongside reducing waste, including water, and a lowering of noise levels. In all, the plant currently employs 3300 staff and holds the title of the biggest tractor manufacturing plant in Europe.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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