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.
Waikato farmers led the way in tractor buying in New Zealand during 2014, and tractor sales approached record highs.
A total of 4061 tractors were bought January-December, including 3419 at least 40hp, the most common measure for farm tractors. In 2013 sales of 40hp and bigger were 3065.
Ian Massicks, president of the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) which gathers sales data, says record dairy payouts last year and good growing conditions got farmers spending.
“The July-September sales figures were the highest in a decade,” says Massicks. “They then continued steadily for the remainder of the year though stopping short of the 2005 record when 3515 tractors of at least 40hp were purchased.
“2014 was a healthy year for tractor sales and we expect 2015 to be a good year too, though with some reduction due to forecast lower dairy payouts.”
Of the 684 tractors bought in Waikato, 614 were over 40hp, followed by Southland with 418 over 40hp from a total of 430. Otago farmers bought the next-highest number – 249 40hp-plus from 291 sales.
This January’s purchases nationwide were 210 – at least 161 of them 4hp or bigger. Waikato again led the way with 25 purchases: 23 of them were at least 40hp, followed by Southland with 20, 19 of them 40hp or over.
Massicks says farmers prefer to buy from New Zealand machinery dealers rather than risk buying online from overseas suppliers.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.