John Deere Names 2026 Technician of the Year Finalists
John Deere has announced the finalists for its 2026 Technician of the Year Awards, with 30 regional finalists being named in five award categories.
Easily missed on its expansive Agritechnica site, John Deere offered visitors to the bi-annual event, the first opportunity in Europe to see John Deere’s E-Power 130hp electric tractor prototype.
Said to have been developed for orchards, vineyards, vegetable and livestock farms, the format also addresses situations inside buildings where diesel emissions are not acceptable.
From the outset, the design brief was to deliver a unit that had the look and feel of a conventional 130hp (100kW) tractor, while delivering the benefits derived from an electric driveline, including instant torque, smooth acceleration, quietness, simple control and reduced maintenance.
Previewed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas earlier this year, the manufacturer suggests that there will be a configurable offering of for cab type, axles and tyre equipment.
E-Power will be available with up to five Kreisel 39kWh batteries, offering several hours of light work, such as tedding, spraying or raking. Battery swaps are said to be quick and easy, with the company also developing a range of charging solutions.
Looking at outputs, 87kW of power is available at the PTO, and 82kW for the drivetrain. Said to be compatible with existing implements, the E Power tractor has the capability to provide off-board electricity for power tools at remote worksites. Multiple prototypes have been tested throughout 2025, with a plan for a limited number of models released by the end of 2027 in North America.
Deere & Company acquired majority ownership in Kreisel Electric in December 2021, an Austrian company that develops electric battery modules and packs, and a charging infrastructure platform.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.