Fendt Ideal 2027: New Separation Area & Spreader Kit
Updates to the latest models of AGCO Group’s Fendt Ideal headers for 2027 sees a greater separation area and a new straw and chaff spreader kit.
Given that current diesel pricing is a bit like a ride on a fairground roller coaster, it should be no surprise to hear that manufacturers are looking for alternatives.
At Brazil’s recent Agrishow 2026 - the largest in South America - Massey Ferguson introduced a new ethanol-powered engine concept, developed by AGCO Power as a purpose-built platform, rather than a modified diesel unit.
The project is said to be driven by a strategic decision towards the use of alternative fuels tailored to regional availability, particularly in markets such as Brazil, where ethanol production and distribution is widespread.
The engine is aimed at the 200–300hp range, making it ideal for agricultural applications such as row-crop tractors, planting operations, and heavy transport tasks.
The concept has been driven by Brazilian engineering teams, involving over three years of R&D and over 10,000 hours of field testing, suggesting a strong focus on real-world durability and performance parity with diesel engines.
Unlike retrofit or conversion of existing diesel engines, the concept is designed from the ground up to handle ethanol’s specific combustion characteristics, including differences in energy density and lubrication behaviours.
Sources report that the key objectives are to deliver comparable torque, responsiveness, and reliability under continuous high-load conditions typically seen in widespread agricultural use.
Ideally suited to regions with established bio-fuel ecosystems, particularly in the case of ethanol, which can be locally sourced or even produced on-farm from crops such as sugarcane or corn, the initiative suggests that AGCO is possibly looking at a multi-fuel platform strategy, typically including ethanol, hydrogen and electrification, rather than pursuing a single global solution.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
Meat Industry Association data, released alongside the Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington, shows export value climbing across the US, China, UK and Canada.
Applications are set to open for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award, a trans-Tasman award recognised for identifying and fast-tracking talented young leaders in agriculture and agribusiness.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.