increase font size
Family-run Stackhouse Contracting relies on Massey Ferguson and Lely to get jobs done.
The business, in Cheviot, North Canterbury, and is run by Murray and Darrelle Stackhouse who do cultivation and baling for local farmers.
Stackhouse Contracting runs three Massey Fergusons -- MF 7726, MF 7620 and MF 7475 -- although the relationship with the brand goes back many years when they first came across a Massey on a farm they leased.
The MF 7726 bought new this year is tasked with ploughing, ripping and baling, and at 260hp is the largest in the fleet.
Bought to improve efficiency, the tractor is very fuel efficient, Stackhouse says. It is shod with large tyres to reduce compaction and has a better steering lock than previous machines, making it ideal for ploughing.
He likes the cab layout, noting “everything is user-friendly with controls falling easily to hand, with all major functions incorporated into the joystick”.
With drivers spending up to 10 hours a day in the tractors during the busy season comfort is important, so cab suspension and front suspension together help reduce driver fatigue and promote greater safety.
A key feature on the MF 7726 is the Datatronic CCD guidance system, with all functions displayed on one larger screen that is well laid out, easy to follow and intuitive.
In operation, the Datatronic can be used for all major functions, for example controlling the rate of hydraulic flow to achieve a smooth safe turnover of the reversible plough. Likewise the system can be used to control the variable transmission over its 0 - 50km/h speed range to achieve high outputs with minimal fuel use.
Stackhouse Contracting is also a fan of grass harvesting and handling gear made by Lely, whose grasslands business was recently bought by Massey Ferguson.
Their equipment includes a 5.5m wide trailing 550P Splendimo mower, an 8.0m Hibiscus 815 CD rake, a 6.0m Lotus Stabilo tedder and a Welger RP545 belt round baler. The Welger RP545 produces bales from 90 - 180cm. It can make 50 bales per hour with independent control of the core density compared to the rest of the bale.
Massey Ferguson has announced the introduction of the MF 5M Series, offered over six horsepower steps from 95 maximum hp, to a new 145hp model, with 14 unique variants depending on the cab and transmission type.
With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of its first milking robot being installed in Belgium in 1995, Lely says it has taken automated milking to the “next level” with the release of the latest version of the Astronaut Series - the A5-Next.
The drawn out separation of global giant AGCO and its Indian partner TAFE seems to be ending.
It seems that tractor manufacturers will go to great efforts to promote the versatility and durability of their offerings, a recent example being a Massey Ferguson with an 8S tractor entered into the Morocco Desert Challenge.
Dairy automation company Lely reported a 3.4% decline in total turnover last year but notes that sales are picking up.
Engaging, thought provoking speakers, relevant seminars and relatable topics alongside innovative produces and services are the order of the day at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Farm supplies trader Ruralco has recovered from two consecutive years of losses to post a $1.25 million profit for the 2025 financial year.
Naki Honey, a New Zealand manuka apiary company, has crafted what is believed to be the world's most expensive honey.
OPINION: Wool farmers believe the future of strong wool still holds promise.
Applications are open for Horticulture New Zealand's (HortNZ) 2026 scholarship programme, with 20 funding opportunities available.
OPINION: Farmers are being asked to celebrate a target that changes nothing for the climate, wastes taxpayer money, and ignores real science.
OPINION: Microplastics are turning up just about everywhere in the global food supply, including in fish, cups of tea, and…
OPINION: At a time when dairy prices are at record highs, no one was expecting the world's second largest dairy…
