Kuhn Group Sales Dip 9% in 2025 but Orders Signal Recovery
Kuhn Group recorded net sales of NZ$2.27 billion in 2025, finishing around 9% lower than in 2024.
Kuhn NZ will show at Fieldays a new series of bar mower and an addition to its forage raking range — the Merge Maxx 950 belt merger.
In the mower line-up, the all new GMD 355 top drive bar mower, although like the well-known GMD 310 has its cutter bar driven through the top of the first disc, eliminating the need for an inner skid drive which can drag crop when the machine is used for topping.
The FC 3125 and FC 9530 triple mower conditioner remain the maker’s ‘flagship’ machines with premium features such as hydraulic ‘lift control’ suspension and the on-the-fly hydraulic side shift, giving between 30 and 50cm of overlap front to rear.
Complementing the mower ranges, the new GF 8712 T trailed tedder has Kuhn’s new HLC (headland lift control) system that raises all rotors at least 50cm from the ground in five seconds from the tractor’s control unit.
On the swath presentation front, the all-new Merge Maxx 950 belt merger uses a different method of windrowing, two independent pick-ups and hydraulically driven conveying belts to achieve gentle swathing of forage in crops such as lucerne.
Also on the site will be the forage harvester that won the Agritechnica Machine of the Year 2018 award -- the FBP 3135 fixed chamber combi baler. This uses the maker’s patented film on film and net binding systems which help to achieve high silage quality at the lower costs.
The design, said to result in a guaranteed binding start under all circumstances, uses two regular 750mm film rolls rather than one large mantle film roll, saving 30% on film costs due to the higher pre-stretch ratio of 70%.
Operators looking to optimise forage use can see the latest vertical twin-auger mixer wagon -- the Profile 28.2 CL. A new range is available in single auger format from 4m3 to 15m3 or from 12m3 to 34m3 capacity in twin auger configuration.
The Profile 28.2 CL model on display has industry leading K-NOX mixing augers, using an alloy of chrome and ferrites, making it a more ‘stainless’ steel for intensive use.
Kuhn fertiliser spreaders on display will include a fully GPS and ISOBUS controlled simulator. The Axis 40.2 M-EMC represents the high-end of the Kuhn mounted spreader range, with built-in variable rate and section control function ready to unlock. The patented EMC (electronic mass flow control) automatic rate control is said to be unlike any other on the market, weighing its output on each spreading disc every second for unrivalled accuracy.
At the other end of the spectrum, the MDS 19.1 spreader is an entry level twin-disc spreader that’s truly simple. It’s simple to setup via either a flip chart or phone application and simple to operate with a push-button start option or hydraulic open/close via the tractor outlet.
Federated Farmers says the Government’s latest investment in road resilience is a positive step toward protecting rural communities and freight routes from increasing severe weather events.
The stockfood storage capacity of J Swap Stockfoods continues to grow in the South Island with the opening of a new store that boosts its capacity in Christchurch and work starting on another store in Southland.
Fonterra has lifted and narrowed its full year forecast earnings range to 60-70 cents per share after a strong quarter, supported by robust milk production, strong shipment volumes and continued demand across its Ingredients and Foodservice businesses.
Fonterra has announced it will continue with the planned expansion of its organic business into the South Island.
New Zealand farmers have been told they all have amazing people on their farms and have been urged to be “that one person” that can make a huge difference to those going through tough times.
OPINION: For thousands of Southland farmers, this week would have tipped them into the non-compliant category when it comes to following regional freshwater plan rules. But the Government has stepped in to give them the clarity they deserve.
OPINION: Reckless action by Greenpeace in 2024 forced Fonterra to shut down a drying plant for four hours, costing the co-op…
OPINION: The global crusade against fossil fuel is gaining momentum in some regions.