AGCO to take majority stake in Trimble
Global agricultural machinery manufacturer AGCO is set to become a majority owner of Trimble’s precision agriculture business.
Tractor designs have come a long way: compare today's machines with the favourites of yesteryear like the MF 135 or the Ford 4000.
Nowadays these workhorses of the land have more exterior curves than Marilyn Monroe, and interior finishes that would make automobile makers cry.
One such 'modern' tractor, the Valtra T234 from AGCO, recently won a prestigious Red Dot Design Award for 2016, competing against 5200 entries from 57 countries judged by 41 independent design professionals from around the world.
The Valtra T4 series, resulting from seven years R&D, is the first of a new generation in which technical innovations and a whole new look are brought together.
The clean exterior lines look good, and underlying design work has focused on usability, ergonomics, safety, durability, serviceability and, ultimately, the productivity of the machine.
Incidentally, fourth-generation Valtra have also won international awards including Machine of The Year 2015.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.