Vineyards and orchards typically have vertical shelterbelts to ensure crops do not succumb to the effects of wind.

The capital cost of high-output modern tractors and machinery has prompted many agricultural contractors to diversify into civil work such as site development, re-contouring and road or race building.

Global tractor and machinery manufacturer AGCO is never far from the news, so with the grass harvest about to start in New Zealand, two new products from the MF camp will get plenty of attention.

Forage maize remains the crop most favoured for feeding cattle in Europe, but over the last 15 years, particularly in Germany, the maize worm or corn borer has become a major pest.

Kirwee-based business Colin Payne Contracting focuses on direct drilling and bale wrapping.

With the European grain harvest just ending, combine harvester manufacturers are whipping up a frenzy for their 2018 models.

Family-owned harvesting specialist Krone has pulled the wraps off a new offering in its Big X self-propelled range.

For ten years quads have been getting bigger and piling on cubic capacity: it’s no surprise now to see machines of 750, 800 or even 1000cc.

Although conditions in the agricultural machinery sector continue to be difficult, the family-owned Austrian firm of Pöttinger was still able to increase sales by 2% to Eur 308 million in the 2016-17 financial year.

Matt Walker, of Barrhill Dairy Ltd in Mid-Canterbury, runs a mixed operation that focuses on 2200 cows milked through two dairies, producing 1.3 million kgMS per annum.