John Deere launches Harvest Profit in NZ & Australia
Recently released in Australia and New Zealand by John Deere, a unique new software platform offers near real time profitability monitoring across crops and individual paddocks.
New John Deere Australia/New Zealand managing director Luke Chandler will prioritise leading the way in technology and investing in strong relationships to continue to deliver value.
John Deere Australia/New Zealand’s new managing director Luke Chandler says he will prioritise leading the way in technology and investing in strong relationships.
Chandler previously acted as chief economist for John Deere at its Illinois headquarters in the United States.
Chandler said he was excited to have the opportunity to apply his global knowledge and John Deere’s research and development capability to benefit Australian and New Zealand industries.
“My work looking at global agriculture trends for many years has reinforced how competitive our farmers have to be in export markets without the government support many of our competitors receive,” he said.
He said that competitiveness came from the fact that Australian and New Zealand farmers are world leaders in innovation.
He said that the best innovation flowed from John Deere’s investment in relationships.
“Technology only works well when it’s solving real problems,” Chandler said.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting customers and dealers around Australia and New Zealand to get a better understanding of the problems we need to solve.
“I’m also very keen to partner with industry bodies and policy makers as agriculture looks to be more collaborative and cooperative in the future to drive change that’s profitable, productive and sustainable,” he said.
Outgoing managing director Peter Wanckel said Chandler brought vast expertise to the role.
“Luke has worked in agriculture all over the world and his broad experience in the industry at global leadership levels will bring benefits to Australian and New Zealand farmers,” Wanckel said.
“I’m very proud and privileged to have worked for a company like John Deere that has a great culture focused on people and serving customers.”
Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), teamed up with Meet the Need this week for a food packing event held at the New Zealand Food Network warehouse in Auckland.
After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.
According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.
Next month, wool training will reach one of New Zealand's most remote communities, the Chatham Islands - bringing hands-on skills and industry connection to locals eager to step into the wool harvesting sector.
Farmers' health and wellbeing will take centre stage with a new hub at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Dannevirke farmer Dan Billing has been announced as the new national chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's (B+LNZ) Farmer Council.

OPINION: Winston Peters has described the decision to sell its brand to Lactalis and disperse the profit to its farmer…
OPINION: The Hound reckons a big problem with focusing too much on the wrong goal - reducing livestock emissions at…