Ravensdown’s HawkEye Pro Wins Technology Award at Southern Field Days
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
With autonomous prime movers tipped to become more popular - particularly on broad acre operations - a recent trial by an AgXeed AgBot T2-7 SERIES, working in combination with the Väderstad Carrier XL 625 cultivator, achieved an impressive 80 hectares in just 20 hours over two paddocks, suggesting that autonomy is ready to compete with conventional tractors in the field.
The trial was held on 16-17 December 2025 in the Uckermark region in North-Eastern Germany – a month after the machine’s launch at Agritechnica. It included challenging field shapes, obstacles and hilly terrain, across loamy, sandy soil.
Featuring a 230hp diesel-electric drivetrain, the AgBot T2-7 Series maintained working speeds between 9 and 12kph, with power to the ground via a track system that achieved grip, but also offered very low ground pressure, helping to protect soil structure and safeguard future yields.
The machine was designed to directly compete with a standard tractor for key field applications including soil cultivation, seedbed preparation, seeding, stubble cultivation, or mulching fully autonomously. The trial combined it with a 6 metre Väderstad Carrier XL 625 and the ability to work consistently 24 hours a day, ensuring maximum effectiveness and efficiency when time windows are tight.
Planning and control are achieved via the AgXeed TraXwise planning portal, allowing farmers to pre-plan the complete task in advance and monitor the AgBot in real time, from job commencement to completion.
The primary sector is leading New Zealand's economic recovery, according to economist and researcher Cameron Bagrie.
Dairy industry leader Jim van der Poel didn't make much of the invitation he received to the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua.
Farmers around the country are going public big time, demanding their local district, city and regional councils come up with amalgamation plans that meet the needs of rural communities and don't allow urban councils to dominate.
The battle for the rural vote is on and parties are securing high profile names to try and bolster their chances at the general election.
Horticulture New Zealand says proposed changes to the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 will drive innovation, investment and long-term productivity.
More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at next month’s National Fieldays, with sites nearly sold out.

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