Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
Northern Irish manufacturer Slurry Kat has developed a multi-purpose trailer.
It is designed, in the first instance, to be a 22-tonne, half-pipe dumper. However, with the addition of a kit, it can easily be switched to silaging operations.
Distributed in New Zealand by Brownrigg Agri Gear, the SDT’s (silage dump trailer) chassis and main components are made from S355 high-tensile steel.
Meanwhile, the body is manufactured from Hardox S700 steel. This allows the use of 5mm steel, making the trailer lighter, but retaining the structural strength required for intensive hauling operations.
A retrofit silage kit can be quickly installed or removed as one piece – including the hydraulic door. When installed, the original dump trailer door drops down to allow a flat floor for easy material discharge.
At the front of the silage body, a forward sloping front panel is said to allow easier filling when paddocks are opened up. This can happen either when being towed by the harvester or “firing” over the roof of a towing tractor.
The combined capacity, when the silage kit is added, is around 34 cubic metres. The trailer is carried on a pendulum bogie axle system that utilises 710-40R22.5 tyre equipment.
Interestingly, all paintwork is covered by a five-year guarantee as standard.
Chinese textile company Saibosi has partnered with Wools of New Zealand to put the 'farm to floor' story of New Zealand wool rugs on screen for its customers.
Showcasing the huge range of new technologies and science that is now available was one of the highlights at last week's National Fieldays.
Coby Warmington, 29, a farm manager at Waima Topu Beef near Hokianga was named at the winner of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award for sheep and beef.
Northlanders scooped the pool at this year's prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards - winning both the main competition and the young Maori farmer award.
Red meat farmers are urging the Government to act on the growing number of whole sheep and beef farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming.
The days of rising on-farm inflation and subdued farmgate prices are coming to an end for farmers, helping lift confidence.