Telehandler’s value on the rise
The practicalities of dairy farming centre around looking after animals well, and a whole bunch of logistics – largely lifting and loading.
Kramer has announced that John Deere dealers in Australia and New Zealand will now distribute its machines.
Following a move that has evolved in Europe over the last two years, German handling specialist Kramer has announced that John Deere dealers in Australia and New Zealand will distribute its machines.
Cervus Equipment, with nine branches in NZ and seven branches in southern Australia, will concentrate on the telehandler product range, initially with the KT276 and KT447 models. "We are looking forward to the partnership with Kramer," reports Tim Ormrod, managing director of Cervus Equipment. "The Kramer product portfolio is best suited for our market and year-round application in various agricultural disciplines."
The alliance formed by Kramer and John Deere covers the sales of compact machines from the Kramer brand (so-called "green line") for agriculture, developed and manufactured at Pfullendorf in Germany. The complete model range (KT276, KT356, KT307, KT357, KT407, KT457, KT507, KT557, KT429, KT559) offers a compact model with a payload of 2.7 tonnes and maximum lift height of 6 metres to the largest machines, with a capacity of 5.5 tonnes and 9 metres height.
"With the first telehandlers in the country, Cervus Equipment on board and a Kramer employee on-site, we are looking forward to our new beginning in Australia and New Zealand," explains Thomas Brogt, head of sales international, Kramer.
"In future, the Kramer presence in both countries will continue to be expanded so that we can provide an extensive agricultural dealer network."
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.

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