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TAMA president Kyle Baxter.
As we crank in to 2022, NZ’s agricultural tractor and machinery industry seems to have mirrored the automobile sector with record breaking sales in 2021.
Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) president Kyle Baxter says that the industry is showing massive resilience, but notes many challenges have to be dealt with – almost on a daily basis.
“The number of new tractors sold in 2021 was just under 4,200 units, which could have been more but shipments arriving in late December just couldn’t be dispatched to customers before the holidays. However, it does mean that most distributors will get off to a good start for the New Year,” Baxter explains.
“Looking forward, as an association we believe that the numbers for 2022 are likely to go higher, but of course they might get restrained because of availability from the supplier factories. The fact is most of the factories have full order books, so it means there is very little wriggle room for placing new orders for production in this calendar year or beyond.”
He adds that with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in Europe and its recent arrival in New Zealand, TAMA members are taking steps to ensure they have workforce continuity, taking lessons from their partners in Europe.
“They report that production is being adjusted on a day-by-day basis, with workers checking in sick and, in many cases, off work for many days,” Baxter says
In other industry matters, TAMA is finalising plans to make a ‘Critical Workforce Border Exemption Request’ to the Ministry for Primary Industries, to address the dire shortage of heavy machinery diesel technicians and the need to fast track more into the country.
On a lighter note, the TAMA 2021 Awards have seen Oliver Bertram, a technician at Tulloch Farm Machines in Masterton, presented with the Plasback Emerging Talent for Service Award, while James Mitchell of Norwood took out the Trade Me Emerging Talent in Sales Award.
TAMA also announced details of its Ron Gall Scholarship for industry leadership.
Sponsored by Tulloch Farm Machines in memory of the organisation’s late general manager, the award offers a one-off $2,000 prize – to inspire industry leaders, allowing them to attend a course, workshop or conference to further enhance their abilities.
Twin rotor swathers have become the ‘go-to’ for forming swaths to feed hungry harvesters and balers, however, the design layout often means that crop located between the two rotors is not picked up, turned over or incorporated into the swath formed for subsequent harvesting.
Operating large tractors became more expensive back in March due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz conflict, meaning contractors had to introduce fuel surcharges and farmers had to adjust their budget forecasts.
Close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, Motueka is known for apples, pear and kiwifruit orchards, alongside specialised crops such as hops. Indeed, that specialisation, saw the area being the New Zealand centre of the tobacco growing, until the early 1980s.
Can-Am has introduced its 2027 range of side-by-side vehicles (SSV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV), including the industry leading Defender, the Maverick R and the hugely capable Outlander ATV, incorporating a host of advancements designed to deliver an exceptional riding experience.
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
Meat Industry Association data, released alongside the Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington, shows export value climbing across the US, China, UK and Canada.
Applications are set to open for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award, a trans-Tasman award recognised for identifying and fast-tracking talented young leaders in agriculture and agribusiness.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
