FutureAg Melbourne Postponed Amid Global Farm Pressures
With mounting pressure on Australian farmers, driven by the increasingly fluid global uncertainty, the organisers of 'FutureAg powered by Agritechnica' have postponed the Melbourne event.
Kubota New Zealand is gearing up for the annual NZ National Fieldays, showcasing its new RTV520, M5-1 ROPS, and M7-2 models.
Kubota New Zealand product specialist Shaun Monteith said Kubota is proud to have the RTV520 on show at the event, featuring a host of upgrades, while building on many of the unique features first seen in the RTV 500.
“Our quiet and reliable Kubota petrol engine has always been a strong selling feature on the RTV500, but the new RTV520 has gained a bit of extra grunt; increasing from 15.8 to 17.4 horsepower,” Monteith said.
One of the more noticeable upgrades on the new model is suspension performance, with a new five link rear system that increases the suspension travel by 30%, complemented up front by an increase of 20%, both combining to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride, even in the roughest terrain.
Also, on show is the M5-1 ROPS tractor, so with ROPS tractors making up 30 per cent of tractors in their horsepower category in New Zealand, the M5-1 series should fill a gap in the market for Kubota.
“We’re excited to bring the M5-1 ROPS model to New Zealand, where its advanced simplicity allows for easy movement and its short height increases its practicality, with more horsepower at lower speed means greater fuel efficiency and a longer working day before the need to refuel,” says Monteith.
Completing the range on show will be the second generation M7-2 tractor, that improves on its predecessors with a Closed Centre Load Sensing, an upgraded powershift transmission, and new electronic mapping on its 6.1 litre, 4-cylinder engine. Said to be easier to use, with the improved performance bringing greater efficiency, the CCLS hydraulic system has a greater capacity than the M7-1, while the powershift transmission now offering 30 speeds (54 forward/27 reverse when a creep set is fitted).
Āta Regenerative is bringing international expertise to New Zealand to help farmers respond to growing soil and water challenges, as environmental monitoring identifies declining ecosystem function and reduced water-holding capacity across farms.
Yili's New Zealand businesses have reported record profits following a major organisational and strategic transformation.
Owners and lessees of certain Hino Trucks New Zealand diesel vehicles have just 10 days remaining to register or opt out of a proposed $10.9 million class action settlement.
Silver Fern Farms has successfully produced and delivered 90 tonnes of premium chilled New Zealand lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates via airfreight.
For the first three months of 2026, new tractor deliveries saw an increase over the previous two months, resulting in year-to-date deliveries climbing to 649 units - around 5% ahead of the same period in 2025.
QU Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has issued a warning saying that global fertiliser scarcity caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz will lead to lower yields and tightening food supplies into 2027.

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