John Deere Names 2026 Technician of the Year Finalists
John Deere has announced the finalists for its 2026 Technician of the Year Awards, with 30 regional finalists being named in five award categories.
With Christmas just around the corner, farmers thoughts will be on finding a gift for the domestic manager, the ankle-biters – and maybe a little prezzie for themselves.
Global player John Deere entered the spirit of the season at the recent EIMA 18 show in Italy, no doubt thinking about the saying: ‘The only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys’.
Using the event to promote the recently upgraded JD 3038E compact tractor, they displayed a 1:1 scale model (psst… it was the real thing). It was packed in a cardboard box ready to be taken home, wrapped and popped under the Christmas tree.
The packaging also noted that the model was suitable for “big kids” from 17-99 years old.
Said to be a perennial favourite with JD customers since its introduction in 2008, the 3038E offers 37hp from its 3-cylinder Yanmar diesel engine. It has new side panels and cowling, and a larger fuel tank and a service interval extended to 1200 hours. The tractor uses a hydrostatic transmission with twin-touch F/R pedals.
Apparently, the only problem for would-be buyers at the event was finding someone tall enough and strong enough to get it off the shelf, and of course a big enough carrier bag to take it home.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
According to a progress report on the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan (AHAP), New Zealand's horticulture sector is making real progress on the big issues facing growers.