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.
Morrinsville based Power Farming Group has launched a flagship New Zealand facility in partnership with global construction manufacturer JCB Construction.
Located at Pukekohe, south of Auckland, the new complex was officially opened in March by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Power Farming is New Zealand’s most successful family-owned agricultural business with more than 75 years’ experience and 21 dealerships across the country. The company say its latest collaboration with JCB Construction is a fine fit for Power Farming, given that JCB has become Britain’s most successful family-owned business since their formation in 1945.
Power Farming executive director Brett Maber says the purposebuilt facility represents a multi-million-dollar investment for the business.
“We are very proud to establish this new branch alongside JCB Construction.
“This undertaking reinforces our commitment and confidence in the agricultural sector, and now for the first time also positions our brand for future growth in the construction sector too.”
Prime Minister Luxon acknowledged the importance of brands like Power Farming and JCB Construction to the New Zealand economy, and the respective roles they can play in contributing towards the government’s future-focussed infrastructure plan.
“This is a great example of a fantastic New Zealand business investing in construction and agriculture, and it’s fantastic to see a familyowned business wanting to take the step of investment to make sure we can serve the agriculture industry alongside the construction and building industry in a much better way.”
JCB’s group executive director from the UK, George Bamford, who also attended the opening, along with JCB’s director for the pacific region, Richard Myles, says the company is very optimistic about the platform this partnership presents for their brand in New Zealand.
“It’s great to see Power Farming investing in the JCB brand and expanding into the construction business. We are very optimistic about a bright future for the Power Farming Group Construction team as we raise the brand profile in the New Zealand market with this exciting partnership.”
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
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