Fieldays 2026 Returns to Mystery Creek This June
Tickets have officially gone on sale for Fieldays 2026, marking less than 50 days until the event.
Flying the flag at Fieldays via its New Zealand distributor Webbline and export sales manager Sebastjan Bogataj, the machinery manufacturer SIP — the largest in Slovenia — was a relatively unknown name, but it showed a wide range of products.
It specialises in grassland machinery such as mowers, tedders and rakes.
Dating back 60 years, the company employs 280 employees producing machinery that meets the criteria of simple, strong and robust.
Its mowers range in size from 2.6 to 15m in front- and rear-mounted, trailed and butterfly format, or the range-topping five-unit, 15m trailed version.
Tedders are available from 4 to 15m and rakes 6 to 12.50m, meaning there is a machine for any operation. Construction in all the ranges uses quality components, with bearings from SKF, heavy-duty driveshafts from Walterscheid with service intervals up to 250 hours, and gearboxes from Bondoli and Pavesi.
Mower cutter-bars built in-house are modular, using the company’s disc drive safety system (DDSS). These comprise four shear pins in the hub beneath each disc, breaking under impact to prevent damage to the bed. Export manager Bogataj claims that, since the system’s introduction in 2007, no replacement gears have had to be supplied because of impact damage.
Looking at the cutter-bar, the wedge-shaped assembly is oil-filled for instant lubrication at start-up.
The bars are complemented by discs, skids and in-fill cleaner plates made from Hardox steel to extend service life. A quick-change knife system allows rapid in-field replacement. Bolt-up knife fittings can be supplied for arduous conditions.
The hydraulic suspension is designed to place about 180kg loading to ensure a clean cut and allow good ground adaption at all times.
For front mounted units, available from 3 to 3.5m working width, the S-Flow system uses a pulling motion combined with hydro-pneumatic suspension to ensure the mower floats over undulations and obstructions.
What’s been a "rubbish" summer for campers and beachgoers has duck hunters in the lower North Island rubbing their hands together in anticipation of a bumper waterfowl season, which starts this weekend (May 2/3).
New research suggests sheep and beef farmers could improve both profitability and emissions efficiency by increasing lamb weaning weights, with only marginal changes in total greenhouse gas emissions.
Southland farmers are being encouraged to get ahead of the winter grazing season by attending a practical field day in Pukerau next week.
New Zealand communities are being encouraged to participate in Road Safety Week, running from 4 - 10 May, with a nationwide push to raise awareness and reduce road harm.
Penske Australia & New Zealand has appointed Stephen Kelly as the general manager of its Penske NZ operations, effective immediately In this role he will oversee all NZ branch operations, including energy solutions, mining, commercial vehicles, defence, marine, and rail, while continuing to be based at Penske’s Christchurch branch.
According to the latest Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report, released today, farm worker pay growth has levelled off after a post-Covid period of rapid growth.

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