There are some events on the sheep and beef calendar that carry a bit more weight than the rest because they are not just about a programme on a stage, they are a moment to step back from the pace of the season and take stock of where the sector is heading. Out the Gate has quickly become one of those moments, and with Beef + Lamb New Zealand confirming Gallagher as the Principal Partner for Out the Gate 2026, the event is shaping up as a genuinely important gathering for farmers, breeders, rural professionals and industry leaders who want more than a surface-level update. They want practical learning, real conversations and a reminder that the best parts of this industry are built around people turning up, sharing ideas and backing each other.

On busy New Zealand farms and contracting operations the tractor has become far more than a hauling machine. It is the anchor for cultivation, drilling, transport, spraying and the full spectrum of heavy work that keeps a season on track. When a tractor is underpowered, uncomfortable or unreliable the whole operation suffers. That is why the Fendt 800 Vario Gen5 has drawn so much interest because it has been built as a modern workhorse designed to deliver strength, efficiency and comfort across a long and demanding season.

Silage quality is one of those subjects that quietly determines the success of a season, because even when the weather plays its part and the chop is clean the work is not finished until the stack is sealed properly and fermentation has had time to settle. Across the country contractors and farmers spend months preparing forage and yet the difference between average feed and exceptional feed often comes down to two decisions that sit outside the paddock, the inoculant applied on harvest day and the cover placed over the stack.