In the rolling country of the South Waikato, between Tokoroa and Putāruru, a family business has grown into one of the region’s most reliable contracting outfits. Putt Contracting began nearly three decades ago with nothing more than a single truck and founder Chris Putt’s willingness to take on any job. Today it’s a trusted operation built on steady investment, hard work and strong family ties.

Todays farming operations require topnotch supplements and feed. To produce them, contractors and farmers need equipment that can handle the job with ease, precision and reliability. In this feature we review the products leading the charge in bale wrapping and handling equipment.

DairyNZ’s Plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

In the rolling fields of Spain, something quietly revolutionary is underway. Voltrac, a young startup, has developed an electric autonomous tractor engineered with dual use in mind. While its agricultural potential is obvious, the prospect of defence applications shows how ag-tech is increasingly tied to advanced, multi-purpose systems.

Safety is something most of us take for granted in our day-to-day work. Yet when it comes to the hazardous substances (chemicals) that keep modern farming and contracting moving, safety doesn’t just happen by chance.

Agribusiness and Environmental consultant Erica van Reenen has been named the FarmIQ Systems Rural Professional of the Year for 2025, while Isabel Schmahl, Agri-Manager with Ravensdown, has taken out the title of FarmIQ Systems Emerging Rural Professional of the Year.

Shirley-Ann and Rick Mannering run a productive sheep, beef and dairy operation just south of Auckland. But alongside that, they’re leading a quiet ecological revolution with traps, tech and a full-time farm ranger.

Northland’s rolling hills, steep gullies and mix of bush and pasture demand resilience and careful land management. Farming here means balancing production with protection. Northland Vegetation Control has built a reputation as a contractor that delivers practical results for landowners and communities.

Spring on New Zealand’s hill country farms is always a balancing act. It is the time of year when demand for feed surges, with lambing and calving in full swing, yet grass growth struggles to keep pace under cool soil temperatures.

Had his boilermaker father not decided on a career change, dairy farmer Alex Robertson might have had a very different career after growing up in Melbourne city.

Fuel Storage Limited is New Zealand’s largest maker of above-ground fuel tanks, with every unit designed, built and tested at its Te Awamutu base. That local focus matters.

When a global dairy cooperative with more than 14,000 farmer members makes a major investment in Asia, it’s worth paying attention in New Zealand.

In New Zealand’s contracting and construction sectors, having the right machine is only half the story. The real measure of a brand’s value is the support network behind it – the people who keep machines running, provide expert advice, and help operators work at their best.

Inoculation made easier with app technology.

For years, Claas has been the trusted name for harvesting, with their 50-year forage harvesting legacy.

Claas is the professional's choice for producing high-quality silage. Each Perfect Partners product is designed to deliver a consistent, high-quality result that can be relied on for superior performance.

Quality matters when it comes to crop baling products and Claas has you covered with its Rollatex Netwrap, Quadotex and Baletex twine range, and Wrapex stretch film. Distributed by Tama Farm Grown Solutions, your Claas Harvest Centre can provide comprehensive baling solutions.

Power Farming’s distribution of the JCB 435S AGRI wheel loader puts one of the most capable and performance-focused machines on the market into the hands of New Zealand’s contractors and farmers.

Most consumers are unaware that when they buy bread from the supermarket it is more likely to be made from imported, rather than domestically-grown milling wheat. This is despite New Zealand arable growers producing some of the world’s best quality grain.

The launch of an AI-powered soil moisture mapping tool created by University of Sydney researchers could transform irrigation, fuel reduction burning and pasture management across Tasmania and beyond.

Growers wanting to increase maize grain and silage yields and profits should focus on seedbed preparation, planter set-up and crop monitoring, says Foundation for Arable Research maize researcher Rene van Tilburg.