GPS technology is transforming modern agriculture, helping farmers lift yields, reduce inputs and protect the environment. In this feature, leading manufacturers and distributors of precision farming technology outline their latest guidance systems, section control, mapping, telematics, data management and other advanced tools driving greater accuracy and efficiency on-farm.

Across the country, the red and white logo of Power Farming is a familiar sight on tractors, balers, mowers and cultivation gear, but behind every machine sits a team whose collective knowledge and passion keep those brands at the forefront of New Zealand agriculture.

Northern Victoria dairy farmer Brady Hore says the key to putting the best feed in front of his cows is through thorough planning, backed by a strong working relationship with his contractor.

When this magazine first profiled John Austin Ltd back in 2001, the Waikato-based business had already built a reputation for precision, reliability and scale.

With the Government’s wholesale reforms of the Resource Management Act including various national policies, rural contractors are asking; what about a national standard for air plans?

The JCB 457S Agri marks a major step forward in large-scale agricultural loading machinery, built to meet the demands of contractors and big farming operations across New Zealand. With a rated operating weight just over 20 tonnes and peak output of 282 horsepower, it brings a power-to-weight ratio of around 14 horsepower per tonne giving it the strength and speed to handle the toughest silage clamp or feed-pad jobs.

New Zealand orchard and grape growers will be impressed by John Deere’s new 5EN specialty narrow tractors, which enable operators to work with more power through narrow vineyards or tree rows in a cab built for comfort. Erin Wagstaff, Australia and New Zealand Small Ag and Turf Marketing Manager, said the 5090EN and 5105EN specialty tractors were purpose-built for vineyard and orchard operations and build on the success of John Deere’s 5ML orchard tractor.

Cutting smarter rather than harder has become the new standard for Kelvin Richardson, owner and operator of KJR Contracting who runs a busy operation based southeast of Te Awamutu. Every season brings the same familiar pressures, tight weather windows, large areas to cover and clients expecting quality feed when they need it. For Kelvin, staying ahead means constantly looking for better ways to work.

The announcement by Case IH at the recent Henty Machinery Field Days of a factory-supported 3-metre centre set-up for the Optum range, signals a significant evolution in large-scale tractor capability for broadacre and horticulture operations and offers New Zealand contractors and farmers a solution built for fixed tramline tracks and controlled traffic farming systems.

New Holland has once again shown its ability to listen to the market with the introduction of a new 3-metre centre option for its T7 Heavy Duty tractor range across Australia and New Zealand, answering a growing demand from broadacre, cotton and horticultural producers who are committed to Controlled Traffic Farming systems.

Slugs have hidden talents that make them a nightmare for crop establishment. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, UPL NZ Ltd Regional Manager Upper North Island, says getting ahead of them is key.

Contractors who follow best practice and use the latest technology can meet their customers’ demand for high quality silage and hay. In this feature we review some of key products helping farmers and contractors produce and protect top quality feed all year round.

Although separated by the Cook Strait, John Deere Service Technicians Marcus Vine and Liam Gee both grew up pulling things apart and putting them back together, a hands-on curiosity that set them on a path to similar careers.

Precision Seeding Solutions (PSSAG) isn’t just another gear supplier - it’s the practical upgrade your planter’s been waiting for. If your focus is even germination, perfect singulation and maximum yield, their tech, retrofitted onto the machinery you already own, can make all the difference.

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.