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.

Legion and Reason are two of Agricom’s recent ryegrass releases, backed by years of farmer experience and proven performance in the paddock.

New Zealand’s farming systems are entering a period of rapid change as hotter summers, drier soils and more unpredictable weather patterns begin to reshape how pastures perform and in this environment the work happening behind the scenes to protect plant genetics has never been more important.

Weed pressure is one of those realities that every grower knows can shape an entire season long before a crop reaches canopy. In cereals where competition for moisture and nutrients is immediate, early weed control sets the tone for yield potential and crop health yet the options available to New Zealand growers have been tightening for years.

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.

When Deutz-Fahr set out to develop the 8 Series, the brief was not to refresh an existing platform or add incremental updates around the edges. This tractor has been designed and built from the ground up in Germany, aimed squarely at the high-horsepower segment and the realities faced by modern contractors and large-scale farmers. The result is a tractor that places a strong emphasis on operator environment, mechanical capability and digital integration with the cab emerging as the defining feature of the entire platform.

In a sector where every droplet of precision counts, Croplands and Norwood have taken a major step forward for New Zealand’s growers.

The Registered Contractor scheme run by Rural Contractors NZ has been relaunched.

When the people who keep the wheels of our rural economy turning start struggling with the very rules meant to keep them moving, it’s time for a reality check.

C B Norwood Distributors Limited has announced the appointment of well-known agribusiness executive and livestock farmer, John Skurr, to the position of General Manager, effective 3 November 2025.

Precision spraying continues to evolve at pace and Topcon Agriculture has once again shown why it remains a leader in the field with the launch of the UC7 Plus.

Nokian tyres has introduced Intuitu 2.0 and it marks a genuine step forward for farmers who want to get the best out of their machinery without all the hassle of working out tyre pressures for different jobs.

There’s a renewed sense of optimism across New Zealand’s sheep and beef sector this spring, and for good reason.

Contracting father and son team, Craig and Josh Pilet, are silage experts who have operated their family-owned lower North Island business for almost four decades.

Maize and fodder beet remain crucial crops in New Zealand agriculture, providing reliable dry matter yields to fill feed gaps through winter. Both crops require true precision at sowing and harvest, with dedicated planters and specialist machinery delivering the best results. In this feature we look at the latest maize and beet technology available to contractors.

When Brian Hughes first set out contracting across Southland in the mid-1980s, there was little time to think about where the road might lead.

Arable growers could be forgiven for feeling like the poor cousins of the primary sector this year as dairy, red meat and horticulture enjoy strong prices and renewed confidence.

Farmers across Australia and New Zealand now have a unique new tool in John Deere’s Harvest Profit, a convenient cost and profit tracking software platform that offers near-real time profitability monitoring across crops and fields.