Farms & Farm Machinery 460

HARD WORKING

With a full 8 year warranty as standard*

The Maxam Agrixtra range delivers minimal soil compaction, a comfortable ride and improved traction which surpasses all agricultural tyre expectations.

8-YEAR FARM TYRE WARRANTY

*Maxam farm tyres come with an 8-Year warranty against manufacturing defects. This offer includes a full tyre replacement warranty for the first 12 months and a pro-rata replacement warranty thereafter.

On the cover

10 Priebbenow Silage Contractors relies on its JCB wheel loaders and tractor to keep operating crews across multiple states

Farming

6 Nu eld scholar Iain MacLennan passionate about apple industry

30 DLL helping to make crucial farm purchases more accessible

Machinery

14 Kerfab jibs improve e ciency and safety at manufacturer’s yard

18 Mahindra discusses the importance of its local assembly

22 Merlo Multifarmer telehandler appealing to big growers

26 Fred Hopkins WA thriving with John Berends Implements

34 McCormick tractor a winner for Victorian dairy farmer

38 Valentini cultivation range boosting Vin Rowe’s o ering

Event news

42 Australian Bulk Handling Expo gains another major sponsor

Industry news

50 Rural Aid encouraging farmers to register for disaster support

50 Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day scheduled

51 New guide to support good practice in berry industry

51 Horticulture stalwart given OAM

52 Breakthrough in managing devastating crop disease

52 Grants for sheep farmers to mitigate loss of live exports by sea

53 NFF reveals budget wish list

53 Victorian shows get funding help

54 Low-interest loans for droughta ected SA farmers

54 NSW project helping farmers to manage emissions

55 CEA’s major product change

56 AgriFutures delves into agricultural workforce challenges

58 New method of detecting two weeds discovered

Market news & opinion

45 Large tractors started the new year by recording a signi cant sales li , according to TMA gures

46 WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington says attention to the state’s freight rail network is needed to address a long-term structural problem

Regular items

4 Editor’s note

48 Calendar of upcoming events

68 List your item for sale!

41 Veldonas electric pump sets gaining traction with farmers

Editorial & Design

Editor Lincoln Bertelli

lincoln.bertelli@primecreative.com.au

Journalist Jackson Haddad

Contributors Trevor Whittington, Gary Northover

Design Danielle Harris, Jacqueline Buckmaster

Art Director Daz Woolley

Managing Editor Eugene Du y

Cover image Priebbenow Silage

57 Construction begins on NSW ag education facility

75 O cially o cial Engage-Ag named as Bobcat forkli s dealer for Toowoomba region

Welcome

to the latest edition of Farms & Farm Machinery

Working on this edition has proven a good reminder of how many moving parts there are in Australian agriculture, along with how important it is to maintain good relationships.

This edition includes examples of positive relationships between farmers and manufacturers, dealers and service providers, along with relationships between manufacturers and their respective dealers and distributors.

The landscape is competitive, but recognising a common goal and working together can create bene ts for everybody involved.

One story which highlights this is from Fred Hopkins WA, which inherited an agreement with John Berends Implements when new owners took over more than two decades ago.

This relationship has since thrived, with the business now playing a major dealer and distributor role for the popular Australian-made attachments manufacturer.

Two other Australian manufacturers are Kerfab and Sera n Machinery, and in this edition we discover how one of Kerfab’s li ing jibs is helping Sera n make light work of moving machinery around its NSW yard.

Continuing with the theme of local production, we look in depth at the Brisbane operations of Mahindra and see how much work is done to the manufacturer’s tractors on these shores to ensure they are suited to Australian needs.

Customer testimonials also feature heavily in this edition, starting with our cover story.

This focuses on at Priebbenow Silage Contractors, which relies on its eet of JCB wheel loaders – and a new JCB tractor – to keep operating at a high level with multiple crews working across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

We also hear from Merlo Australia about how a recent telehandler purchase is powering a large-scale cropping operation, while learning more about how one Victorian farmer’s decision

to buy a McCormick X7.616 tractor from Clark Equipment is continuing to pay dividends.

Other businesses and products in the spotlight include Vin Rowe Farm Machinery, speci cally its selection of Italian-made Valentini equipment, along with electric pump sets from Veldonas which are gaining traction on farms nationwide.

We also look at DLL, which is a nance partner helping to make farm purchases such as machinery and technology more accessible to Australian agribusinesses.

Australian Bulk Handling Expo has announced another major sponsor ahead of this year’s event, which will be a must-attend for those in the grain handling sector.

Our event coverage will ramp up from next month as eld day season gets under way and we are excited to bring you the latest updates from around the nation.

Also in this edition, we pro le Nu eld scholar Iain MacLennan and learn more about his ‘accidental’ career path of becoming farm manager on his family’s NSW apple orchard.

WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington takes a look at regional freight rail within that state, while our bumper industry news section includes everything from the National Farmers Federation’s budget requests to a major product addition for one nationwide distribution group.

Happy reading!

Lincoln Bertelli Editor

Merlo - Work Smarter

Apples in Orange

Returning home to help his parents move into a new property has turned into an unexpected career change for Iain MacLennan

Apples and oranges might be two contrasting things, according to the phrase, but Iain MacLennan has devoted himself to growing apples in the New South Wales town of Orange.

His role as farm manager of his family’s apple orchard came about almost by accident.

The property was purchased by his parents as an attractive overall asset a er selling a business, but Iain says the rundown orchard itself on the property was “neither here nor there for them”.

He came home to help them with the move, having no intention of relocating permanently until his father mentioned he would need to get a farm manager to redevelop the orchard and make it operational to avoid it becoming a liability.

“I stuck my hand up and said if you’re going to back me and give me some freedom with it then I’ll have a go,” Iain says.

“It was a pretty cool opportunity to try and grow something and there are a lot of similarities and similar principles with broadacre cropping, but a very di erent and much longer view in terms of what you are doing this year will a ect you in three or four years.

“I fell in love with it quickly in terms of wanting to grow a really good quality product and that has been one of those things I’ve loved doing.”

Quick progress

Iain’s background is in broadacre farming, having spent seven years working as a broadacre and pasture agronomist and another three years running a rst-cross lamb enterprise.

Developing these leadership, business and management skills is something Iain has consciously worked on, particularly since being thrust into the deep end of his farm manager role, along with learning the nuances of the horticulture industry.

This has been turbocharged by his desire to seek out new opportunities, with none greater than being selected as a 2025 Nu eld Scholar.

Iain was one of 24 young farmers

selected for this prestigious opportunity, which has allowed him to travel both domestically and overseas, expand his networks and learn about diverse farming practices.

He was sponsored by Hort Innovation’s apple and pear research and development levy for this scholarship, and Iain has praised the support received from Hort Innovation, Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), and local growers.

Each scholar must also complete a written report and presentation of their research ndings.

Iain’s subject was exploring how apple growers can bene t from carbon capture initiatives, something which has been inspired by a project taking place at his family’s orchard.

That project is part of PIPS 4 Pro t, which is being run by APAL across multiple states with research activities taking place on various farms.

“They’re looking at trying to increase organic matter underneath the trees,” Iain says.

“There’s normally a strip within sort of a metre of the trees and that’s

usually sprayed out with herbicide for conventional growers.

“Very rarely is it mowed under, but they’re looking at di erent crop types they could put underneath the trees to try and increase organic matter.

“The idea behind it is that if you’re increasing your organic matter, then in theory you would see either more resilient trees or you’ll get a better quality product.

“There are some interesting parts about it, and it’s been good to have some contact with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and some soil scientists and experts within the eld.”

The trial is planned to run across four or ve years and Iain hopes the results will mean he can eventually tap into the federal government’s carbon credit structure.

“If we can show there’s signi cant change in that organic matter there could be opportunities for carbon capture, because you need to show additionality

and that there’s a signi cant change you’ve made,” he says.

Ground work

Daily life as a farm manager is “never dull” and Iain says he enjoys the variety and having plenty to think about at any one time.

“You can spend the whole day pruning but while doing so you’ve actually thought about the costing on something, or whether you like this style, or evaluating

what is the next variety of trees, or how easy it would be to put livestock into this situation – you start questioning lots of things,” he says.

The orchard added some additional permanent sta last year, which Iain says has eased his workload, but much of his time is spent establishing processes for long-term bene t.

“We’ve come from a di erent angle compared to some other orchardists and horticulturists but most of my role is

FARMING

Iain has studied how apple growers can benefit from carbon capture initiatives.

Image: Iain MacLennan

setting up what needs to be done on a dayto-day basis,” he says.

“I’ve ended up doing a lot of planning and working out the sequencing what that looks like.

“We’re still quite a small team, so I can quickly go from ‘this is the plan for the month or half a year’ down to what we’re meant to be doing day-to-day.

“Some of that means I need to be in the o ce doing some bookwork or I need to be on a tractor.

“There are plenty of phone calls between organising where we’re going to send our fruit and making sure that’s right, to speaking to my agronomist every couple of days because I’ve had a new and wacky idea and I need a sounding board.

“The only consistent thing is that it’s inconsistent in terms of whether I’m in an o ce or the paddock, I seem to do a bit of everything all the time.”

Building networks

As someone who admits the hands-on nature of growing is more natural than the business side, Iain has embraced the learning and networking opportunities which the Nu eld Scholarship has presented.

One of these, which occurred early in 2025, was the Contemporary Scholars Conference where Nu eld scholars from around the world came together for a week-long event in New Zealand which also involved several farm tours.

“It was about 100 people in a room, all with very di erent experiences, but people were super generous with their time, their experience and their knowledge,” he says.

“It was really inspiring because there are so many things I didn’t know and so many people looking at things in a di erent lens, but essentially with the same mindset of betterment or wanting to strive for better outcomes for the farm or environment.

“I’ve now got a network just from this year of 100 people that I can go and visit across the world and they have broadened my view.

“There are people just doing interesting things around the world, and so that’s been the real take home for me – and I want to go and see it all.”

Forward thinking

Part of what inspired Iain to get involved with Nu eld and its learning opportunities was realising he is in a di erent demographic to a large portion of Australian orchardists.

“APAL did a census and survey and it basically painted a pretty bleak picture for the national age of the orchards and age of the growers,” he says.

“I realised there was a lot of people going to exit this industry in the next 10 or 20 years while I’m just trying to get started.

“I’ve got big costs that I’m going to have to put up to make sure I’m up to date and to make the next steps.”

The apple industry has faced pro tability challenges in recent years with higher input costs not being o set by increased demand.

This, combined with the aging demographic which Iain cited, has made him aspire to be a “shining light” for the industry’s future.

“With people looking to exit, it’s hard to get really excited but there’s certainly a lot of people doing this around the world and doing it really well,” he says.

“For me it’s about just nding a good path and knowing that I’ve seen other people who are doing it well makes me want to do this and get excited about it.

“I wanted to be a shining light for something to aim towards, using methods which are formed from other people doing it rather than just going ‘I think I can do it’ because that might not necessarily be the right way.

“I get a lot of pride out of what I do in producing a really good product that people will appreciate.”

Australia’s Most Useful Attachment

Fantastic FLEET

Quality and reliability of JCB wheel loaders and tractors is bringing daily bene ts for an eastern states silage contractor

Running a eet of seven wheel loaders from the same manufacturer is a strong endorsement of an operator’s belief and trust in that brand.

Adding in owning a tractor from that same brand – with plans to increase that number in the near future – is the cherry on top.

For Priebbenow Silage Contractors, placing faith in JCB machinery has proven to be a good decision, with their 435S and 457S wheel loaders working in tandem with the new iCON 8330 Fastrac tractor.

Priebbenow Silage Contractors is a family-owned business based at Greenmount near Toowoomba and which provides contracting services across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

The family’s silage production journey began in the 1980s before taking on contracting in 1992.

Into its third generation of family ownership, Priebbenow Silage Contractors has grown to now run ve crews at a time to keep up with demand in the states it services.

Loyalty benefits

JCB machinery has been part of the business’ journey for about two decades.

Current owner Brendan Priebbenow –whose father and grandfather started the business – puts emphasis on reliability and functionality when selecting new machinery, two areas which are particularly important for contractors who cannot a ord down time.

“We’ve had JCB loaders for about 20 years now,” Brendan says.

“It just started from seeing a lot of them used in Europe and New Zealand – there were not many in Australia at all at the time – so we thought we’d have a go and bought one and we were very impressed from the start really.

“We’ve got seven wheel loaders at the moment and they’re really easy to operate.

“Anybody with minimal experience can get in one and operate them very easily.”

Daily jobs for his eet of JCB wheel loaders involve stacking and compacting the silage, while the iCON 8330 Fastrac tractor has a silage trailer attached to undertake the hauling work.

Unlike some small-scale farmers who

may need to get their machinery to multitask or use it for jobs beyond where it may be perfectly suited, Priebbenow Silage Contractors is able to invest in the best for each job.

For Brendan, the JCB wheel loaders are the ideal choice for his silage work.

“They’re an excellent machine and they’re built to do the job exactly,” he says.

“Unlike using tractors and machines like that to stack silage, which are not built for the purpose, the wheel loaders are purpose built to be using on silage.”

Feature loaded

While wheel loaders are o en associated with construction sites, JCB has recognised their importance to Australian farmers and contractors by o ering a range of agriculture-speci c loaders.

Brendan has invested in the two largest models within this Agri range – the 435S and 457S – and both are packed with features.

JCB describes its 435S Agri as being its “most powerful farm machine yet”, having increased its horsepower by 12 per cent to now provide 282hp (210kW) from its 6.7L

engine, along with a 2.4 cubic metre shovel capacity.

A huge power-to-weight ratio of 19hp per tonne means additional strength, more tractive e ort at speed and a machine that holds its torque for ve times longer – all characteristics which increase the climbing and road performance.

The 435S Agri also boasts a unique six-speed transmission with torque convertor lock-up, along with a JCB Quickhitch for fast and easy attachment changing.

There is also twin variable displacement piston pump hydraulics, which provide fast productive loader end control.

A 400L fuel tank helps to give maximum uptime between re lls – a particularly crucial component for contractors such as Priebbenow – and this is complemented by fuel saving features such as an auto engine shutdown when le idling, plus a hydraulic cooling fan which automatically adjusts the speed to optimise cooling.

All controls are seat-mounted and move with the seat suspension, while safety is ensured by interior and exterior mirrors, well-designed access steps and grab handles, rear camera and LED lighting.

JCB’s 457S Agri wheel loader o ers a heavier overall unit, weighing in at 20 tonnes compared to the 15 tonnes of the 435S, and is described by the manufacturer as being “incredibly productive” with a power-to-weight ratio of 14hp per tonne.

It can also reach 282hp (210kW) with dynamic power mode, while its standard power mode puts out 224hp (167kW).

The 457S provides additional capacity thanks to its 3.3 cubic metre shovel capacity, and its six-speed powershi transmission with lock up provides improved acceleration, hill climbing performance and faster cycle times.

Limited-slip di erential or auto di -lock axle options are available, while non-parallel li links give improved load retention by allowing the attachment to roll back when the loader arms are raised.

The loader arm also features unloaded spool valves which allow them to lower by gravitational force and give increased productivity and reduced fuel consumption.

An optional tow hitch with integrated camera gives users up to 20,000kg towing capacity and there is also a choice of

standard loader arms with a 4.3m pin height or a high li of 4.8m.

With an auxiliary tank, the loader also has a 400L fuel capacity, and both the fuel and hydraulic tanks are integrated into the chassis for added protection and strength.

Other features include an automatic reversing fan to remove build up plus a widecore cooling pack.

Haulage hero

The other JCB machine which is delivering daily success for Priebbenow Silage Company is the iCON 8330 Fastrac tractor, which hauls a silage trailer.

This tractor has proven a gamechanger for Australian farmers and contractors since its introduction into the local market about three years ago for its speed, capacity and technology.

It is the largest Fastrac tractor o ered by JCB, sitting above the 4220 and soon to be joined by the mid-size 6300 later this year.

JCB’s iCON Fastrac 8330 is capable of reaching up to 70km/h, something which local users have already cited as a major advantage when travelling long distances.

A powerful 348hp (260kW) engine which produces 1,450Nm of torque makes it the perfect workhorse for contractors.

Features such as a 50-50 weight distribution help to optimise the Fastrac’s tractive performance in the eld.

This is complemented by a full-length rigid chassis, dual-line steering and twin-caliper ABS disc brakes for safety plus anti-roll bars and an advanced suspension system for stability when travelling at speed.

Where the 8330 Fastrac also excels is with its iCON technology suite, a feature which Brendan describes as “very nice” to have.

It includes a 30cm touch-screen display, fully integrated ISOBUS connectivity, a new armrest console, ve con gurable buttons and a roller thumb control on the main joystick and another four buttons and rocker switch on the second joystick.

Having these con gurable buttons helps to create a bespoke experience for users and means contractors such as Priebbenow can allocate any function to each button.

This helps to increase the tractor’s overall user friendliness, something which becomes particularly crucial for contractors that may be employing new

sta who need to quickly get familiar with the machine.

As his newest JCB purchase, Brendan has given the iCON 8330 Fastrac his tick of approval and plans to grow his eet.

“I do plan on getting more of the 8330s in the near future now that we’re happy with the one we’ve got,” he says.

“They’re an excellent machine and I think JCB are moving forward with their innovations and are continually improving, which I like.”

When looking at his eet of JCB wheel loaders and the tractor as a whole package, Brendan is also full of praise.

“They’re just a really good product –well-made and strongly built,” he says.

“We have had very few problems with them and we get good longevity from them.

“The service is excellent as well. We have a really good relationship with the dealer and we can get anything sorted pretty fast when we need it.”

JCB machinery is distributed nationwide by JCB CEA’s dealer network and can be viewed online at www.jcbcea.com.au

Easy li ing

Kerfab’s range of li ing jibs is helping manufacturers such as Sera n Machinery take care of moving items around their yard

In an agricultural landscape where possibilities are being changed by technology and large-scale machinery, not everything needs to be elaborate to be e ective.

Kerfab’s range of li ing jibs are a perfect example of this.

Available in multiple styles to suit di erent machinery types, these jibs are designed to li and manoeuvre bulky items arounds both farms and yards.

One of these Kerfab xed li ing jibs is proving to be a signi cant advantage for New South Wales manufacturer Sera n Machinery.

Based in the northern Riverina town of Gri th, Sera n builds an extensive range of seeding and tillage machinery at its factory.

This means there is plenty of equipment to move around its yard, and this is where the Kerfab li ing jib comes in.

“We deal with a lot of heavy duty discs, seeders and tillage machinery,” Roy, the Sera n Machinery yardsman says.

“We use it a lot for moving around machinery and for unloading containers of our machines.

“With the Kerfab, we can actually move machinery around with the front and we can unload containers with the hook which makes our job a lot easier.”

Hitting the mark

The jib which Sera n is using is the LLJ30, the third largest in Kerfab’s xed li ing jib range.

This jib has a li ing capacity of 3,000kg

Kerfab’s lifting jibs enable safe and e icient machinery movement

and works best with machines between 10-11 tonnes in size.

Within the xed li ing jib range, Kerfab o ers six models – each of which are 1.5m long – and o er capacities between 1,500kg and 5,000kg depending on a user’s needs and machinery size.

Kerfab says its fixed lifting jibs are a cost-effective alternative to its extendable jibs, albeit without the

flexibility, and are ideal for picking up loads in areas which are difficult to access with pallet forks.

“If you don’t have the right equipment, moving bulky items with unusual dimensions can pose a serious safety risk,” Kerfab says.

“A li ing jib is a secure and e cient solution to handling such loads in which the weight exceeds safe limits for manual handling.”

These li ing jibs are commonly used on telehandlers due to those machines already having an extendable boom, however they can also be used on the likes of skid steers and agricultural loaders where the jib is used purely as a li ing device rather than increasing the reach.

Kerfab jibs are manufactured from high tensile steel to guarantee their strength and durability, while quality rated swivel hooks allow exibility of rotation for better manoeuvrability and access to items being picked up.

The xed li ing jibs are also designed to be easy to operate, and this is leading to major e ciency gains for Sera n Machinery.

“With this, you can actually come in, pull one pin, unhook, hook it up, put one pin in and you’re done,” Roy says.

“It’s good now that we’ve got it because we don’t have to use two di erent jibs to do the same job.

“We use the one jib and it saves us time. There is not a lot of down time in the yard anymore and we can get jobs done a lot quicker.”

Options aplenty

Kerfab’s li ing jib range also includes extendable models.

These are best suited to wheel loaders, the manufacturer says, and this allows for the reach to be extended when li ing.

The largest model within Kerfab’s extendable range o ers a capacity of 5,000kg when retracted along with 2,000kg when extended.

MACHINERY

This model also o ers an extended length of 3m and retracted length of 1.8m, while two smaller sizes within the range are available.

Having this design enables greater exibility, as the user can either extend or retract the jib depending on the particular task and this can be done manually or using hydraulics.

A three-stage design is also manufactured, which Kerfab says is ideal for further extending the reach but which is only recommended when li ing lighter objects.

Another product o ered by Kerfab is its telehandler li ing jibs.

These di er to the other jibs as they are designed to be kept close to the hitch and support its centre of gravity.

This is critical in ensuring the operator can maintain the balance and stability of the load, Kerfab says.

Its short arm design – with the unit only being 60cm long – helps in this regard, while users have a choice of models with rated capacities between 2,500kg and 6,000kg.

Best use

Kerfab’s extensive product range means customers are able to nd a jib which is perfectly suited to their machinery type and capacity requirements, along with being able to tackle any unique challenges which their environment presents.

When attaching any of the li ing jibs to a loader, Kerfab says anti-drop or lock valves must be tted to the machine once a jib is tted, and in some instance there may also be requirements for loader management systems and li charts.

For telehandler use, Kerfab says these are ideally supplied in conjunction with the machinery dealer where a load chart can be provided to state the load limits.

All Kerfab li ing jibs are backed by a twoyear warranty along with the knowledge they have been built speci cally for Australian conditions.

While their purpose may be simple, Sera n Machinery’s experience shows their value to both Australian farmers

and machinery yards, leading Roy to recommend the jibs to others in similar positions.

“I am very happy to recommend this to anybody in the industry because it has been a real time saver for us and I reckon it will be a real asset for your businesses as well,” he says.

Kerfab’s full range can be viewed online at www.kerfab.com.au

Here to stay

Mahindra Australia has invested heavily in its local production, sharing how its local assembly operates and why its Brisbane factory is so important

Any Australian farmer sitting on a Mahindra tractor while completing their daily duties is doing so on a machine assembled on these shores.

Having recently marked 20 years of operation, Mahindra Australia has been continually investing in its local future and has already moved facilities twice during its existence due to outgrowing the previous location.

Brisbane has always been Mahindra Australia’s home, originally being based in Acacia Ridge before moving from

there about 14 years ago to Willawong but in early 2024, that Willawong facility also became too small for the expanding business and its local operations moved to Larapinta.

“It’s great to see this progress and growing the size of the business,” Mahindra Australia national marketing manager James Halliwell says.

“We do the complete assembly of the whole unit at Larapinta and we’re one of the few manufacturers le that still completely assemble our products.”

Mahindra launched the OJA range to its national dealer network last year

Solid reasons

Investing in this local production brings bene ts for Mahindra and ultimately its customers but also creates employment with a team of seven people employed in parts and assembly operation in Brisbane, along with temporary sta when required.

“We have four assembly bays with an overhead gantry crane, so at any one time we can be assembling four units,” Halliwell says.

“Depending on the season as well, we have a couple of full timers and then

when we need temporary sta in to help with that operation we do.”

Mahindra specialises in smaller tractors between 24hp and 92hp, aiming to capture the hobby and lifestyle farming segment along with those requiring a general-purpose tractor.

While it does not take on the broadacre beast market, Mahindra’s business model is one which has clearly worked, with the company being the world’s number one tractor seller by volume.

In the business’ last scal year, which nished on March 31, 2025, it sold a record of 424,000 tractors around the globe with the Australian market joining others such as the United States, Europe and its native India in contributing to that gure.

Mahindra also celebrated a major product release late last year, launching its new OJA range of compact and subcompact tractors to Australia.

Bringing in new products and staying in tune with local customer needs is something which Mahindra views as important and having such a strong local presence enables the company to do this.

“Australia is an extremely competitive market, whether it’s tractors and farm equipment in our ag business or whether it’s the automotive side of the business as well – you’ve got to be constantly evolving and keeping up with the latest product features and things that customers want as standard now,” Halliwell says.

“We’ve seen with the OJA tractors that having a very simple and smart way to identify when you start the tractor, where you’ve got to get your four green lights and away you go, is something which is just making life easier for the customer.

“Of course, there are those nice things that we’ve always had like cup holders, but the 12-volt charging and phone charging features that you see standard now on many models is important as well.

“We’ve also got some local supply content in our products, from hydraulic ttings through to canopies and certain loaders and ROPS on some models as well, and this is something which is also important for the Australian market.”

Building blocks

The decision to invest so heavily in local assembly is bringing several bene ts for Mahindra Australia.

Much of it relates to economies of scale and being able to reduce the cost for Australian farmers, along with having a centralised location that ensures quality control and consistency in the end product.

“The rst bene t, which a lot of brands also already do, is that containerisation makes life easy for everybody and gives

you the economies of scale with freight,” Halliwell says.

“It’s not always easy for your dealer network to assemble it because tractors are quite heavy, so if you don’t have the right safety equipment in terms of heavy li crane and forkli and so forth, it can be not an ideal situation to be assembling it at a dealership.

“Secondly, if you only sell that model once a year or it’s the rst time you’ve sold that model – your bread and butter might be 50 horsepower or 80 horsepower but not smaller, or vice versa – having that consistency in the way the product is assembled improves things from a quality control perspective and keeps the products at a level the customer expects.

“For us, being able to get that consistency in tment is super important.”

Consistency is the buzzword of Mahindra’s aims with local assembly and realising common features among tractor builds – such as having a front-end loader and four-in-one bucket on “nine out of 10 tractors” means a central assembly location can assemble these consistently rather than relying on dealerships where sales may be less frequent.

Another bene t – which can also be a challenge – is the central factory becoming experts in ensuring components are where they need to be at the right time.

Mahindra uses some Australian

components for the tractors as Halliwell mentions, but the Brisbane factory has a constant juggling act with other parts such as wheel and loader equipment being sourced from multiple locations.

“Getting all that together at the right time is the logistical challenge as with di erent suppliers around the world from our factories in India and Japan through to loader factories in Korea, wheel equipment in the USA as well as other locations also,” Halliwell says.

“It’s always the battle that you can’t sell the tractor without wheels, loader or a four-in-one bucket, so making sure all those things are in the warehouse at the right time to assemble for the order is key.”

The tractors are in semi-knockdown and then assembled in areas such as the wheels, seats and canopies, along with loader and component tment.

When discussing the actual assembly process within Mahindra’s Brisbane factory, Halliwell says there are two areas which are the most critical to the process.

“The critical component to it is always the loader tment, and the second component is tting all the hydraulics

up, so making sure the hydraulics are working with the remote and joystick,” he says.

“The subframe assembly for your loader is a very heavy-duty piece, so it starts with the le hand and right-hand side and a large mounting frame that bolts on to the tractor on each side.

“We then have two rails that go to the back of the tractor, and that is designed to balance and put the torsional loads across the entire tractor chassis and not just have it sitting on the front axle.

“There’s also then a belly plate that goes across the front as well, where those two main mounting frames mount to connect it all. That process in itself of the framework is very heavy, because on our bigger tractors the mounting frame is an inch thick of steel, so the weight of something like that is substantial.

“Another important process is if the customer’s ordered a third function, so they can do a four-in-one bucket, making sure all that works properly and is tted correctly.”

It is a formula which Mahindra has spent the past two decades perfecting in

Brisbane, backed by a company which also marked 80 years of global operation in 2025.

Having already outgrown its facilities twice is a clear sign that Mahindra Australia is planning for a future that includes growth, and Halliwell says that having such a high-quality product to sell makes the company’s trajectory nothing but positive, as is the upcoming launch of a new 80hp tractor model - the 6080, which will feature in the next edition of Farms & Farm Machinery.

“If you don’t invest in your people, your sta , your facilities, your products and do that consistently, you get le behind,” he says.

“Being able to bring the products of that quality and quantity to this market, knowing full well that it’s a bulletproof tractor and it’s not going to come back and bite you. It is super important to know that you’re buying one of the world’s best tractors.”

Mahindra Australia’s full product range can be viewed online at www.mahindraag.com.au

SUPPORTING AUSTRALIA’S LOCAL MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS

Local manufacturing plays a vital role in the tractor and machinery industry, contributing innovation, jobs, and economic value to regional communities.

Yet, our manufacturers face challenges that require a united, strategic approach.

By joining the TMA, you’re not just becoming a member, you’re adding your voice to a powerful group working to secure the future of Australian machinery manufacturing.

Winning feature

Capital Construction Equipment knows the value of Merlo telehandlers for the agricultural market, with one sale from a eld day last year being a chance to showcase this

For a broadacre farmer, the choice of new machinery can sometimes come down to the presence of one feature.

High capacity and reliable machinery are must-haves for any new purchase, as is the ability to spend long days operating it comfortably, but in a world where e ciency gains are valuable and information can be a gamechanger, these manufacturer-speci c features are o en what sets machines apart.

Merlo Australia dealer Capital Construction Equipment was the bene ciary of this fact during last year’s Henty Machinery Field Days.

Sales director Tim Murray was working on the Capital Construction Equipment stand during the event when he was approached by a broadacre farmer looking for a telehandler to complete jobs such as handling grain and fertiliser.

Ultimately, it was the presence of weigh scales as a standard feature of Merlo’s TF35.7 – a mid-sized model within the Turbofarmer range – that sealed the deal and secured the sale.

“This customer is a broadacre cropper and he was looking at other brands during Henty,” Murray says.

“He came onto the Merlo site, which I was working at, and I showed him all the features of the machine, speci cally how the machine has weighing scales built into it.”

Murray says this customer was “de nitely drawn to” the presence of weigh scales, which is a feature he describes as a big selling point for the Merlo telehandlers.

“This means you can pick up your material and set it to the degree of angle where you’re dumping it, whether that be zero degrees if you’re just picking it up

o the ground and putting it back on the ground, or you’re loading a hopper or a spreader or some description,” Murray says.

“It is useful mixing grain and fertiliser and for measuring grain to load into trucks or hoppers.

“You can set the degree of boom angle, say it’s 25 degrees, and that’s the tipping point of where the farmer unloads it.

“As soon as he goes past that point, it will log 20 loads.

“So if he’s li ed up, say, 20 tonnes of material out of a stockpile and loaded into something else, he will get a grand total of the amount he’s picked up and loaded into whatever application he’s doing.

“That is a good way to monitor your levels of fertiliser or whatever material you’ve got.

“It is a big selling point for Merlo. The

other telehandlers on the market don’t have that without putting it in as an a ermarket accessory, which could cost up to $30,000.”

Loaded with choice

Merlo’s TF35.7 is considered part of the Italian manufacturer’s medium-capacity telehandler range.

It o ers a 115hp (86kW) four-cylinder Deutz engine, along with a 3,500kg li capacity, 6.5m li ing height and 3.5m maximum reach.

Merlo telehandlers are built on four key pillars: comfort, e ciency, performance and safety.

Among the highlights are exclusively designed axles which Merlo has manufactured and developed in house, and these can be equipped with di erential lock to ensure traction on any terrain.

This stability when travelling, loading and unloading is crucial in agricultural environments, particularly in uneven or muddy conditions, and having a telehandler designed to handle this is a valuable addition.

The cabin has been designed to give maximum functionality and comfort, grouping the information provided to

the driver and controls of various systems and devices for optimal ergonomics, along with including the reverse shuttle on the joystick as well as the steering wheel.

Hydrostatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive are both provided as standard features.

It also o ers an impressive maximum

speed of 40km/h, something which is standard across the Merlo range and which Murray highlights as a major bene t for customers.

The TF35.7 is not the only model within Merlo’s Turbofarmer range either.

It begins with Merlo’s TF27.6m, which is a compact unit o ering a 6m li height and 2,700kg carrying capacity.

Various con gurations are available through to the TF65.9 – a high-capacity unit boasting a 9m li height, 6,500kg capacity and which is powered by a 170hp (127kW) engine.

Valuable tool

For Capital Construction Equipment, Merlo telehandlers form an important part of its range.

Its product o ering includes machines for both agriculture and construction – of which telehandlers can serve both purposes – and Murray says the Merlo product is popular with both customer segments.

“We sell them across both agriculture and construction,” he says.

“They’re popular with broadacre farmers and also for construction, for customers erecting sheds and buildings and the like.”

Merlo o ers an extensive dealer network around the country, of which Capital Construction Equipment is part.

The dealership is located in Lavington in the New South Wales-Victoria border town of Albury, hence the presence at the Henty Machinery Field Days.

It is a part of Australia which is well serviced by Merlo, with other nearby dealers in Franks Service Centre and Farm & Diesel collaborating with Capital Construction Equipment for the Henty presence.

When describing what he sees as the

biggest bene t of Merlo telehandlers for its agricultural customers, Murray says it is the combination of two other machinery types.

“They are like a crane, but also a tractor,” he says.

“A lot of the other machines we sell are excavators and construction equipment, so compared to those the Merlo telehandlers are capable of lifting more at alternative heights, so

Capital Constrution Equipment is located at 8 Catherine Crescent, Lavington, NSW and can be contacted via www.capitalconstruction.com.au

Merlo Australia’s full product range and dealer network can be viewed at www.merlo.com/aus/en

September 2026

Enduring pair

The John Berends Implements range is a major part of Fred Hopkins WA’s business, with longevity a common theme in both the relationship and products themselves

When a new owner takes on an existing business, it o en comes with preexisting commitments and relationships that get reassessed.

When Gary Johnson bought Western Australian dealership Fred Hopkins WA back in 2005, there was an existing consignment arrangement with Victorian-based manufacturer John Berends Implements which he inherited.

More than two decades later, the partnership has continued to thrive with Johnson describing the Berends product as their “bread and butter” – proudly acting as the manufacturer’s representative at major WA eld days such as Dowerin.

Fred Hopkins WA is a multi-brand dealership, but Johnson says John Berends Implements products form a “very important proportion” of the business and is the predominant range on display during eld days.

“Berends has a wide comprehensive range of attachments and there’s never a day that goes by where I don’t speak about Berends machinery and quote a customer

something from the Berends range,” Johnson says.

“We have a wide range of products available to us, but Berends makes a very important proportion of our business.”

Rock solid

John Berends Implements remains a strong example of Australian agricultural manufacturing, celebrating its 60th anniversary of operation in 2026 and showing no signs of slowing down. Its wide range of implements are engineered and built in an 8,000sqm factory in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong and distributed around the country to farmers.

Being designed locally means they have the needs of Australian farmers at the forefront, built with strength and reliability to ensure they are long-term performers in harsh environments across the nation.

Six decades in operation means John Berends Implements knows what works, with its designs having been re ned over

the years to be no-nonsense implements which keep getting the job done.

For Johnson, this is exactly what makes the Berends range such a hit with Fred Hopkins WA customers.

“They are designed to be strong and simple, so you have a lot of con dence in selling the product because we have very little product come back,” he says.

“Berends uses thick gauge steel and they design things so they’re strong and they’re not going to let you down halfway through the job.

“The simplicity and strength are key.”

In abundance

The Berends range is plentiful, meaning it has something to o er for everyone from hobby farmers through to major broadacre growers.

Slashers are one of the company’s most popular products, along with grader blades and both stick and landscape rakes.

These are not simply one-size- ts-all implements either, with the Berends slasher range including everything from

light duty units for compact tractors through to heavy duty units for 130hp tractors and special contractor models.

“Another big plus for us is the range that Berends o ers because it’s comprehensive and there’s an awful lot that they cover,” Johnson says.

“It can make it di cult to stock everything, but what we pride ourselves on is trying to stock a wide range of their machinery through all sizes.”

Disc ploughs, post drivers, rippers and cultivators are all long-term Berends products and show the depth of what the company can o er to Australian farmers.

Having built these implements for many years means Berends knows what works and which components are critical to successful operation in the eld.

For Johnson, this instils further con dence that every Berends implement he sells has been designed according to exactly what is needed.

“Berends also puts an emphasis on the important aspects of each machine, for example a slasher is all about the gearbox and they use imported Italian gearboxes,” he says.

“With o set discs, the important parts are the bearings and the discs and they use good quality greaseable bearings and good quality imported discs from Spain.

“I think they’ve nailed the important aspects of the machines that they design.

“It probably sounds an obvious thing to do, but quite o en with cheaper competitor o set discs, you hear so many complaints from customers because they’ve broken down halfway through the job and the farmer has to go and replace

bearings, so it’s really important that you use good quality bearings.”

Forward thinking

Fred Hopkins WA is both a direct retailer of the Berends range, along with being a wholesaler distributing to its dealer network in the west.

The consignment arrangement which Johnson inherited when he bought Fred Hopkins WA has been replaced with a “cleaner” and more permanent arrangement.

Re ecting back on more than two decades of partnership, Johnson says that original setup served its purpose, but the importance of John Berends Implements products to the business meant it was important to invest in a long-term strategy, which is still paying o two decades later.

“It was a boon to us as new company owners and certainly people that were new to the country that didn’t have endless budget to have stock without having to pay for it upfront and it really set us o well,” he says.

“In the years that we’ve owned the business, things have been positive and we’re now in a position where we still shu e containers backwards and forwards between Perth and Dandenong,

but it’s a cleaner arrangement for Berends and it’s a cleaner arrangement for us.”

John Berends Implements’ factory is at 130 Frankston-Dandenong Road, Dandenong South and its full product

range is available by visiting www.johnberendsimplements.com.au

Fred Hopkins WA is located at 288 Welshpool Road in the Perth suburb of Welshpool and can be contacted via www.fredhopkinswa.com.au

UPTO36"MININGPUMPS PUMP VXTE48791. TA206423. $14,510

SOUTHERNCROSS100X65-315PUMPSET withNissanQD32(65hp),skidfueltank,oil-temp,hi/lo timerwatchdogandforkliftroof.Vel67912. TA11060. $13,750

PERKINSISOSILENCED PUMP NewPerkinsDieselIso Silencedpumpsetwithfuel tankbase..Perkisosilent1. TA223696. $26,000

PONTOONPUMP ELECTRIC Pontoonwithelectricpump. xzdef19652. TA206427. $14,910

PERKINSGENERATORS 6,8,10,13,15,20and30KVA generators,singleand 3-phase,poweredby water-cooledPerkinsheavy dutydieselengines,keyor remotestart,fueltankbase, fullengineprotection,500 hoursserviceintervalsIdeal backuporprimepowerCall foryourspecialprice!. AW54939-ST190912. DPLIn27583. POA

GRUNDFOSVARIUOS PUMPS VariedModels.S1. TA250286. $4,500

UNKNOWNPTO GENERATOR 50KVA-ThreePhase-3 pointlinkagewithheavy dutyjackstands.VEL4156. TA10931. $8,710

Flexible nancing solutions

DLL is the nance partner making leading farm machinery, technology, and essential farm inputs more accessible to Australian farmers and agribusinesses

Amid rising input costs, ongoing labour shortages and increasing sustainability pressures, Australia’s farmers and agribusinesses are operating in one of the most challenging business environments in decades.

For more than 20 years, DLL – backed by the Rabobank Group – has been a trusted partner for Australia’s agricultural industry, supporting local farmers and agribusinesses in accessing the equipment, technology and farm inputs they need through tailored nancial solutions.

With operations in 25 countries and an asset portfolio worth over A$75 billion, DLL has specialist expertise from global and local markets. DLL’s long-standing

relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), distributors, dealers and the farming community, allowing DLL to deliver tailored nancing solutions for Australian farmers.

DLL’s Head of New Business Development for Food, Agriculture, and Outdoor, for the Asia Paci c region, Koen van Vlijmen, has been working for DLL in the Agriculture Industry for more than a decade, travelling across Europe, the Americas, and now located in Australia.

Throughout this time, van Vlijmen has witnessed DLL signi cantly strengthen and grow its vendor relationships while adapting to ever-evolving local markets.

“DLL is in a unique position, we have vendor partnerships with global

equipment manufacturers, but also strong relationships with local manufacturers and dealers,” van Vlijmen says.

“This includes many relationships in Australia and New Zealand. DLL’s strong global and local base helps us to support farmers with exible nancing solutions for their equipment, technology and farm inputs needs.”

Point of di erence

DLL focuses on speci c industries, and holds a particularly deep sector expertise in the agriculture industry.

“We have a strong foundation and strong teams with dedicated people in the agriculture sector, some who have a farming background or are still farming

themselves today,” van Vlijmen says.

“That enables us to understand the challenges farmers have and provide structured solutions.”

Seasonality creates challenges for cash ows; however DLL can o er exible nancing options and structured seasonal payments, which can allow farmers access equipment they otherwise may not be able to.

“New equipment can help increase the productivity of a farming operation,” van Vlijmen says.

“By providing nancing solutions, DLL enables farmers to access the equipment they need without spending all their capital at once. Instead, they can nance it from DLL.” DLL’s expertise extends far beyond just

DLL’s Head of New Business Development for Food, Agriculture, and Outdoor, for the Asia Pacific region, Koen van Vlijmen

machinery though, with the business also covering livestock, food, and critical farm inputs, such as fertilisers.

Real world experience

DLL recognises that real knowledge comes from hands-on experience, which is why the business places strong emphases on building and maintaining relationships, an approach that van Vlijmen says resonated particularly well with farmers.

“I’ve had the opportunity to visit many farms and meet the farmers in person –that’s what really sets DLL apart,” he says.

“It has given me a good perspective of the di erent farming practices based on the country and region, and the di erent soils and weather conditions.

“Combining this with strong partnership with the equipment manufacturers, dealers and the entire Agriculture Value Chain. That’s why I don’t think there’s any nancial institution that comes close to the industry knowledge DLL has.”

Sustainable farming practices

Sustainability is an important focus across global agriculture as regulations tighten and market expectations shi .

“There’s a strong focus on using more sustainable farm practices and reducing the use of pesticides, so farmers are constantly looking at how new equipment can help them face these challenges,” he says.

FARMING

DLL wants to support farmers with these challenges by providing nancing solutions such as precision-agriculture machinery, solar panels, and electricpowered equipment.

“We work in close collaboration with DLL’s energy transition specialists to understand the speci c needs of farmers and to ful l their sustainability goals.

DLL works closely with vendor partners, dealers, and the farmers, allowing us to connect all stakeholders and o er the right solutions that will help create value for the entire Agriculture value chain,” van Vlijmen says.

The rise of precision agriculture

Farmers are increasingly adopting precision agriculture technologies including automated and AI-enabled machinery to improve e ciency.

“European farmers have been early adopters,” van Vlijmen says.

“Farms are o en smaller, so technology is essential to maximise productivity.”

While automation and AI are still relatively new to the Australian agricultural market, van Vlijmen expects a rapid uptake in the coming years due the various bene ts which precision agricultural machinery provides.

“The cost of labour is going up, so more farmers are looking at innovations which can replace manual labour,” he says.

“Farmers’ mindsets are changing a lot

and there are very interesting innovations from equipment manufacturers in Europe which DLL is now applying here in Australia and New Zealand.”

Working with manufacturers

Through strong relationship with leading agricultural partners in Australia, DLL provides integrated nancing solutions designed to support farming operations and help customers access the machinery

and technology they need. This can include oor planning for dealers, enabling them to acquire large volumes of new machinery to keep inventory levels full, without paying cash up front.

“Many farmers still want to have a look at equipment in person, so we help connect those dealers with the end customer,” van Vlijmen says.

“We can then create speci c solutions together with the equipment

manufacturer and dealer to spread customers’ capital out over a period of time with seasonal payments.

“We’re always talking with equipment manufacturers, dealers, and farmers to see how we can come up with the next solution that will help them become even more e cient.”

“Moving forward, DLL is accelerating its focus on New Business Development across the region. With a strong commitment to partnership-led growth, we are eager to work with new and established agricultural partners in Australia – from manufacturers to suppliers and dealer networks – to bring innovative nancing solutions to farmers and agribusinesses.”

For more information on DLL’s financial solutions, visit dllgroup.com/au/en-au or call +61 2 9113 5000.

Dairy delight

Having never owned a McCormick tractor before, one Victorian farmer’s decision to buy an X7.616 is continuing to pay dividends

Felix Blayney is proud of his McCormick X7.616 tractor, washing it every week to ensure it remains in pristine condition.

The Victorian cattle farmer has been so impressed with the McCormick’s versatility – along with the service from distributor Clark Equipment – that he is already planning to get another tractor from the same brand.

Felix and his partner Kerry operate three farms in Victoria’s Gippsland region, including 120 acres of dry land at Rosedale used as a beef cattle operation.

The work he has put his tractor through will be familiar to many Australian farmers, with much of it being land preparation grunt work requiring a variety of implements.

Every test which he has put the McCormick through has been passed with ying colours.

“Everything I’ve gone to do with this tractor; I haven’t had a problem. That’s all you can ask for,” he says.

Filled with features

McCormick’s X7.616 is among the manufacturer’s more powerful tractors, boasting a six-cylinder Iveco engine that produces a maximum of 166hp (124kW).

The X7 series has been redesigned to be heavier and longer, conceived with the demands of broadacre farmers in mind, while o ering larger wheel equipment and extended service intervals.

There is a 54 x 27 powershi transmission and a maximum speed of 50km/h, while the cabin roof has been fully restyled and the 12 work lights repositioned to provide full all-round visibility during night work.

Designed and built in Italy, it is a complete package which Felix gives a glowing endorsement of.

“When you look at the package of the McCormick, everything that it’s got – all the really important stu – is as good as you can get on any tractor,” he says.

“It’s got the Carraro front end, the Iveco

motor is just a beautiful motor and they’re really good on fuel.

“This tractor has got more power than I’m ever going to need, but it’s also very good for fuel economy and comfort.”

Felix is an experienced tractor owner across multiple brands and he also rattles o a substantial list of features which make the McCormick X7.616 stand out compared to others which he has owned.

“I’ve got two other tractors and they have no shuttle shi s and no cab suspension and basically nothing in the way of creature comfort,” he says.

“You then jump into this tractor and it’s got all of that and more – suspension cabin, suspension seat, it’s got the P6 transmission, the hydraulics, and operating the rotors is really easy.

“It packs a real punch at that price point.”

Working hard

Felix and Kerry live next to Sale racecourse, and Kerry has a Racing

Victoria trainer’s licence which means they are up early working their horses.

These extra commitments before the farming day starts arguably makes the need for e cient, no-nonsense machinery even more important.

With a cattle breeding operation, along with some cross-bred sheep, there has been plenty of di erent work for the McCormick tractor to do since it was purchased.

When he purchased it from Clark Equipment’s Dandenong branch, Felix opted to add a sleek black loader to the tractor, something which he says he uses “all the time”.

“It came with a four-in-one bucket, and I got them to make sure it had great big ripper teeth on the bucket so we can do everything we need to do,” he says.

“We’ve got the big square bale hay forks and it also came with the pallet forks, and we’ve used all those implements pretty much every day.”

Felix says the tractor’s work has been extensive, but the McCormick has excelled in every job it has had to undertake.

“Two of our three farms are irrigation. We’ve put in a pivot on each of our farms and we’ve done a fair bit of laser grading on both of those farms recently,” he says.

“We’ve had a contractor doing all the grading for me, but you’ve got to disc it all up before you start grading and we’ve used the tractor for that.

“It has been pulling a big set of 42-plate discs, and I was surprised how easily the tractor pulled it.

“We’ve done a lot of jobs – we’ve laid a lot of inch-and-a-half poly.

“With the laser grading, you’ve got to get rid of all the fences and troughs and then once it’s graded, you’ve got to sow it all down.

“Before you sow it down, you’ve got to run new poly.”

Felix enlisted the help of a mate’s

“homemade contraption” for this job, which is pulled by the tractor’s drawbar and puts the poly pipe about a metre under the ground.

The tractor requires “a fair bit of grunt” to pull this contraption through the ground like a ripper, but Felix says the McCormick X7.616 “does this easy”.

Felix is also already planning the next jobs for his McCormick tractor.

“We use the tractor every day and we’re in the process of looking around for a new drill, which we’re probably going to do in the not-too-distant future, so we’ll be using the tractor for pasture renovation predominantly,” he says.

Next steps

This tractor marks Felix’s rst foray into McCormick machinery, but it will not be his last.

While the X7.616 has proven to have more than enough power for the jobs on

his farm, he jokes that he still plans to get an even bigger tractor next.

“When anyone ever buys a tractor, a few weeks down the track they always turn around and say ‘I wish I had spent a little bit money and got the next size up’,” he says.

“With this tractor, I’m never going to say that – it’s great – although I am going to get another one probably next year and I’m going to get the 230 horsepower version of this same one.

“It has a lot more power, which I’ll never need, but I’m going to get it anyway.”

Felix bought the tractor from Clark Equipment in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, choosing to bypass

closer dealerships selling other brands to secure the McCormick.

“That just goes to show how happy I am with the McCormick tractor and the support and service that Clark Equipment in Dandenong have given me,” he says.

“We’ve found the tractor to be very reliable and the sales and support from Clark Equipment has been outstanding.

“We’re very happy with the whole buying experience and the support they’ve given me. They have been great and they are highly recommended.”

Storing the tractor in the back of a shed to prevent it from getting any dew on it, cleaning it both inside and outside every week and having it serviced

regularly by Clark Equipment shows how much Felix values the McCormick X7.616 and how important he believes it is to keep it in pristine condition.

Choosing the right tractor is an important decision for any farmer, and there is little doubt Felix has made the right choice with his.

“For what they cost and for what you get, you can’t beat them on the value – and then if anything goes wrong, you’ve got Clark down there to support you,” he says.

“This is just a great tractor.”

The full McCormick tractor range can be viewed online at www.clarkfarmequipment.com.au

Proven tough

Valentini’s product o ering covers multiple segments, so to begin describing its value to Australian farmers requires an overarching look at the brand.

Founded in the mid-1970s in northern Italy, the company was the brainchild of Antonio Valentini, who was born into a family of farmers and soon set about designing his own machines.

The product range spans across agriculture, horticulture, construction and forestry, meaning there is a wide selection available for a number of purposes.

Valentini machinery is distributed throughout Australia by Vin Rowe Farm Machinery, which is proud to offer everything from power harrows and rotary hoes through to stone crushers and forestry mulchers.

Strength and durability are hallmarks of Valentini machinery, helping to give farmers the reassurance that their products are built for the long term.

Power packed

Within each product category, Valentini o ers multiple options which means Australian customers can nd a model which suits their speci c needs and size requirements.

Valentini’s power harrow range includes the Leopard, Diablo, Maxi Diablo and Mammut harrows, each of which feature robust construction.

Crucially, they are all foldable by way of hydraulic rams which means they can be reduced by under 3m width for road transport.

The smallest of these – the Leopard – is designed for small farms seeking precision in their seedbed preparation a er primary soil tillage with tractors.

Blade holder sha s are mounted on ball bearings at both the lower and upper part of the transmission body, helping to ensure durability, precision and safety in all soil conditions.

This is recommended for use with machines between 100-180hp and has working widths between 3.2m and 5m, depending on the size chosen.

The Diablo and Maxi Diablo models require 120-220hp and 130-300hp respectively, with working widths on the Maxi Diablo going up to 6m.

Both Leopard and Diablo have 28cm working depths, a number which increases to 30cm for both the Maxi Diablo and Mammut models.

Mammut is the workhorse of Valentini’s power harrow o ering, designed for contractors and broadacre farmers who need high capacity implements.

Suited to machines between 200-400hp, there are working widths available up to 9m wide, yet its folding design still enables road transport.

Mammut’s blade-holder sha s are mounted on opposed tapered roller bearings at the lower transmission body, a feature which guarantees durability and precision under intensive use.

Opening and closing the bodies is managed by four hydraulic cylinders, providing greater stability and strength during work.

Other features of Mammut include a three-point Category 3 and 4 universal hitch, adjustable conical bearings, quick blade release, and adjustable height side skirting.

New gears

Another of Valentini’s standout products is its rotary hoes.

These are available with gearbox ratings up to 400hp and are available in either a 3m xed version or folding models between 4.2m and 7.7m.

One of the most impressive features o ered by Valentini’s rotary hoes is its low friction four-gear side drive.

This was developed by Valentini and involves the centre gear becoming a cluster with an intermediate gear tting into it by way of a splined hub.

The result is a machine which becomes easier to drive and produces an impressive reduction in the amount of heat due to friction, meaning there is no need to add oil coolers while also reducing the tractor’s fuel consumption.

All rotary hoe models are also available in a sugarcane version and feature rubber frame and hoods, removable anges and hydraulic rear door adjustment.

Valentini’s selection of folding rotary hoes includes the Jaguar, Squalo, Super Squalo, Maxi Squalo and Hercules.

Jaguar is a unit best suited to small farms, with between 72 and 96 hoes available depending on the size, along with other features such as a central anchor, six helical hoes per ange, external scraper blades and hydraulic opening and closing of the bodies with two jacks and controlled block valves.

At the top end, Hercules – as the name suggests – is a powerful unit which is compatible with tractors up to 400hp.

Sizes are available featuring up to 180 hoes and Hercules is describes as being a perfect rotary tiller for large areas and performing excellently on untilled ground, stable grassland and elds with abundant crop residues.

A larger-diameter rotor is mounted to achieve a greater working depth of 30cm, and despite its size and strength this is also a unit which can fold up for legal road transport.

All markets

Beyond just these agriculture-speci c products, Vin Rowe Farm Machinery also o ers other Valentini products which suit farmers as well as customers in other sectors.

Stone crushers are another of Valentini’s products imported and distributed by Victorian-based Vin Rowe.

These are manufactured from high resistance and wear-resistant steel and o er working widths of between 1m and 3.7m, along with working depths between 15cm and 70cm.

Valentini’s most powerful stone crusher – the Attila-M – is ideal for farmers working in di cult conditions and using highpowered tractors equipped with variable speed drive.

For farmers, this machine helps to transform rocky soil into arable land, helping to maximise a property’s overall productivity.

Double side transmission with gears is supplied as standard, while the unit also features protection rings on transmission support, bearing support with special seals and a front conveyor which is adjustable with a hydraulic jack.

For farmers needing stone crushing but without such a high-powered tractor or the need to get so far below the surface, plenty of other models are available within the range.

Versatility is also a feature of Valentini’s forestry brush cutters and mulchers.

Customers have the choice of working widths between 1m and 3.5m across the range, along with working depths of up to 50cm.

Single and double side transmission with gears is available depending on the model, while a robust decision again helps to ensure the product’s long-term suitability.

Valentini products are available through Vin Rowe Farm Machinery, which is located in the Victorian town of Warragul but which distributes nationwide.

The full range can be viewed online at www.vinrowe.com.au

Veldonas o ers electric volume transfer pumps and electric pressure pumps. Image: peerayot/stock.adobe.com

Electric feel

Veldonas’ electric pump sets are gaining traction on farms, o ering cost-e ective water management solutions for irrigation, frost control and re protection

Pumps are o en an a erthought when thinking of traditional farm machinery, but their importance is critical to many agricultural operations.

While they might not be ashy like tractors and harvesters, pumps do the heavy li ing behind the scenes to provide irrigation and sprinkler supply, frost control and bush re protection.

Melbourne-based Veldonas specialises in all things pump supply and water management solutions, with a large portion of its customers being farmers from all over the country.

Building custom units and systems to order, Veldonas’ core o ering includes diesel, power take-o , and electric pumps in addition to individual diesel engines and repower units.

Veldonas director Gatis Gregors says Australian farmers are increasingly enquiring about electric pumps as they look at di erent water supply management options.

“Electric pumps can o er various bene ts to farmers – they are more cost

e ective than diesel options if grid power is available at o peak rates,” he says.

“If electric generators are used, multiple pumps can be running o one generator, saving on individual diesel pump setups.”

Veldonas supplies both volume transfer and pressure pumps in electric con gurations, with each serving a speci c purpose.

“Volume transfer pumps use less power than pressure pumps,” Gregors says.

“They usually only supply water transfer to low pressure situations up to 30 PSI, whereas high pressure pumps can supply up to 160 PSI.

“We can supply various electric volume transfer pumps which can pump from ve litres per second up to 400 litres per second at 30 PSI. Our electric pressure pumps can also pump ve litres per second up to 400 litres per second at 160 PSI.”

Both pumps also serve di erent applications, as Gregors says volume transfer pumps are bene cial for ood irrigation and transferring water from canals and rivers.

Gregors says more farmers are enquiring about Veldonas’ electric pumps. Image: Veldonas

On the other hand, he says pressure pumps are used for boom and travelling irrigation, sprinkler supply, frost control, and re protection.

For more information on Veldonas’ new and second-hand electric pump sets as well as parts supply, visit veldonas.com.au or call 03 9312 0888.

Cheering on

Australian Bulk Handling Expo has added another major sponsor, which will also take on sponsorship of the event’s networking drinks

Bulk Expo has announced SRO Technology as a platinum sponsor of this year’s event, with the Australian instrumentation and measurement specialists also con rmed as the sponsor of the networking drinks.

Bulk Expo 2026 will be held in Melbourne in September and brings together all aspects of bulk materials handling, including the grain handling sector which is so crucial to many Australian farmers’ operations.

The event will feature suppliers, operators, engineers and decision makers from across the bulk materials handling supply chain, combining a comprehensive exhibition with a robust technical conference program and targeted networking opportunities.

The addition of SRO Technology as a platinum sponsor provides another boost for the event, which also recently announced Belt Wise as a gold sponsor.

A long-standing name in bulk materials handling measurement and protection systems, SRO Technology’s sponsorship reinforces the company’s deep alignment with the technical, operational and engineering focus of Bulk Expo.

The networking drinks, which will be hosted by SRO Technology, will provide a key opportunity for attendees to connect following the opening day of the expo and technical conference.

Since 1988, SRO Technology has supported bulk operations across Australia through precision measurement, conveyor protection and materials-handling instrumentation.

At Bulk Expo, the company will showcase its revitalised Ramsey product range alongside its latest monitoring and protection technologies at Stand C17.

Prime Creative Media events general manager Siobhan Rocks says SRO Technology’s approach to engineering

excellence and long-term industry partnerships makes them a natural t for Bulk Expo.

“Bulk Expo is all about real-world solutions for the challenges operators face every day, and SRO Technology is right there in the thick of it,” she says.

“Their focus on measurement accuracy, site-level problem solving and engineering integrity aligns strongly with the audience we bring together.”

Rocks adds that SRO’s support of both the exhibition and the networking program strengthens the overall event experience.

“Having SRO Technology come on board as a platinum sponsor and host the networking drinks is a genuine win for attendees,” she says.

“It creates meaningful opportunities for connection while reinforcing the technical depth and credibility of the event.”

SRO Technology’s participation

A technical conference will help attendees to gain new insights and knowledge

closely aligns with the new technical conference running alongside Bulk Expo, including the ASBSH technical program, which brings together senior engineers, researchers and industry leaders to explore data-driven solutions and operational challenges across bulk handling environments.

SRO Technology chief operating o cer David Steel says the event provides an ideal platform to engage directly with the engineering community.

“SRO Technology has always been about more than just supplying parts; we’re about solving the complex site-level problems,” he says.

“Whether it’s tackling ow properties, dust mitigation, or the latest in conveying solutions, we’re here to provide technical integrity where it matters most.”

Steel also highlighted the signi cance of 2026 for the company, o the back of a global two-year revival of the Ramsey product range – marking a major milestone for the sector following its discontinuation in 2023.

“We’d love for everyone to drop by Stand C17 during the expo to see the newgeneration V1.5 Ramsey Flex, Oretronic IV Tramp Metal Detection system and the revitalised Pro-Line Conveyor Protection series in person and join us for the

networking drinks hosted by SRO,” he says.

“It’s the perfect time to have a chat about how we can support your operations.”

Steel says the team is also looking forward to engaging with conference content focused on ow behaviour, conveying performance and wear challenges – areas central to SRO’s on-site engineering work.

Bulk Expo 2026 will be held on September 16-17 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Catch up with peers, meet industry leaders at Bulk Expo and get involved by visiting www.bulkhandlingexpo.com.au/ getinvolved

2023CASEIHJX100 verylowhrs163wouldsuitnew buyerorperfectsecondtractor

CASEIHOPTUM270 FittedwithaBrandnewEngine, $230,000

KUHNDELTIS1502 JUSTINSUITNEWBUYER-AS NEWLinkagesprayer

$51,000

2016KUHNEUROMIX3370 MIXERWAGON,33METRES CUBEDINCAPACITY

$148,500

CASEIHFARMALL105C 104HPFELwithSTDBUCKET 3RDFUNTIONANDSOFTRIDE

CASEIHPUMA165 ClassicCabTractor,4xxxhrs. 40kFullPowershifttransmission

2018CASEIHPUMA165 JUSTIN-50KPHCVT Transmission,3854enginehours,

$139,900

GILTRAP8301 Spreader,Twinspinner10ton trailedbeltspreader

2023MASSEYFERGUSON 7S.210 likenewcondition,newTyres

SILVAN2500 with18mHydraulicboom. CompletewithHydraulicDrive

$49,500

KRONECOMPRIMACV150XC BALEPACK,SELLINGON CONSIGNMENT

$66,000

NEWHOLLANDTH7.42ELITE Telehandler,ComeswithPallet forks

$137,500

2008AMAZONEUG3000 3000litre,24metre Ratecontrolled

2015CASEIHRB465 6ftbalesandknives,One ownertidybaleronly8000bales $55,000

2004GOLDACRES3000LTR Boom,ratecontrol3section goodcondition

$18,000

KUHNVCB2265OC Justtraded-goingthrough workshopBalepack,2017model $77,000

Large li

Large tractors have started the new year by recording a signi cant sales li , according to Tractor & Machinery Association gures

Large tractors in the 200hp plus range led the way in January with a sales increase of 42.2 per cent compared to the same month last year.

The next largest category - 100-200hp –also recorded an 8.4 per cent jump on the same month last year.

With January being a relatively quiet month on the sales front, a total of approximately 500 tractors were sold across the country which was 7 per cent behind the same month in 2025.

Western Australia had a big li of 30.2 per cent on its January 2025 sales, while Tasmania was up by 26.7 per cent and the small market of Northern Territory posted a 142.9 per cent spike.

In a complete turnaround from December, smaller tractor sales were very quiet which drove a decline in unit sales.

As previously reported, tractor sales for 2025 were the lowest reported for more than ten years.

While the industry is not expecting a return to boom times, there is a general feeling that the bottom has already been

hit and that gradual improvements can be expected.

Machinery suppliers continue to struggle with price increases from European and US suppliers and while shipping rates have improved, they too remain a challenge.

The impact of the US tari s program is impacting supply chains and these will be a drag on demand for as long as they remain.

Combine harvesters had a ‘month o ’ and balers were again strong this month, with sales up 89 per cent compared to January 2025.

Sales of out-front mowers were 6 per cent behind and sales of self-propelled (SP) sprayers were down 50 per cent on the same month last year.

The annual TMA conference will be held this year in Sydney at the Novotel Brighton Beach on Wednesday July 29, 2026.

More details will become available through the TMA’s website at www.tma.asn.au and also through Facebook and LinkedIn.

Large tractors were the sales standout in January. Image: Prime Creative Media

Gary Northover is executive director of the Tractor & Machinery Association of Australia (TMA). He can be contacted on (03) 9813 8011 or at gary@tma.asn.au

Tractor sales in detail

January 2026 tractor sales sorted by state and weight categories. Image: TMA

OPINION

Regional rail

WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington says attention to the state’s freight rail network is needed to address a long-term structural problem

Western Australia’s state government committed during the last election to “investigate and progress the potential buy-back of the below-rail freight lease”, aiming to restore public control of freight rail, improve supply chain e ciency and support agriculture and resources.

Many across agriculture, transport and regional Western Australia hoped it marked a long-overdue recognition that the old Westrail network had become the poor cousin of the lavishly funded metropolitan rail system.

It was, at least implicitly, an admission that something fundamental had gone wrong in how this state moves bulk commodities across its southern half.

A quarter of a century a er the Court government privatised freight rail, it is hard to argue otherwise.

Whatever hopes were attached to privatisation – fresh capital, sharper management and lower costs – the outcome has been a textbook case of monopoly behaviour extracting value while long-life assets steadily degraded.

That does not mean the old Westrail model was a success either. It was burdened by debt, ageing rolling stock, ine ciency and, in its Midland workshops were outright dysfunction.

State ownership failed once. Private ownership has failed di erently, but no less clearly.

What matters now is not ideology, but outcomes.

Despite successive mining booms, a doubling of grain production, growth in east–west container tra c and major rail investment to move iron ore out of the Mid West and Gold elds, the Tier 1 and Tier 2 freight network has been allowed to fall behind.

More than 700 kilometres of Tier 3 lines have closed, and entire corridors have been le to decay.

Need to act

The failure of successive governments to retain leverage over the freight rail lease –rst under Australian Railroad Group and later under Brook eld’s long-term control of the below-rail network – has steadily eroded con dence among major freight users.

Faced with escalating access charges, in exible terms and declining service certainty, CBH eventually abandoned reliance on third-party above-rail operators and was forced to step in itself, purchasing and operating its own locomotives and wagons simply to keep grain moving.

That was not vertical integration by design; it was adaptation by necessity, driven by a rail system that no longer worked for its largest regional customer.

It is impossible to calculate precisely how far behind the network now sits relative to where it should have been had appropriate capital been injected over the past two decades.

But one fact stands out: the federal government has invested billions in long-haul rail elsewhere – Alice Springs to Darwin, Melbourne to Brisbane – because rail makes economic and strategic sense for a country built on bulk freight.

Western Australia is not exempt from that logic.

That is why Labor’s January 2024 announcement – just ahead of the state election – that it would explore buying back the remaining 21 years of the freight rail lease was cautiously welcomed by grain growers.

It was not nostalgia for state control, but the possibility of resetting incentives: restoring rail competitiveness, improving bin-to-port e ciency and helping growers capture the critical January-to-June southern hemisphere export window before northern hemisphere grain oods the market.

Western Australia needs a strong freight rail network to maximise supply chain e iciency. Image: Rafael Ben-Ari/stock.adobe.com

Twelve months on, that promise is wearing thin.

We are told work is underway. Consultants have been engaged. Departments are “working through the process”.

But there is still no clear timeline, no negotiation framework and no public sense of urgency. For a government that prides itself on delivery, the silence is conspicuous.

Western Australians know this government can move decisively when it wants to.

Metronet has seen billions committed to urban rail, with political decisions taken rst and business cases re ned as construction progressed.

Roe 8 was cancelled within weeks of the 2017 election, with more than a billion dollars written o almost overnight.

The energy transition has followed a similar path, with coal exits, grid upgrades and renewables funded on political timelines rather than a er endless modelling.

Against that record, it is di cult to accept that buying back freight rail – the backbone of the state’s export economy –is uniquely too complex to advance.

The same selective approach to decision making is evident at the ports. When government does not want to commit, momentum is replaced with process.

The proposed Outer Harbour development at Kwinana – now described as an $8 billion project – has been studied, restudied and re-scoped for nearly a decade.

Reports multiply, as the government kicks the decision down the road.

Endless analysis is not a replacement

for decision making; it simply defers responsibility and shi s costs onto users and the next generation.

If this was China, we would have a fully automated port and a high speed standard gauge train running through every country town in WA in the time this government takes to produce a plan.

Crunch time

When it comes to regional rail, this year’s exceptional harvest has sharpened the issue further.

Western Australia is expected to produce around 26 million tonnes of grain this season, the largest crop on record.

CBH’s Path to 2033 strategy anticipates average receivals of 22 million tonnes within eight years, with peak export outturns of up to three million tonnes a month.

On current trends, WA will be pushing 30 million tonnes by the end of this decade, yet much of the freight task is still being carried on a network e ectively built for 10 million tonnes and which has seen no major upgrade in decades.

because there are not enough locals, increased safety risks for passenger vehicles, and mounting logistical stress for farmers and regional businesses.

Each big season magni es the pressure and that damage is not accidental; it is structural.

In the 1950s and 60s, grain moved on ve to eight-tonne trucks.

The 1970s brought truck-and-dog combinations, the 1980s saw single semis, the 1990s B-doubles, and by the 2000s much of the task had shi ed to 65 to 80-tonne combinations – the current cap on many RAV routes.

Each step improved e ciency for both farmers and CBH as the rail freight network failed to keep up.

The end result is multiplied stress on gravel and bitumen roads, shoulders and bridges never rebuilt for those loads are facing shortened lifespans.

If rail continues to remain uncompetitive, the next push will be for 110-tonne triples, transferring even more cost and risk onto local governments and

In a January 2025 media statement, premier Roger Cook and transport minister Rita Sa oti argued that greater public control of freight rail would increase usage, improve road safety and deliver cost savings for industry while supporting agricultural growth and future jobs.

These are not radical claims. They are statements of basic freight economics. We now have a bumper crop, a tax windfall for government, and broad agreement across agriculture, transport and local government that the system is stretched.

The buyback was presented as a serious response to a real capacity, e ciency and safety problem.

The only question le is whether the government is prepared to act.

The choice is stark: regain control of the rail network and invest to make it work – or keep pouring money into roads. Either way, billions will be required to x a problem decades in the making. If the state can nd $12 billion for

Events Calendar

Here are upcoming eld day and agricultural events for 2026. Information was current as of going to press

King Island Show –King Island, Tas

Experience King Island’s major annual event, the King Island Agricultural, Horticultural & Pastoral Society Show. Visit the pavilion for the arts and cra s display and wool judging, tasty food is for sale. There is cattle judging, horse riding displays and much more.

When: March 3, 2026

More info: kingislandshow37374937. wordpress.com

Wimmera Machinery Field Days – Longerenong, Vic

Wimmera Machinery Field Days is hosted at the purpose-built Wimmera Events Centre at Longerenong near Horsham in western Victoria and has grown into one of Australia’s largest agricultural and agribusiness trade shows, with thousands of visitors across the event’s three days.

When: March 3-5, 2026

More info: wimmera elddays.com.au

Wagin Woolorama –Wagin, WA

Over two days, the community comes together to showcase the diversity of agricultural life in WA and how ‘ordinary things can be done extraordinarily well’. The event includes livestock, art, photography, cra , home industries, fashion, rides and entertainment for all ages, plus a Saturday night rodeo.

When: March 6-7, 2026

More info: woolorama.com.au

Central District Field Days –Feilding, New Zealand

Central Districts Field Days is a unique agriculture event where communities come together to connect, discover and experience the future of New Zealand’s primary industries. From farmers and foodies to tech heads and townies New Zealand’s largest regional eld days has something for everyone. The event showcases, cutting edge machinery and equipment, the latest developments in rural innovation, top notch regional food and local brews.

When: March 19-21, 2026

More info: cd elddays.co.nz

South East Field Days –Lucindale, SA

The South East Field Days is a premier two day agricultural event held annually at a purpose built facility in Lucindale. With over 500 exhibitors the focus is on showcasing the latest in agricultural products, services, and equipment., along with entertainment and a multitude of food and locally sourced wines.

When: March 20-21, 2026

More info: sefd.com.au

Farm World –Lardner Park, Vic

Farm World attracts more than 40,000 visitors every year to Lardner Park near Warragul as a premier agricultural eld day and lifestyle event that has been running since 1963. As Gippsland’s largest annual eld day with over 100 acres of exhibitor displays inside and out, Farm World has something for everyone.

When: March 26-28, 2026

More info: www.lardnerpark.com.au

Toowoomba Royal Show –Toowoomba, Qld

The Toowoomba Royal Show is an unrivalled production of the very best in entertainment and agriculture displays on the Darling Downs since 1860. Every year has new entertainment so bring the whole family and enjoy world class acts, competitions and exhilarating rides in sideshow alley.

When: March 26-28, 2026

More info: toowoombashow.com.au/ royal-show

Sydney Royal Easter Show –Sydney, NSW

First held in 1823, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s largest annual ticketed event, attracting over 850,000 attendees on average. Revenue generated by it allows the RAS to invest in agricultural programs, competitions, education, youth and rural NSW.

When: April 2-13, 2026

More info: www.eastershow.com.au

East Gippsland Field Days –Bairnsdale, Vic

An iconic event on the East Gippsland calendar, this Bairnsdale-based eld day has proudly been run by the Lindenow Lions Club since its inception in 1986. With over 350 exhibitor spaces and numerous quality promotions at the Field Days, East Gippsland is not one to miss.

When: April 10–11, 2026

More Info: www.eg elddays.com.au

Seymour Alternative Farming Expo – Seymour, Vic

Held in the heart of Victoria at Kings Park, Seymour, the Expo features approximately 500 exhibitors and attracts 20,000 visitors across three days. Explore the latest technology, practices and trends in small and backyard farming, visit the animals and enjoy the market style shopping, food and entertainment.

When: April 17-19, 2026

More Info: seymourexpo.com.au

Co s Harbour Agricultural Show – Co s Harbour, NSW

Organised by the Co s Harbour Show Society, the Co s Harbour Agricultural Show has trade exhibitors as well as competitions and rides.

When: May 1-2, 2026

More info: co sharbourshowsociety.com.au

Tocal Field Days – Tocal, NSW

Highly regarded for its educational aspects, Tocal Field Days provides an opportunity each year for landholders and the community to see rst-hand a range of livestock and animal handling and husbandry skills. The site also features a large land management area that provides great information on caring for our environment.

When: May 1-3, 2026

More info: www.tocal elddays.com

Agfest – Carrick, Tas

Agfest is a multi-award-winning event and o ers an excellent opportunity for

your business to showcase its products to thousands of people. Operating for over 35 years, Agfest is a Tasmanian success story that injects millions of dollars into the local economy annually.

When: May 7-9, 2026

More info: www.agfest.com.au

Bellingen Show – Bellingen, NSW

Begun in 1881, the Bellingen Show is a yearly event that brings together members from throughout the community providing a venue for both young and old to showcase their unique skills and talents through traditional agricultural events, the exhibition of agricultural produce, arts and cra s, and top class local entertainment.

When: May 9-10, 2026

More info: www.bellingenshow.com.au

Visit tradefarmmachinery.com.au/agricultural-and-rural-

Ready to help

With bush res, oods and heavy storms having impacted various parts of Australia’s eastern states, Rural Aid is urging farmers to register with them.

“Disasters don’t wait, and neither should farmers,” Rural Aid chief executive o cer John Warlters says.

“Registering with Rural Aid now means we can act fast when conditions worsen, whether that’s nancial relief, counselling, or delivering hay and water to farmers who need it most.”

Cotton eld day

The Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day will provide insights into how a large family-run business achieves success

Rural Aid provides free support to registered farmers and their families, with registration enabling this to be delivered as quickly as possible a er a disaster.

Support available includes nancial assistance for urgent and unexpected expenses, professional counselling and wellbeing support, hay deliveries to feed livestock, water deliveries for household needs and volunteer assistance through Farm Army and Farm Recovery Event programs.

Cotton Australia has announced Merrilong Agricultural Company, the 2025 Bayer Cotton Growers of the Year, will host the Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day.

The event will be held on March 18 at Merrilong Agricultural Company’s Spring Ridge property on the Liverpool Plains in north-west New South Wales, with the day focusing on how resilience, teamwork and communication support decision-making in a large, family-run farming business.

It will be hosted by brothers Hugh and Jock Brownhill and their cousins Oscar and Archie Brownhill of the Merrilong Agricultural Company.

The Brownhill family manages a total of 10,700 hectares, comprising 1,850 hectares of irrigation, 6,750 hectares of dryland farming and 2,100 hectares of grazing country.

Field day attendees will the opportunity to see how the Brownhill family blends legacy and teamwork to achieve success across generations.

The day will also include a farm tour, guest speakers and a panel session featuring the Brownhill family, members of their advisory board, and key consultants to the business.

There will also be an opportunity

Australian farmers have dealt with various recent natural disasters including floods. Image: Rural Aid

Rural Aid has already provided direct nancial assistance to farmers in Victoria and north-west Queensland to cover urgent expenses as they recover from res and oods.

“Our teams are already working in disaster zones, supporting farmers who are exhausted, overwhelmed and facing enormous uncertainty,” Warlters says.

“By registering early, farmers ensure critical support can be delivered as quickly as possible when disasters strike.

“We strongly encourage every farmer, especially those in high-risk areas, to register now so help can be mobilised immediately when it’s needed.”

Farmers can immediately register for free by visiting faa.ruralaid.org.au or calling 1300 327 624.

for attendees to ask questions about farm management structures, team leadership, communication, and longterm business and succession planning.

In addition, visitors will have the chance to learn about the property’s history, from when Gordon Brownhill (Snr), his wife Mary, their son David and his wife Julia rst purchased “Merrilong” in 1959, through to how that heritage continues to shape the farm today.

Jock Brownhill says teamwork and shared decision-making are central to how the business operates.

“We work closely together as a team and divide responsibilities so we can collaboratively make decisions that ensure the farm’s success in the long term,” Jock says.

“Implementing an advisory board structure was a game-changer for Merrilong Agricultural Company and a key initiative we have brought through the business transition. This has allowed us to keep our focus on what’s happening on the farm day-to-day while also planning for the future.”

Registration for the event is now open by searching for the event on Humanitix.

Berry good

A new guide aims to support and outline what good practice looks like in Australia’s berry industry

The federal and New South Wales governments have launched a new guide designed to support Australian berry growers in adopting sustainable, responsible, and resilient farming practices in the face of a changing climate.

The Berry Good Practice Guide, developed by industry association Berries Australia, covers practical steps across key areas such as site selection, agronomy, production systems, environmental management, labour practices, and community engagement.

It will also provide a reference point for researchers, policymakers, local government, and the broader community seeking to understand the industry’s steps toward sustainability.

“This guide brings together the knowledge and experience of growers, industry leaders, and sustainability experts to outline what ‘good practice’ looks like in today’s berry industry,” NSW recovery minister Janelle Sa n says.

“As with many other industries in this region, the berry industry has su ered in the face of natural disaster.

NSW recovery minister Janelle Sa in says the berry industry is a Northern NSW success story. Image: SalenayaAlena/stock.adobe.com

“It is so encouraging that the industry is not just thinking about recovery, but resilience in the face of future disasters.”

Sa n adds the berry industry is a northern NSW success story.

“The blueberry industry alone has increased in farm gate value from $25 million in 2005 to $507 million today, with around 80 per cent of blueberries being grown right here in northern NSW,” Sa n says.

“With growth comes greater expectations from consumers, regulators, and the broader community.”

Berries Australia director Andrew Bell

Leader awarded

Hort Innovation has praised an industry stalwart a er he was recognised in the Australia Day honours list

Hort Innovation has congratulated respected Australian horticulture stalwart Joe Saina a er he received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List.

The recognition was given for his service to horticulture, particularly the fresh produce sector, with a focus on international trade.

Queensland-based Saina is described as being a “cornerstone” of the Australian horticulture trade landscape for more than two decades, contributing enduring leadership, technical expertise and national representation across the $17 billion industry.

Hort Innovation chair Julie Bird says Saina’s recognition acknowledges his commitment to strengthening Australia’s position in global horticulture markets for the bene t of Australian growers.

“His leadership and dedication have

played a critical role in building trusted export pathways and supporting the long-term success of Australia’s fresh produce sector, especially in export,” she says.

“Joe’s contribution spans governance at chair of the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) Governance Committee, trade advocacy through Australian Horticultural Trade, market development and export of Australia produce to consumers around the world through his company A.S Barr based in Brisbane.”

Saina has been a board member of Australian Horticultural Trade since 2007, which included eight years as chairman between 2016 and 2024, while he has held the FASTA governance committee chair role since 2023.

Outside of horticulture, he was also a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy (Reserves) between 1988 and 2000.

says while many growers are already leading the way, this guide provides a benchmark for others to follow and build on.

“Good practice is not static, and what is cutting-edge today will be commonplace tomorrow,” Bell says.

“So, whilst we have a hard copy document for this first edition, we will be continually updating the online version.”

The digital version of the Berry Good Practice Guide can be found online by visiting www.issuu.com/berriesaustralia

Scienti c breakthrough

New research into a major soil-borne crop pathogen lays the foundation of better managing one of Australia’s most devastating crop diseases

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has announced its researchers have unlocked the most detailed genetic blueprint yet of a major soil-borne crop pathogen – paving the way for better crop disease management in Australian agriculture.

For the rst time, CSIRO says its researchers have sequenced and assembled a chromosome-level genome for the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG-8, revealing its complex genetic structure.

The fungus causes bare patch disease in wheat, barley and legume crops across Australia, resulting in over $150 million in crop losses each year.

CSIRO principal research scientist Jonathan Anderson says the fungus has long been a challenge for farmers because there are no resistant crop varieties and fungicides o en don’t work reliably.

“Using new sequencing technology, we discovered that Rhizoctonia solani AG-8 is what’s known as dikaryotic – meaning it carries two separate sets of genetic

New opportunities

Grants have been o ered to Australian sheep farmers to mitigate the impact of the live sheep exports by sea transition

The federal government has allocated $3.6 million in grants to Australian sheep farmers, particularly in Western Australia, to help supply the rapidly growing global demand for sheep meat.

Twelve projects under the $27 million Enhancing Market Demand program will support diversifying exports of Australian agricultural and food products, particularly to the Middle East and North Africa region.

This includes focusing on increasing demand and sales of sheep meat domestically and abroad as the phase out of live sheep exports by sea progresses,

ensuring Australian farmers bene t from the trade of high-quality and ethically produced food and bre.

Grant recipients include industry peak bodies such as Australian Meat Industry Council and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation Ltd; agricultural consultants, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA and research organisations such as Charles Sturt University, University of Technology Sydney and Gri th University.

These organisations will work with Australian sheep, agriculture, food and bre industries on active and emerging market opportunities, and will assist

Bare patch disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, which creates dead or stunted zones in cereal crops and results in significant yield losses.

Image: CSIRO

material, called haplotypes, some of which are highly genetically diverse,” he says.

“In simpler terms, the fungus has two distinct genetic blueprints, which could help explain why it’s so hard to control.

“By studying how genes in each haplotype behave when infecting di erent crops, we found that the two genetic sets may play di erent roles in how the fungus attacks wheat.

“This new level of genetic insight into the fungus gives us a powerful foundation to transform how to manage the destructive diseases it causes in the paddock.”

CSIRO adds the ndings lay the foundation for nationwide studies of Rhizoctonia solani populations across Australia’s grain growing regions – research that was previously limited by uncertainty around the relationship between the fungus’ two genetic sets.

The new genome sequence also supports further research into how the fungus causes bare patch disease in di erent crops and guides the development of smarter crop management strategies to reduce its impact.

Projects will focus on increasing demand and sales of sheep meat domestically and abroad. Image: Scott Donkin/stock. adobe.com

farmers, producers and exporters to build stronger business-to-business industry relationships.

“Our sheep industry is a proud and important part of our agricultural sector, which is why we continue to support them to diversify their trade and mitigate the impact of change as we transition away from live sheep exports by sea,” federal agriculture minister Julie Collins says.

“We want WA sheep farmers and those associated with the industry to bene t from new markets and the growing sheep meat export opportunities before us, which is exactly what this funding supports.

“These grants will bene t the Australian sheep, agriculture, food and bre industries by helping to diversify markets for sheep and broader agri-food products to the Middle East and North Africa region.”

Budget goals

The National Farmers Federation has revealed its pre-budget wish list, highlighting 20 areas of longterm investment

New National Farmers Federation president Hamish McIntyre says its pre-budget submission is focused on long-term needs rather than immediate sugar hits.

The NFF has put forward 20 priorities to help the agricultural industry achieve its stated goal of $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030.

“Australian farmers are operating in a world of rising costs and red tape, uncertain markets and extreme weather events,” McIntyre says.

“Yet, they’re still delivering close to $100 billion in production. But throw in a supply chain disruption or market shock and we’ll go backwards quickly.

“That’s why this submission is grounded in the NFF’s 2030 roadmap.

“It’s about long-term investment, not short-term sugar hits. Get the policy right and farmers will do the rest.”

The NFF’s wish list covers 20 areas across supply chains, sustainability,

Show time

Grants awarded to Victorian agricultural and pastoral societies will help ensure regional shows continue to thrive

Victoria’s Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program has provided funding to 40 recipients to support projects and activities promoting the industry, including regional shows.

The successful applicants have been granted up to $10,000 to support infrastructure development and upgrades to amenities for community use during annual agricultural shows and events – ensuring their long-term future.

The state government says Victoria’s regional shows celebrate the heart of their communities, showcasing everything from fresh produce and handmade cra , making them a must visit destination throughout the vibrant spring and summer seasons.

“Our shows are a wonderful showcase of Victoria’s agricultural sector, playing an

Reinstating the Roads of Strategic Importance program is a major NFF request. Image: IKT224 / stock.adobe.com

workforce, innovation and tax settings, which are designed to be funded across multiple years.

The biggest request is for $4 billion over four years to reinstate the Roads of Strategic Importance program, which the NFF says will improve freight routes holding back productivity and safety.

Other billion-dollar requests include $2 billion over four years to support implementation of Nature Repair Methodologies to reduce predation by invasive species, along with the same amount to support complementary measures in the Murray-Darling Basin.

NFF also seeks $2.2 billion over ve years of reduced tax receipts to extend and increase the instant asset write-o to $150,000 and until June 30, 2027.

The wish list also calls for $100 million to support market access and boost diversi cation and productivity, along with $50 million to implement the National Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan.

A further $50 million to provide a

national, industry-led approach to improve farmers’ wellbeing and prevent suicides is also sought, as is $20 million to develop Australian Carbon Credit Units and other emissions-reducing technologies and practices.

Other NFF requests include $3 million over four years to support the Ag Trade Apprenticeship, along with $1 million over two years to investigate the government’s role in facilitating succession planning on family farms.

McIntyre says these budget requests are designed to ensure Australian agriculture can keep delivering bene ts for the whole nation.

“These are sharp, targeted investments that deliver bene ts well beyond the farm gate,” he says.

“With the right support, agriculture can keep growing Australia’s economy, strengthening regional communities and safeguarding our food security.

“Our message to government is simple: invest in Australian agriculture, and you invest in Australia’s future.”

The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society received $10,000 to install new cattle enclosures. Image: ElitProd/stock.adobe.com

important part in keeping communities connected and engaged,” Victorian agriculture minister Ros Spence says.

“Helping regional communities thrive is at the heart of these grants.”

The Myrtleford and District Agricultural and Pastoral Society will use their $10,000 grant to upgrade the indoor area of the cattle pavilion, while Sunbury Agricultural Society will use their similar grant to increase storage space and provide livestock with more shelter.

The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral

Society received $10,000 to install new cattle enclosures, while the Royal Geelong Agricultural and Pastoral Society was awarded $7,350 to repair the sheep pavilion roof at the Geelong Showgrounds – improving facilities and enhancing the experience for visitors.

The Rochester Agricultural and Pastoral Association secured a $10,000 grant to install new grandstand seating, creating more space for locals and visitors to enjoy the excitement of shows in comfort and style.

Lending a hand

Eligible drought-a ected farming businesses in South Australia will be able to access nancial assistance through low-interest loans of up to $250,000

A new nancial assistance measure, the SA Drought Loan Scheme, has been announced for South Australia’s droughta ected grain and livestock producers, allowing loans of up to $250,000 with a loan term of 10 years.

Recipients would be granted a two-year loan repayment holiday in which no principal or interest payments need to be made. This will give eligible farmers in the state’s Murray Mallee, Riverland and

Upper North regions assistance as they recover farm cash ow due to ongoing drought impact.

Loans will have concessional interest rates for the rst two years at 50 per cent of the Commonwealth 10-year bond rate (currently 2.41 per cent). During the last eight years of the loan term the rate would be based on the 10-year Commonwealth bond rate (currently 4.83 per cent).

Over the life of a 10-year loan term, this

South Australia’s Murray Mallee, Riverland and Upper North regions have been impacted by ongoing drought conditions. Image: mastersky/stock.adobe.com

will be lower than the concessional interest rate of 5.18 per cent currently o ered under the Australian Government’s Regional Investment Corporation loan scheme and commercial interest rates.

“Many areas of our state have received welcome rains and are on the road to recovery from the drought, but there are some where very little has changed,” South Australian primary industries and regional development minister Clare Scriven says.

“Areas such as the Murray Mallee, Riverland and Upper North have continued to su er from drought and are facing signi cant challenges for the coming season.

“Providing access to working capital on discounted terms will support farmers while farm cash ow is recovering, including no need to make payments during the rst two years.”

The program will open in March and be o ered through to December 31, 2026.

The On-Farm Carbon Advice project’s core objective is to help farmers transition towards a low-emissions future. Image: Greg Brave/stock.adobe.com

nancial year, covering activities such as livestock management, cropping, fertiliser use, plant protection products, fuel, and energy

• Emission intensity: an estimate of emission intensity, representing the emissions associated to the farm’s primary agricultural products such as emissions per kilogram of beef, sheep or wool or tonne of wheat

Emission pro les

The On-Farm Carbon Advice project’s core objective is to help farmers transition towards a low-emissions future by building capacity to manage carbon within

Plans are designed to help farmers baseline their emissions, understand where they are coming from, and what carbon farming practices they can implement across various types of properties, including extensive livestock, dairy and mixed farming systems.

Each of these tailored plans includes:

• Emission pro le: a detailed breakdown of on-farm emissions for a calendar or

• Mitigation strategies: information on practical options for emissions avoidance, reduction, and carbon sequestration, tailored to each farm’s capabilities and land potential

• Natural asset mapping: mapping of the farm’s natural assets, including soil carbon stocks, and woody vegetation and where plantation projects could occur to sequester carbon.

“Farmers from diverse agricultural sectors, including dairy, extensive beef, sheep, wool, and mixed farming, have already bene ted from these plans,” NSW agriculture minister Tara Moriarty says.

“The project has received positive feedback from farmers, who have highlighted the value of personalised guidance and the practical, actionable insights these plans provide, o en leading to more e cient enterprises.”

New brand

CEA has announced a major change to its product lineup across multiple states

Sany excavators will now be distributed by CEA in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

CEA says acquiring the Sany distribution rights aligns with the company’s wider business strategy and supports its overall desire for growth across key market segments.

“Over the past six years CEA has opened three new multi-million dollar purposebuilt facilities in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, diversi ed our product o ering and now with the addition of Sany to the portfolio will strengthen our line up with an extensive range of excavators ranging

from one to 90 tonnes,” CEA CEO Hylton Taylor says.

“For CEA it was critical we partnered with a brand which understood the customer segment, could deliver quality products and has a strong focus on future industry needs ensuring the machines of tomorrow can meet the ever-growing demands of the core customer base.”

CEA says the addition of Sany to its portfolio strengthens its well-established footprint across the country and enhances its ability to support a diverse range of customers with a broad equipment o ering.

The agreement between Sany and CEA was signed in December. Image: CEA

It believes its new product line up is “both class-leading and competitively priced, aligning perfectly to the needs of the mature Australian market”.

Sany was founded in 1989 and has research and development centres and manufacturing plants in countries including China, USA, Germany, India and Brazil.

“Sany is proud to partner with an Australian owned business that has the size and scale of CEA,” Putzmeister’s Asia Paci c CEO Michael SchmidLindenmayer says.

“CEA’s extensive history in the market o ers a strong sales channel; with local insights and market knowledge that will be critical to the long-term success of the Sany brand.”

CEA has previously been the distributor of JCB machinery, however the manufacturer has announced it will be distributing directly to the Australian market from later this year.

Sany CEA has commenced operations from January, with product expected to arrive across CEA branches from last month.

Rocky River Ag Services

Building workforce

New research aims to deepen understanding of the dynamics which in uence labour and skills shortages in some of Australia’s key agricultural regions

AgriFutures Australia, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, has launched a new initiative to help tackle one of the biggest challenges facing Australian agriculture – building a stronger and more sustainable regional workforce.

The Strategic Analysis of Regional Workforce Pressures in Australian Agriculture project will explore workforce issues across the Riverina, Wide Bay, southeast Perth, Murray-Darling and Swan Hill and Toowoomba Darling Downs.

The project will gather insights through

surveys and stakeholder interviews, then bring together government and industry to discuss.

These ndings aim to help build a greater understanding of workforce issues for government and industry.

AgriFutures Australia general manager of rural futures Simon Vincent says the project is grounded in listening to regional communities.

“Every region has its own story, its own strengths and challenges,” Vincent says.

“Agriculture is one of Australia’s most innovative industries, contributing billions

The project will gather insights through surveys and stakeholder interviews. Image: Pixel-Shot/stock.adobe.com

to the national economy and o ering exciting career opportunities. Yet labour and skills shortages and uneven access in some sectors strain regional production systems.

“We want to make sure every part of the workforce ecosystem, from training providers to employers and councils, is part of the study.”

Community members, workers, employers and organisations across the regions are invited to take part in the upcoming surveys and consultation sessions being held.

AgriFutures Australia says their input will help shape a stronger, more resilient agricultural workforce for the future.

Community members can complete the survey online, with a nal report due to be provided in mid-2026.

Education boost

Construction has begun on a new agricultural training facility in New South Wales

Richmond Agricultural Centre will open in a new permanent location for students from the start of next year, the New South Wales state government has announced.

Currently using temporary facilities at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus where it is co-located, it will have a permanent location on the site in time for the 2027 school year.

It will cater for about 360 students from kindergarten to year 12, the state government says, and facilities will include modern classrooms, ve science labs, farming facilities, a greenhouse, multipurpose hall, canteen, administration facilities, and covered outdoor learning area.

“Richmond Agricultural Centre o ers agricultural and STEM learning

HAY EQUIPMENT

opportunities to students, with partnered learning experiences with academia and industry, preparing the next generation of scientists, agribusiness and data experts, agriculturalists and innovators to meet the challenges of a changing landscape, from sustainability to food security and emerging technologies,” principal Kristine Beazley says.

The centre is partnered with Richmond High School, providing students from across western Sydney with access to resources, facilities, partnerships and programs which are already in place at the university.

Agricultural STEM selective and specialty students will attend the centre three days per week and Richmond High School for the other two days.

KRONE COMPRIMA V150XC Only17000 bales.Intop conditionandwill suitcontractorright downtosingle farm.S880. TA1302665. $49,990

KUBOTASVL65-2 PressurizedAirCon Cab.EasyOpen, SlidingFront Window,Work lights,MirrorKit, HydraulicQuick Coupler.S872. TA1293996. $94,990

KUBOTAL3600D GoodstrongLoader tractor,Runsand driveswell,GP bucket,Roofand ROPS,Goodtyres, PTOand3point linkage,Kubota4 cylinderdiesel.S873. TA1294455. $24,990

KUBOTARTV500 Lowhourandhard tofindRTV500. Reliabilityandease ofmaintenance withthismachine. S879. TA1299925. $14,990

KUBOTAGL9000 GENERATOR, 8.8KVAOUTPUT, SINGLEPHASE,3 15AMP(240V) OUTLETS,28 LITRETANK CAPACITY.S712. TA1177858. $14,435

KUBOTAB21 GenuineKubotafront endloaderbackhoe, 3rangehydrostatic, Powersteering,4 postROPS,Industrial tyres,Verystrong, Pivotseat,4in1 bucket.S876. TA1297306. $29,990

Acting NSW education minister

Courtney Houssos says the centre will be a “game changer” for students pursuing careers in agriculture industry, while skills and tertiary education minister Steve Whan says it is a great example of what can be achieved when secondary and tertiary education comes together.

“The new Richmond Agricultural Centre will have a strong focus on transitional farming practices between urban and regional areas, which is important for food security and economic development now more than ever,” Whan says.

“Having the centre co-located at the WSU Hawkesbury campus will also help provide students with clear career pathways into the agricultural sector.”

KUBOTAM110GX INSTOCKNOW!!!!! Intelli-Shift Transmission24/24, Hydraulicshuttle, Bi-Speedturn. S874. TA1294468. $127,453

KUBOTAB2630HD Greatcondition B2630HD,26HP KubotaDiesel,3 rangehydrostatic tractor,60"Mid mountshaftdriven deck.S854. TA1271536. $22,900

KUBOTAM135GX Justarrived,135HP withStollProfiline FZ45Loader, Bi-speedturn electronic4wdwith difflock,Intellishift 24/24powershift transmission.S875. TA1295062. $99,990

New detection

Satellite imagery and arti cial intelligence have been found to be e ective tools in detecting two invasive weed species

A research project conducted by two Australian universities has revealed a new method to accurately detect the invasive African lovegrass and bitou bush.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Charles Sturt University (CSU) explored the

potential for SkySat satellite imagery and AI algorithms to detect and map both of these invasive weed species.

The project fed SkySat satellite imagery of locations across New South Wales into two machine learning algorithms, with one model detecting African lovegrass with 89.9 per cent accuracy and bitou bush with 86.1 per cent accuracy.

Detecting these species, particularly African lovegrass, can be complicated and expensive due to infestations occurring at large scales and in mixed landscapes.

African lovegrass is described as a highly invasive perennial grass which contributes signi cantly to the $4 billion required annually for direct control of all agricultural and environmental weeds.

Bitou bush has been identi ed by the Australian Government as a Weed of National Signi cance and is an aggressive shrub which invades coastal dune vegetation and smothers native plants.

CDU spatial analyst and co-author Glen Shennan says this new method could become a critical component in detecting and monitoring these invasive plants

“If we can make drones and satellites

work, it can cut down the cost enormously and you can do this repeatedly to see where the species are spreading,” he says.

“You can identify vulnerable areas you want to prevent these species from spreading to, and you can direct management funds and mitigation funds to where it’s most needed.”

Shennan also describes African lovegrass as being “opportunistic” and says the di culty in identifying it makes these results a signi cant breakthrough.

“There’s a lot of work going into managing it, but it is herbicide resistant and the only thing that will kill it, it adapts to very quickly,” he says.

“It’s very fast growing, and grows whenever the weather is right, especially in droughty summers. It likes disturbed ground so if you have a re come through, it’s the rst thing that will come back.

“It looks a lot like poa tussock when it’s young. Even experienced botanists have trouble di erentiating the two, which is where satellites and some types of drones come in. They can identify di erent colours we can’t see, and with this we hope we can identify its growth patterns.”

ROTARY HOES

FIXED AND FOLDING MACHINES

1.5 TO 12 METRE WORKING WIDTH

GEARBOXES TO 600HP

POWER HARROWS

FIXED AND FOLDING

MACHINES

1.4 TO 9 METRE WORKING WIDTH

GEARBOXES TO 400HP

STONE BURIERS

FIXED AND FOLDING MACHINES

1.3 TO 7.7 METRE WORKING WIDTH

GEARBOXES TO 400HP

STONE CRUSHERS

1 METRE TO 3.7 METRE WORKING WIDTH

WORKING DEPTH TO 70CM

FORESTRY BRUSH CUTTERS AND MULCHERS

1 METRE TO 3.5 METRE WORKING WIDTH

WORKING DEPTH TO 50CM

TOSCANOMULCHERH/D 2023,H/Dconstruction,doubleorsinglesidelinkage, optionalhydraulicsideshift,sizesfrom1.5to4mtr

SAMMUTTRUCKTRAYS H/DAustralianmade.3mmor5mmfloor.Custombuild. Chassismodifications.Newandusedtrucksavailable. S360. TA1025472.

SAMMUTHARDOXTIPPERBODIES H/Dbuild. Onepiecesides,2waygate.Optionalwell hoistortwinunderbody.Optionaldropsides.Custom build.Colourofchoice.Sandblastedandfinishedin

UNITEDIMPLEMENTS(USA)NEWTRAILINGBOX GRADERMADEINUSA 2022,MadeinUSA,heavydutybuild Hydraulicliftwheels,hydraulicangleadjustment 1800mmto3600mm.S363. TA1025493. Pricefrom$6,900+GST

GEARMASTERTRAILINGTURFMOWER 2020,Buydirectfromthemanufacturerandsave.We havebeenmanufacturingmowersinAustralia for over 25years!Australianmade,onepiecestainlessdeck, fullgeardrive,stainlessdeck,75HPgearboxes,3plor trailing,sizesfrom1.5mtrto12mtr,suitable for Turf farms,golfcourses,councils,contractorsandmore. S364. TA1025498.

Pricefrom$17,000+GST

SAMMUTSPREADKING5000ORCHARD/VINEYARD SPREADER 2020,H/DAustralianbuild,frontorreardelivery.Sizes from2m3to18m3,optionaltelescopicconveyor, optionalendrotororendspinner,custombuilttosuit

SAMMUTMILLMUDSPREADERS,AUSTRALIAN MADE 2020,H/DAustralianmade Fullhydraulicdrive,singleor3row Frontfeed,Singleordoubleaxle,optionalrear spinners Sizesfrom8m3to30m3.S365. TA1025500.

Pricefrom$28,000+GST

TOSCANOSTONEBURIEREXTRAHEAVYDUTY

2020,Extraheavyduty Hydraulicliftroller,geardrive Anti-panblades 2200mmto3200mm.S369. TA1025532. Pricefrom$17,900+GST

SAMMUTSPREADERS

2020,H/DAustralianmade,fullhydraulicdrive Wecancustombuild.Optionalfrontfeed Optionalsidedelivery.Chainorbeltfloor Sizesfrom2m3to30m3.S367. TA1025524.

Pricefrom$18,000+GST

TOSCANOSPEEDDISC 2022,Buydirectfromtheimporterandsave! Heavyduty,Hydraulicliftcrumbleroller,560mmdiscs ,3plandtrailing,2.5mtrto6mtr(trailing).S368. TA1025525.

Pricefrom$13,900+GST

FIMAKSVERTICALFEEDMIXERS

2020,Hardenedbinandfloor,H/DComerItalian gearboxes,sizesfrom3m3to30m3,scales,incab controls,ptionalfoldingconveyorwithoptionallength, reductionbox.S371. TA1025537. From$25,000+GST

FIMAKS18TONE,TWINVERTICLEBEATER,MULCH /MUCKSPREADERS

2022,BuyDirectfromtheimporterandsave!From5 toneto30tone,heavyDutyconveyorchain,slurrydoor, incabcontrols,twinverticalbeaterswithbottom spinner,suitable for allyourhardtospreadproducts etcWetcowmanure,mulch,greenwasteetc,18TONE MACHINE(ASPICTURED).S373. TA1025543. From$69,000+GST

For more info please visit us at www.sammut.com.au

$7,500INCGST

SOUTHERNCROSSPORTABLEPUMPTRAILERAG1PDIESELENGINE SouthernCrossPortablePumponTrailer,4 CylinderAirCooled,ModelAG1PDieselEngine.6764. TA1039939.

$9,500INCLGST

BONNEBYSCHWARZESE6TROADBROOM/SWEEPER diesel,yearapprox2013,vinno:6T9T26ABLD09P9005,with books,servicehistory&controller,lowhours.7316. TA1219701.

$11,850INCLGST

REDROOTRAILERMODELTT750 RedRooTrailer,Model TT750,axleloadcapacity750kgs,withtilttray,vinno: 6T9T26V97EDATP044.7475. TA1301631. $1,450INCLGST

rearwheelweights(optional),approximately42 horsepower, RedRooTrailer, Model TT750,axleloadcapacity750kgs,withtilttray,vin no:

MASSEYFERGUSON135TRACTOR3CYLINDERPERKINS DIESEL 2wheeldrive,3cylinderPerkinsdiesel,rollframe, rearwheelweights(optional),approximately42horsepower, tyres80%nocracks.7422. TA1254042. $9,850INCLGST

Tractor,2wheeldrive,ROPS,23pointlinkage,power steering,tyres85%nocracks,approximately44 horsepower.7466. TA1283662.

Tractor,2wheeldrive,ROPS,23pointlinkage, power diesel,yearapprox2013,vinno:6T9T26ABLD09P9005, with

MASSEYFERGUSON240TRACTOR MasseyFerguson240

CONNORSHEASEEDERS ConnorShea18 row seeders, linkage&trailed,super&seedboxes,readytogo (2OF)$14,900/$15,650.7107. TA1141898. POA

$24,950INCLGST

$3,950INCLGST

SILVANFIREFIGHTERUNIT SilvanFirefighterUnit, approximately700ltrwithsuctionhosetofillfromdam, HondaGX160motor,asnew.7396. TA1251170.

SilvanFirefighter Unit, approximately700ltrwithsuctionhosetofillfrom dam,

JOHNSHEARERFEEDOUTCART(08)83238795 hydraulic drive,loadingforks.7088. TA1132517. $3,800INCLGST

&roof,2,300hoursasindicated.7351.

3230TractorwithBenWyeKBF3000FrontForkAttachment with

3230TractorwithBenWyeKBF3000FrontForkAttachmentwith Forks,4wheeldrive,60horsepowerapprox,3pointlinkage,rollframe &roof,2,300hoursasindicated.7351. TA1227753.

CASEIH3230TRACTORWITHFRONTFORKATTACHMENT

suspensionwithTieman300kgtailgateloaderwithhandcontrolsModelTC501M, serialno:052048901 PALLETFORKNOTINCLUDED.4118.TA293006. $3,950INCGST

suspensionwithTieman300kgtailgateloaderwithhandcontrolsModel TC501M,

TREG8X5BOXTRAILER approx1999kgs,4wheelelectricbrakeswith breakaway,950mmhighstockcrate,jockeywheel,rearheavydutywinddown stabiliserlegs,notregisteredYGH507, vin no:6T9T2000S522DR060,7leafrock&roll

approx1999kgs,4wheelelectricbrakes with

$11,500INCLGST

$11,500INCL GST

TA1160700.

Compressor,3.7bar/54psi,90CFM,approximately344 hoursindicated$11,500ASIS,TIDYUPPRICEEXTRA.7142.

ATLASCOPCOXAS90COMPRESSOR AtlasCopcoXAS90

TA1227757. $19,950INCLGST

$19,950INCL GST

JOHNDEEREZ997RZTRAKRIDEONMOWER d.7353.

$9,500INCL GST

orvineyards,3pointlinkage,workingwidth1500mm,hydraulic sideshift.7303. TA1206534. $9,500INCLGST

HOESPLUSASELECTIONOFOTHERROTARYHOESIN STOCK.

LARGERANGEOFHOWARD ROTARY

$43,900INCLGST HOWARDROTARYHOES LARGERANGEOFHOWARDROTARY

drive,ROPS&Roof,91horsepowerapproximately,PTO,approximately 1,968hoursindicated,3pointlinkage.7073. TA1125206.

FrontEndLoader,4.1bucket,yearapproximately2005-2008,4 wheel

NH Gehl & Tiki

Rollers (Cambridge), culti packers, stones & tyre)

7' to 28'. PTO hammermills, roller mills, grain gristers. From $595 3PL, 5-9 tine trail, 8-14 tine chisel ploughs From $795

Irrigation pipes, pumps & motors, travelling irrigators. Scoops, 3PL, silt blades, carryalls and rippers.

2nd hand tractor tyres, belt pulleys, PTO From $195 2nd hand new tines Augers, 50' x 6" & 8", pencil 14' x 4" new and 2nd hand.

Harrows all types From $45

Boom sprays, 3PL, Hardi and Silvan, 400 & 600ltr.

Power Harrows 3PL Lely 15' Crump (Kurrajong 1000) 1 tonne trailing

Manure-lime & super spreaders Super spreaders ground drive, ½ - 4.5 tonne. 9' Roto wiper, new & secondhand Vicon spreaders 10 to 30 bag, Hardi 1200 ltr boomspray trail, foam & PTO.

OFFSET/DISC PLOUGHS Grizzly 20 424 disc Gibbons Rawlings 28 plate SCARIFIERS & TILLERS Ferguson scarifiers 3PL 19 tyne Bagshaw scarifier towable SHEEP AND CATTLE

Feeders (hay & grain) Cattle Scales

Feedout bins and trailers. Shearing plants, grinders, lamb cradles, handlers, wool pressers, bail heads, crushes, wool tables, hyd  woolpress.

SLASHERS

8’ slasher 3PL (superior) 2.3 high body Nobili mulcher

TRAILERS

HYD Tipping 10' x 6'

Freighter 4 wheel trailer

Tipping trailer 8' x 6' From $975

TRACTORS

Ford 3000, 45hp, 3PL, P-Steer. FE Loader. Fergie TEA20 petrol

MCLEOD5FT 2023,Near-New. heavydutycustombuilt McleodSlasher.5ft,Lessthan 100Hours,NA.NSW. DIY1290852. 0405 537 143. $5,500IncGST

REDROOCMS80 TheCMS80 willchipmaterialupto80mm (3)indiameter.Leavesand smallerbranches are processedthroughthe mulcher hopper., 6T9T26V97A0ATP052.VIC. DIY1297083. 0433 770 868. $5,000

ABBEYVF1250SD Excellant conditionAbbey12m3Mixer wagon,workshopchecked, brandnewsetofknives.Suit newbuyer.Ex Melbourne, D64007.VIC. DIY1291856. 0458 978 231. $66,000

SUPERNOVATD3.0-190

SupernovaTripleDisc/ No-Till/DirectSeedDrill Heavydutyspecification meetsaffordability.Astimes andconditionschangesotoo are yourpractices,N/A. QLD. DIY1297112. 0422 469 893. $55,000(Excl.GST)

REDEARTH24ROW RedEarth 24 row discseederwith additionalsmallseedbox. 3.6mworkingwidth15cm spacing.Greatmachine. Proudlyimported by Nufarm Machinery, anindependent machinerydealerlocatedin thecentralwest,1.NSW. DIY1302020. 0408 781 488. $28,000

AGRISONFRONTENDLOADER 2010,3pointbackhoe.4in1bucket-allasnew condition.Hardlyeverused.Only300hours. Alwayskeptingarage. Top buy.Firsttoseewill buy.Bestbuyforthisprice,..VIC. DIY1286657. 0416 136 256. $29,000

JOHNDEERE6330 2012,I'm sellingmytractor,comes withhayforks.Idon'tneedit now. Done6600hours.Itisa autotransmission. Very good tractor,lo6330p587358.SA. DIY1294137. 0473 803 567. $50,000

CONNORSHEA16RCSN DRILL ConnorShea8000 Series ExcellentCondition,Always Shedded Bothseedandfertiliserboxes Withsparedeliverybuckets, 169646.NSW. DIY1288118. 0412 675 666. $12,000

VERSATILE620DT 2019,CheckoutthisusedVersatile 620DT!ImmaculateCondition! 575Hp(620Hpmax) -CumminsQSX15LTier3engine -3,446Nmpeaktorque - CAT TA2216x4Powershift transmission -416L/minhydraulicpumpwith6 electrohydraulicremotes -18,800Ldieseltank -Front&Reardifferentiallock -DeluxcabwithAgCabsuspension, -Trimblesetup -30"tracks

Hours:3973

Contact0431075312-Unitbeingheld inYatala,QLD,BVA1821017.QLD. DIY1254382. 0431 075 312. $330,000

WANTED TO BUY TRACTORS FOR WRECKING

CASE

585, 595, 685, 695, 800, 830, 832, 870 2WD, 885, 895, 900, 930, 932, 956, 970, 1030, 1032, 1070, 1194, 1270, 1370, 1390, 1394, 1594, 1690, 2090, 2094, 2096, 2290, 2290, 2294, 2390, 2394, 2470, 2590, 2594, 2670, 2870, 3394, 3594, 4230, 4496, 4694, 4994, 7110, 7210, CVX 170, CX60, MAGNUM 275, MAGNUM 290, MAGNUM 305, MX80C, MX255, MX285, PUMA, STX 375 QUADTRACK, STX425, STX440 QUADTRACK, STX450, STX485, STX500

CASE IH

1896, 4690, 4890, 4894, 5120, 5130, 5140, 5150, 7120, 7130, 7140, 7150, 7220, 7230, 7240, 7250, 8910, 8920, 8930, 8940, 8950, 9130, 9150, 9170, 9180, 9250, 9260, 9280, 9350, 9370 QUADTRACK, 9380 QUADTRACK, 9390, MX90, MX130, MX135, MX150, MX230, MX240, MX200, MX220, MXM175, MX270, MXM190, STX375, STX440, STX480

CATERPILLAR

CHALLENGER SERIES – 35, 45, 55, 65, 65C, 75, 75C, 75E, 85C, 85D, 95E, 65E TRACK MACHINE, MT765D, MT765C, MT865C

FORD

3000, 3610, 4000, 4600, 4610, 5000, 5610, 5640, 6000, 6600, 6610, 6700, 6810, 7000, 7600, 7700, 7710, 7840, 8000, 8210, 8230, 8340, 8401, 8600, 8700, 9000, 9600, 9700,, TW5, TW10, TW15, TW20, TW25, TW30

INTERNATIONAL

385, 414, 434, 444, 484, 514, 554, 564, 574, 585, 624, 660, 674, 686, 696, 706, 756,766, 786, 856, 866, 885, 886, 956, 976, 986, 1056, 1066, 1086, 1256, 1466, 1468, 1486, 1566, 1568, 1586, 3288, 3388, 3588, 3688, 3788, 4166, 4186, 4366, 4386, 4568, 4586, 4786, 5088, 5288, 5488, 6388, 6588, 6788, 844S, AW6, AW7, AWD6, AWD7, B250, B275, W6, W7,

JOHN DEERE

950, 1050, 1130, 1140, 1640, 1750, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040, 2120, 2130, 2140, 2250, 2450, 2650, 2850, 3010, 3020, 3120, 3130, 3140, 3350, 3640, 3650, 4010, 4020, 4030, 4040, 4050, 4055, 4230, 4240, 4250, 4255, 4430, 4440, 4450, 4455, 4555, 4560, 4620, 4630, 4640, 4650, 4755, 4760, 4840, 4850, 4955, 4960, 5010, 5020, 5310, 5515, 5300, 6030, 6110, 6170R, 6200, 6220, 6300, 6310, 6320, 6330, 6400, 6410, 6620, 6630 Premium, 6810, 6820, 7210, 7330, 7510, 7520, 7600, 7610, 7700, 7800, 7810, 7920, 7930, 8100, 8200, 8230, 8285R, 8300, 8310, 8320R, 8330, 8345RT, 8360RT, 8370RT, 8400, 8400 TRACK, 8410, 8430, 8440, 8450, 8520, 8520T, 8530, 8630, 8640, 8650, 8760, 8770, 8850, 8960, 8970, 9400, 9410R, 9420T, 9430T

NEW HOLLAND

7840, 8430, 8560, 8870, 8970, 9482, 9682, 9860, 9880, 9882, 9482, 9484, G210, G240, L85, L95, T6020, T7030, TG230, TG235, TG255, TG285, TJ375, TJ425, TJ450, TL70, TL90, TM125, TM135, TM195, TN55D, TN95F, TS100, TS100A, TS110A, TS125A, T9060

STEIGER

KP525, KP 1350, KP1325, KP1400, BEARCAT 3 & 4, COUGAR 2 & 4 CM250, PANTHER 2, PANTHER 3 ST310 & ST325, PANTHER 4 CM325, TIGER ST470,

VERSATILE

500, 700, 800, 835, 836, 855, 875, 895, 900, 935, 945, 946, 950, 956, 975, 976, 1150, 1156

ISOLOADERHL-PC-35

Two(2)ISOLOADERPrecastConcreteHandlingRubberTyreGantriesbuyoneorbothfortandemliftandtraveleachwithSWL35,000kg.R3696R3697. TA1222670. POA ISOLOADER21

TheIsoloader21isastraddledesignedtoliftandtransport32,000kg,6mand27,000kg 12mISOcontainersfromroadtransportvehiclesandplacethemontheground.(Filephotoasexample)Twoavailable.R3621. TA1061595. $100,000EaPlusGST

www.flt.com.au

HYSTERH18.00XM-12 withforkpositioningsideshiftcarriage, 2440mmforks,Cumminsengine,fullyenclosed airconditionedcab-Option20x40sideliftcont. frame.R3632. TA1124211.

POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

2010,lowhoursandingreatconditionwithMichelin XZMradialtyres,forkpositioningsideshiftand 2,440mmForks.R3525. TA730601. ForSaleorHirePOAPh:1800688788toInspect

200811,740kg4500mmlift,sideshiftcarriageand 2440mmforks.HireorBuyFreeCall1800688788. R3405. TA369982. POA

6newContinentaltyres,Cummins6CTenginethis budgetpricedforkliftisreadyforwork.Option20'or 20x40toppickcontainerspreaders..R3712. TA1216675.

ForSaleorHirePh1800688788POA

KALMARDRT450-65S

2013,Stacksladen20x40containers5high.Cummins QSM11dieselengine.Dana15.5HR36000XMSN. H10300280. TA1153805. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

2006,Cumminsengine.WideForkPositioningSideshift Carriagewouldsuitlongloadse.g.pipe.R3689. TA1216676. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

KALMARDRT450

2014,SOLD-AnotherAvailable.Only11081hourswith originalCumminsengine.Stack45,000kg1st row 31,000kg2ndrow.ReadyNow.R3603. TA998021. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

OMEGA16-12W

IdealfurnitureremovalistsolutionRated12,000kgwith ELME558sidesliftabletostackuptofourhigh20and 40footcontainers..353AUFL443. TA1154000. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

2006,HardtofindTerminalTractorwithelevating5th wheelforquick&safetrailermarshaliingwithoutneed todismountcab.S116. TA1276949. $59,800

2008,stacks12,000kghighcube20'&40'3high.ELME 55820x40spreaderwithtopentrytwistlocks.Frontline unitreadynow.R3547. TA829125. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

PRENTICE7,000KGSWL forklifttruckramps(8)topickfrom.Idealforshipping containers.Forsaleorhire.R3274. TA96974. $12,000+GST=$13,200ForSaleorHire

GENIEGS3268RT

4WDdiesel.Recently 10yearinspected,new paint,goodreliable machine.S35.

$25,000+GST

SNORKELPRO126 126ftstraightstick boom,diesel,4WD, workingheight40.2m, goodworking condition.S36. $30,000+GST

SNAPPYHEAVY

DUTY

Scaffold.S2. $550+GST

JLG43FTRTSELF LEVELLINGDIESEL SCISSORLIFT VeryGoodValuefor money,tidymachine, stillworkinginour rentalfleet.S27.

$30,000+GST

SNORKELTB47J

4WDTB47JDZ TelescopicBoomLift, 10YearInspected, HydraulicGenerator, Diesel,Veryreliable machine..S39. $35,000+GST

SNORKELTB42JDZ 42fttelescopicboom lift.4WDDiesel.S30. $15,000+GST

HAULOTTE COMPACT14

2014,12melectric scissorliftverypopular unit.14mworking height.1unitavailable. S21. $6,000+GST

SNORKEL MHP13/35

2012,TrailerMounted articulatedboomlift featuresasafeandstable workingheightofupto 12.6m.Stillinhirefleet, verygoodcondition.S38.

$20,000+GST

GENIEGS1932 GenieGS1932Electric Scissorlift.S29. $4,000+GST

SKYJACK3219 2015,SkyJack3219 scissorlift,10year inspected,electric, 5.8mplatformheight. S40. $7,500+GST

Engage-Ag has strategically expanded into materials handling, having been named the o cial Bobcat Forkli s dealer for the Toowoomba region

Li Equipt has appointed Engage-Ag as the o cial Bobcat Forkli s dealer for Queensland’s Toowoomba region, strengthening Bobcat’s presence across one of the state’s most active agricultural and industrial centres.

As the exclusive Australian distributor of Bobcat Forkli s and Portable Power products, Li Equipt supplies a full range of materials-handling equipment from compact 1.6-tonne units through to heavyduty 25-tonne machines.

The partnership will help expand access to Bobcat’s globally trusted forkli s for customers across southern Queensland.

Engage-Ag, a respected agricultural and machinery supplier based in Toowoomba, has built a strong reputation for dependable service, practical expertise and long-standing ties to the Darling Downs community.

Its appointment as an authorised Bobcat forkli dealer marks a strategic expansion into materials handling, enabling Engage-Ag to serve an even wider customer base.

Engage-Ag co-director Michael Cook says the team was enthusiastic about the opportunity.

“We are extremely excited to align with a globally trusted brand like Bobcat,” he says.

“Their reputation for quality and durability is unmatched, we’re proud to represent the Bobcat Forkli s range in the Toowoomba region.”

Engage-Ag co-director Sam Borchardt adds the move ts neatly into Engage-Ag’s long-term strategy for business growth.

“Our business has been looking to diversify, and adding materials handling brings an entirely new customer base while remaining highly complementary

to our existing operations,” he says.

Li Equipt CEO Brett Johnston says Engage-Ag is the perfect partner to support Bobcat’s expansion into the region.

“The team at Engage-Ag are great, with long-standing community ties. We are excited about the long-term partnership,” he says.

Johnston adds the timing is ideal given the rising demand for reliable materialshandling equipment across agriculture, industry and logistics.

Customers in Toowoomba and surrounding districts will now have access to local sales, servicing and parts support for the full Bobcat Forkli s range, backed by Li Equipt’s national expertise and Engage-Ag’s strong regional presence.

To learn more, contact Engage-Ag on 07 4600 8770 or visit engage-ag.com.au

19-29 Curlew Cresc

Tamworth NSW 2340

www.philhuntparts.com.au brendan@philhuntparts.com.au

JOHNDEERE872GP JustinforDismantling,16Foot Moldboard,20.5x25TyresandRims,Sweetrunning 6090Engine,RearRippers,AllPartsAvailable,Phone Brendan0267624466.S196. TA1297688. POA

HITACHIDX175 JustinforDismantling,BullTiltBlade,Angle TiltBlade,BladeMountedTreePusher,CliponStickrake, RipperAssywithLongSeriesTyne's,ExcConditionSealed TrackswithAlligatorJoiners,8365.25Engine,AllParts Available,PhoneBrendan0267624466.S198. TA1297690. POA

The HUNT stops here

NEW AND S/H PARTS

ALLIS-CHALMERS/HANOMAG/MASSEY

JOHN DEERE INDUSTRIAL

PARTS FOR Dozers, Loaders, Drotts, Graders, Scrapers

WRECKING DOZERS

ALLIS-CHALMERS: “M”, HD5B, HD6B, HD6E, HD6G, HD7W, HD7G, HD9B, HD10W, HD11B, HD11E, HD11EC, HD11EP, HD11 Ser B, HD15,C, HD16A, HD16AC, HD16D, DC, HD16DP, HD19,20,21A, HD21B,C, HD31, HD41B

FIAT: 451C, 555, 605C, 50CI, 70CI, 8, 8B, AD10, BD10B, FD10E, AD12, 14B, 14C, BD20, DX175

HANOMAG/MASSEY: 2244, 200, 300, 3366, 400, 500, L400C, L600C, D600D Super, D700C

JOHN DEERE : 1010C, 850 LOADERS

ALLIS-CHALMERS: TL12D, TL14, TL20, 545, 605B, 645, 745B,C FIAT: FR20B

LD3, LD5, LD6, LD7 and LD9 Scoopmobile

HANOMAG/MASSEY 22,33C,44, 55, CL55C,66C-D, 77 GRADERS

ALLIS-CHALMERS: D, DD, M65, 65B, AD30-40, 45, 145, M100A, B, FG95

DRMCO/CHAMPION 562, 600, 720, 740

JOHN DEERE 570, 570A, 670, 670A, 670B, 770, 770A, 772A, 770BH, 670CH, 670D, 672GP, 770GP, 772GP

ALLIS WHEEL TRACTORS

AC D17, D19, D21, XT190, 7000, 7010, 7020, 7040, 7060, 7080, 8010, 8050, 8070, 7580, 8550, 440 ALSO AVAILABLE Track Chains, Rollers, Idlers, Sprockets Various 4-1 Buckets, POA

HYUNDAIHL760-9 Justinfordismantling,New23.5R25 Tyres,CumminsEngine,AllPartsAvailable,Phone Brendan0267624466.S197. TA1297689. POA

JOHNDEERE772GP Justinfordismantling,6Wheel Drive,14FootMoldboard,SweetRunning6090Engine, 17.5x25TyresandRimsAllRound,RearRipperAssy,All PartsAvailable,PhoneBrendanon0267624466.S191. TA1239667. POA

Allis Chalmers • Fiat Allis • Hanomag • Massey • JD Industrial

KOMATSUFB18M

$18,000+GST

1800KGCapacity.4.5MLiftHeight.3Stage ContainerMast.SideShift.LowHours.3Wheel Compact.1YearOldBattery.FullLightKit.

.R035. TA1296175. $19,800

KOMATSUFG25HT-17

$19,000+GST

2500KGCapacity.4.7MLiftHeight.3Stage ContainerMast.SideShift.NewDigitalWeight Guage.4xNewPneumaticTyres.LEDLightKit.

.R076. TA1296203. $20,900

TOYOTATG10TOWTUG

$10,000+GST

15,000KGCapacity.LPGFuelled.3Speed Transmission.Driver&PassengerSeats.Front& RearTowHitches.LEDLights.LowHours

.PO81. TA1296229. $11,000

KOMATSUFB25-12

$18,000+GST

2500KGCapacity.4.7MLiftHeight.3Stage ContainerMast.SideShift.LowHours.FullLight Kit.4YearOldBattery.95%PunctureProofTyres.

.R060. TA1296197. $19,800

KOMATSUFG30T-17

$17,000+GST

3000KGCapacity.4.5MLiftHeight.Clearview Mast.ForkPositioners.WeightGauge.FullLED LightKit.PunctureProofTyres.LPGFueled.

.R049. TA1296206. $18,700

NISSANRV02

$37,000+GST

37,000KGTowingCapacity.Automatic Transmission.Z24NissanLPGEngine.Driver ReleasedRearTowHitch.FrontTowHitch

.L067. TA1296230. $40,700

KOMATSUFB30-11

$20,000+GST

3000KGCapacity.4MLiftHeight.ClearviewMast. SideShift.PowerSteering.2YearOldBattery. SinglePointWaterSystem.FullLightKit. .R028.

KOMATSUFG35AT-16

$19,000+GST

3500KGCapacity.4.5MLiftHeight.Clearview Mast.ForkPositioners.SideShift.LPGFuelled. FullLEDLightKit.PunctureProofTyres.

.R024. TA1296213. $20,900

TOYOTATD25 From$40,000plusGST

37,000TowingCapacity.1DZ2.5LitreDiesel Engine.AutomaticTransmission.DriverReleased Rear2LevelTowHitch.FrontTowHitch

.S492. TA1296235. $44,000

QINGONGCPD20C 2012,QingongCPD20C 2-Tonne ElectricCounterbalanceForkliftExcellentCondition, SERIAL 12050720.VIC. DIY1296551. 0439 719 342. $16,489ONO

ZARMMIXERZARMMIXER StainlessSteelHeavyDuty Approx60LitreCapacityZArmMixingMachinewith Swing Away SafetyCover, Tipping MixingBin,Controlto 415V3PhaseElectricMotorandSwitch,-.VIC. 0411 317 362.

00

TOYOTA BRAVISPRINT PedestrialLowlifterTruck (electronicpalletjack).Machine was purchasedinJune 2023,anditisinasnewcondition.Ithasnotbeenused

FUJIFUJIFLOWRAPPERFW341M2 FujiMotorised StainlessSteelProductForm,FillandSealingMachine Model:FW341M2withStainlessSteelChainFeed-In Conveyor,WrappingandSealingHeads,RubberBelt OutfeedConveyor,-.VIC. DIY1285245. 0411 317 362. $35,000

UNKNOWNSANDBLASTINGPOTS Sandblastingpots. 140L.Allcompletewithhoses.Moderncontrolsmask. Excellentcondition,..NSW. DIY1283258. 0421 882 614. $2,200

SAVAGESAVAGEBROSGASFIREDMIXER SavageBros StainlessSteelGasFiredIngredientsMixingandCooking Unit,TwinCopperApprox50LitreCookingPots, RetractableMixingHead,SteelFramedMobile Treadle HydraulicPotStorageStand,Swing Away Attendants Table,Controlto415V3PhaseElectricMotorandSwitch, -.VIC. DIY1285242. 0411 317 362. $49,000

Containersanddomestructure.4x20ftHighCubeShipping containersinverygoodcondition.2xdomestructurestogivea coveredarea20ftx20ftinverygoodcondition-2yearsold.

00

SiteOffices/Toilets-Male&Female/Shower.3xPortablesiteunits. 2xOffices6.0mtrs.1xToilet4.8mtrs.Fullyaircon.Officefurniture included.Carpettilestofloorarea.Fullypoweredwithfluro lighting/switchboard.Plumbedforquickconnectionofservices. FullsecuritytowindowsanddoorsOfficesonly,0.QLD. DIY1297548. 0413 703 704. $20,000

MAGLONUTOILROASTER StainlessSteelMotorisedGas FiredNutOilRoaster,ComprisingRawNutLoadHopper, CleatedRubberBeltElevatingConveyor,Vibratory

YAMATOYAMATO YamatoDataweighVolumeWeighing, FillingandSealingMachinewithStainlessSteel VibratoryInfeedHopper,SteelFramed Bucket Elevating LoadConveyor,VolumeWeighingHeadwithMetalcheck 9MetalDetector,BagSealingandFillingHead,Rubber BeltElevating Take-Out ConveyorwithMetalcheckMetal Detector,Controlto415V3PhaseElectricMotorand SwitchWholeMountedonHeavyDutySteelFramed StandwithLadderAccessandSafetyBarricades,-.VIC. DIY1285236. 0411 317 362. $18,900

Alliance Agricultural Tyres are backed by one of the industry's most comprehensive warranties. Alliance stands by your work, season after season. Because when it comes to performance and peace of mind, we're always by your side.

AGRI STAR II

One million tyres. Five unstoppable years. AgriStar II has earned its place in elds across the globe. Trusted by farmers for its durability, traction, and performance. This milestone is more than a number; it’s a testament to the con dence growers place in Alliance.