Top 5 farm machinery news stories of 2019

Our readers loved the new product launches but even more so, they wanted to keep their finger on the pulse on local and global affairs which could affect how they operate

The year 2019 has been a tricky one. The drought has hardly loosened its grip on the country, particularly the eastern states, and the effect is felt right across the country. Dealers are struggling to offload stock from the dealership floors and tractor sales have plummeted. In a rather unexpected turn of events, baler sales went through the roof as demand for hay skyrocketed.

Having said that, Aussie farmers and rural communities are a resilient bunch and remain positive and strong in the face of adversity. Manufacturers are still releasing new products all designed to improve productivity and generally make farmers’ lives easier.

On the world stage, the global state of politics is tumultuous at best and citizens of the world are keeping a close eye on proceedings as every move world leaders make could make or break businesses both big and small.

Here are the five most read news stories of 2019 on farmmachinerysales.com.au.

5. New John Deere 6M tractors break cover

The good green and yellow never fails to turn heads or get clicks.

While the new 6M mid-range tractors released just recently weren’t exactly ground-breaking, they received a good number of upgrades which include a wider range of transmission options, a more compact size and a more comfortable cab overall.

Combined with the fact that these models sit in the most versatile 90-120hp category, it is no wonder that producers are paying close attention.

4. Miller Nitro 7000 series SP sprayers touch down

It has been a while since spraying specialist Miller Nitro released a brand new range of machines so when it finally did, producers were all ears.

Miller Nitro’s new 7000 self-propelled sprayers were unveiled to much fanfare at a dealer event late last year to replace the 6000 series models.

The new front mounted units offer 434 peak horsepower and 383 peak horsepower and better fuel efficiency compared to their predecessor models. On top of that, they come with a range of technology including automated rinsing and filling systems as well as the Miller Spray-Air system which creates optimum-sized droplets no matter the condition for a uniform application across the entire field.

3. Aussie farmers face global threat

While the largest threat most people can see facing farmers at the moment is the ongoing big dry, market researchers said there are bigger and more sinister threats lurking in the shadows ready to pounce at any time.

World economics and politics play a massive role in determining the welfare of the citizens of the world. One wrong move is enough to descend the entire economy into chaos.

Rabobank researchers said while weather plays an important part in determining the overall condition of the agricultural industry, what could really make or break the sector are external factors such as looming trade wars, a no-deal Brexit, and slowdown in the Chinese economy.

2. New Axial-Flow pays homage to IH heritage

Don’t we all love a bit of nostalgia. Whether it be games we played growing up or laughs we had with friends in the school yard, these memories never fail to tug on our heartstrings no matter how old we get.

Therefore, when Case IH came up with the brilliant idea of churning out a limited edition series of its Axial-Flow combine painted in its heritage colours, farmers young and old jumped on the idea. Some commented on how their fathers or grandfathers used to own one of those machines back in the day and even expressed interest in purchasing one of these limited edition rigs for old time’s sake.

While sporting a vintage exterior, the actual machines are anything but outdated. They sport the latest technologies including Case IH’s Cross-Flow cleaning system and residue management system.

1. New national ag machinery road transport notice takes effect

Farmers and machinery operators around the country know exactly how frustrating it is transporting their heavy equipment on public roads, especially when it involves moving machines across states due to the different regulations implemented in different regions.

In May this year, the Federal Government finally introduced a set of simplified and harmonised set of regulations across most states in the country, hence reducing plenty of red tape and headache for farmers.