Welcome to 2023!
We hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year and managed to squeeze in some R&R with the family and friends.
To state the obvious, it’s been a rather damp start to the year, in places a little too damp. In the grand scheme of things to still be having a good amount of rainfall well into January and February isn’t the worst thing in the world, as long as we get those periods in between to get some harvesting done. These short weather windows add a lot of pressure and stress right from the farmer trying to get some bales made, through to the contractors, tractor operators, field mechanics, parts and service in dealerships and of course, on the hip pocket of all the above, so let’s try and keep that in mind and not let our moods turn as foul as the weather!
There are plenty of positives out there though. Northland is still looking green, the maize crops have kicked into gear with the warmer temperatures recently and, to my somewhat untrained eye the crops look more even than usual. When we do get to cut there’s plenty of grass around and driving through the countryside, I’ve also noticed the cows are all looking in fantastic condition.
Obviously there have been some changes on the political front recently. Regardless of which side of the fence you find yourself on a change in leadership often presents some good opportunity for positive change, hopefully as we move forward the Agricultural sector finds itself looked upon a little more favourably.
Another positive is that a lot of the tractor and machinery stock we ordered last year is filtering through and much of this is at ‘pre-price rise’ pricing so there are some real bargains to be had. With the weather tracking the way it is we anticipate that there will still be plenty of use for mowers, rakes and tedders in late February and March.
Right, that’s enough from me. Try to enjoy the full water tanks, green grass, and fat cows and as my kindergarten teacher used to remind me ‘without the rain there can be no rainbow’ so it isn’t all bad!
Regards,
Team Piako
Branch - Piako Northland (Whangarei)
Role – Field Service Technician
Ivan grew up in the small town of Hikurangi, north of Whangarei. Here he spent his school years on a farm and according to Ivan this is where he got his bachelor’s degree in “how to wreck gear”.
In the early days of his career Ivan spent his nights doing the graveyard shift keeping logging trucks on the road, I guess after a while (as it would with most people) these hours got a little tedious so then Ivan moved onto learning how to fix all that gear that he grew up wrecking! Karma hey….
After a stint at a local tractor and machinery dealership Ivan worked his charm on Murray and found himself a spot at Bryant Tractors, now of course Piako Tractors Northland, and he has been a big asset.
Ivan says he quite enjoys the challenges his role offers and also the opportunity to catch up with old mates from his school days that have found their way back to the farm.
On weekends Ivan likes to hang out with his daughter, often on camping trips, visiting museums, hiking etc and judging by the photo he supplied he also does a half decent job moonlighting as a shopping centre Santa Claus when the season is right. Ivan also confesses to enjoying a quiet refreshing beverage if he’s really earned his money that week!.. can’t hold that against the man can we.
In the future Ivan hopes to do his auto electrician apprenticeship and is quite keen to do more with the harvest gear. Another thing that’s on Ivan’s wish list is a V8 Land Cruiser work truck… sorry Ivan, we’ve seen how Santa drives that sleigh mate and he just can’t be trusted in a V8!
Great to have you onboard Ivan and we appreciate the entertainment you bring to the business!
*Finance T&C’s apply, based on a 30% deposit over 36months with gst back in month 3. Offer available while stock and special finance rate is available.
HERE'S JUST A TASTE OF WHAT WE HAVE IN STOCK RIGHT NOW...
Kiwi farmers like quality that’s why we buy brands with a good reputation, are built with longevity in mind and have some features that might make our day just that little bit more comfortable. When it comes to lawn maintenance, Ferris is definitely at the top of the heap when your looking for a mower that will meet this criteria.
If you haven’t heard of Ferris, it’s a North American company and all their machines are American made, in central New York actually. Ferris have really built their name by developing machines that cater to the large acreage our American friends are used to, and of course this means a machine that will cover ground fast, and last the distance.
Standing in front of these mowers its instantly clear they are manufactured to a commercial level, the obvious heavy construction, quality of the welds stitching it all together and the showroom finish makes them a very nice-looking machine. Some features really stand out too, the large adjustable coil over suspension on several of the models is obvious, both visually and when your rear is parked in the seat. The suspension not only makes the job a lot more comfortable for the operator but also improves the quality of the cut by keeping the machine more level… not to mention not rattling the itself to pieces in the process! In fact, Ferris are so confident in this system that they put a 5year warranty on the coil overs and suspension components for unlimited hours.
Another thing you notice looking at the range is that the design is very well thought out, the fuel gauge is where you can read it, cup holders you can reach without needing to be double jointed and footrest platforms at an angle that actually suits the seating position… basic things, but they make a difference and it’s something not all manufacturers get right.
Now we all know that the Americans love an acronym, well Ferris are no different and they have their ‘iCD’ system, or in non-corporate speak ‘improved cutting deck’. Again, just from a visual aspect the cutting decks are put together very well, heavy material, proper penetrating welds and the design is well thought out with reinforced leading edges for when you inevitably find that stubborn tree root. The top of the deck is double layered for extra strength and longevity, saving the need to get the welder out to do repairs. Another thing noticeable on the deck is the width of the discharge opening, when you have weather like we are currently experiencing, and the lawn gets away on you overnight the wide opening lets you power through the grass without blockages or slowing down to a snail’s pace. The discharge chute itself is made of flexible rubber so you can get nice and close to the fence lines without worrying so much about getting hung up and doing damage to the deck.
Again, simple things that add up to make mowing the lawn as frustration free as possible.
Some Ferris models are even setup with their own dry sump system, something Ferris call ‘Oil Guard’. In simple terms, the engines oil system is in a separate reservoir which improves cooling and also allows the machine to have an easily accessible oil filter. This configuration means that service intervals increase to a huge 500hrs. This, coupled with Ferris’ standard 2+2 warranty (2years unlimited and then valid until 500hrs or 4years) makes it a pretty solid offering when you’re considering parting with your pennies
So yes, we all have more expensive things at home and on the farm but just as it is with tractors, trailers, feedout wagons and sprayers buying a quality item comes out so much cheaper in the long run… not to mention saving the neighbours having to listen to a whole lot of expletives when the old mower has just jammed up for the 10th time that afternoon!
Checkout the range of Ferris mowers in one of our branches near you or have a bit more of a read here on their website here.
Happy mowing folks.
Rural Shoutout
If you have any local rural community events, feel free to send them through to be listed in our next newsletter. We would love to help our customers promote any fundraising events, working bees or other important community notices. Email the details to chrisb@piako.co.nz and be sure to add the full details of the event including location, date and any weblinks we can use. Space will be limited so space cant be guaranteed.