Kubota Drive Day 2016
The launch of the latest Kubota tractors, the M7 series, seemed like an excellent reason to spend a day surrounded by tractors and machinery.
CB Norwood has been running drive days around the country, from Invercargill to Whangarei, as well as taking in various field days along the way. With a Waikato event held near Matamata, both I and fellow Farm Trader tester Brent Lilley thought it was a great opportunity to check out these new machines.
Side-by-sides
The Kubota range starts from lifestyle products, lawn mowers and the like, and includes construction equipment and generators for back-up power supply. While none of these were on site for the drive day, there was however a number of machines from the Kubota side-by-side range. Pretty common on farms nowadays, Kubota has a range of side-by-sides from smaller petrol units up to heavy-duty diesel machines.
M series tractors
The M series tractors are the flagship of the Kubota agricultural range, including models from 51hp in ROPS and cab versions. These are great for dry stock operations with features like power shuttle plus reliable Kubota diesel engines. The MGX series, available from 100 to 135hp is ideal for those who require more power. Kubota makes a number of speciality tractors; narrow, high-ground clearance and half-tracked models.
New M7 series
The star attraction of the drive day was the new M7 series tractors. Models range from 130 to 170hp, making Kubota the latest player in this hotly contested farmer/contractor tractor market. Kubota has put a great package forward in the form of the M7 range, which can be ordered to suit an individual farmer’s needs. There are a number of features in the M7 range which make the new Kubota a contender in the larger farm/contractor worth looking at.
Kubota going forward
With the release of wheel loaders, tracked skid steer loaders, and plans in place for more new tractor models in the higher horsepower segment 200 to 300hp, Kubota is one company to keep an eye out for over the next few years. Already big players, in terms of sales in both Australia and America, the range looks set to do the same here in New Zealand.
Read the full article in issue #231 of Farm Trader magazine. Subscribe here.
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