One of the big attractions at this year's Grasslandz show was the CLAAS Harvest Centre site, where farmers and contractors could see and drive the new 350hp Class Axion 930 tractor and the new JCB 435 Farm Master loader.

Glenn Davidson, sales specialist with CLAAS Harvest Centre BOP on display at Grasslandz.

CLAAS Harvest Centre BOP managing director Vern Bates says the new CLAAS tractor range and the range of other CLAAS and JCB machinery and equipment on display at the company's site attracted a good deal of attention.

'There are a number of agricultural shows throughout New Zealand now, but Grasslandz is unique in that people can get in and drive these machines or at least observe them in action, rather than just a static display,” says Vern.

The CLAAS Harvest Centre team took full advantage of the ability to take customers for a drive in the machinery and to demonstrate it in action, with Glenn Davidson and Vaughn Carson there to show customers the attributes of the CLAAS and JCB machines and equipment on display, along with the Amazone range of cultivation equipment.

The demonstration team also included a CLAAS Jaguar technical manager from the CLAAS factory in Germany, who was able to pass on technical information and tips to drivers and owners to get maximum productivity out of the big harvesters.

Also on-site was the JCB product manager from Australia, who came to promote the full JCB range of machines, including the Fastrac and the number one selling JCB Loadall range of telescopic loaders.

He held live demonstrations of the JCB 435 Farm Master, the new model from JCB, which is a loader purpose-built for silage stacking with a new transmission for more power and improved fuel consumption.