Home-grown best for young farmer
Markus Woutersen has just begun his dairy career but his low cost operation is already attracting industry attention.
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Urban waterways need focus also
Pollution from urban stormwater is putting pressure on communities and local authorities in their efforts to ensure our rivers and waterways remain healthy.
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Farm childhood linked lower allergies, stronger lungs
Living on a farm in early childhood is linked to a lower risk of allergies as an adult, and stronger lungs in women, than growing up in either a rural or urban area, finds research published online in the journal Thorax.
World Animal Day coming up
Agcarm reminds all farm and pet owners of their responsibility to care for the welfare of their animals in recognition of World Animal Day on October 4.
Ask companies to get behind existing technology
Farmers need to start asking companies to get behind existing technology to make life easier for farmers when it comes to data collection.
Oz co-op leaks milk as supplies leave
Strapped Australian milk processor Murray Goulburn (MG) says it has lost 300 million litres of milk this season -- about 8% of supply -- through suppliers opting out of the co-op.
National
Farmers must ‘lock in the gains’ as milk price lifts
DairyNZ is encouraging farmers to lock in the gains achieved in the past two seasons, as a pasture-first farm system will continue to provide payback as the milk price rises.
Waikato agrees to ground-breaking plan on rivers
A groundbreaking plan change proposal aimed at restoring and protecting the Waikato and Waipa rivers has been approved by Waikato Regional Council for public notification.
Computing giant includes rural secondary schools in “vision’ competition
HP New Zealand (HP NZ) is asking rural students to share their vision of how they think they will learn in the future to be in the running to win a share of $26,000 worth of HP products and support.
Dairy farms targeted in labour infringements probe
Dairy farmers who fail to keep written employment agreements or time records can expect to receive a sharp shock, as the Labour Inspectorate launches a nationwide probe into compliance in the industry.
World
Little upside from a fall in Oz supply
Australia's milk production is set to fall significantly in the 2016-17 season due to the damage caused to farm cashflows…
Genetic merit and profit link out in paddock
Twenty-seven dairy farms in Australia will be put under the microscope in an effort to prove a link between genetic…
Fonterra offloads top Oz coffee milk
Fonterra had offloaded the business claimed to make Australia's best coffee milk.
Struggling EU farmers score another handout
Embattled European dairy farmers are to get another $780 million to help them weather the downturn.
Profit slump for Canadian processor
Canadian-owned Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Company, Victoria, saw its net profit slump 88% last year.
Opinion
Ask companies to get behind existing technology
Farmers need to start asking companies to get behind existing technology to make life easier for farmers when it comes…
Finding a solution to a very real problem
Recent debate about unemployed New Zealanders and their keenness – or lack of it – to gain work was sparked…
Co-op model vital to NZ
The cooperative business model has stood the test of time and thrives worldwide; New Zealand is an outstanding example of…
NZ wins from trade deals
The question many people are asking is, 'which trade deal will it be: the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPPA) or the…
Make your vote count
When you exercise your vote in the local body elections in October, make it count towards candidates who understand the…
Agribusiness
Dairy sheep a possible pathway to added-value agriculture
Interest in dairy sheep is slowly but surely rising in New Zealand, claims real estate company Bayleys.
Technology will help agriculture grow faster
New Zealand agri technology could boom and lead the world in that market, says NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says.
Deer farming and photography – all in a day’s work
Being the only female worker on a deer farm has never fazed Emma Coutts, after years of experience around deer.
Network fills gap for rural women
Dairy Womens Network (DWN) fills many gaps for women in rural areas, including providing a social network and upgrading their…
Organics demand ‘exciting’ for land sales
With 66% of Kiwis now buying organic food, prospects for organic producers look ever more promising, comments real estate firm…
Management
Home-grown best for young farmer
Markus Woutersen has just begun his dairy career but his low cost operation is already attracting industry attention.
Measuring and monitoring a key part of ewe management
Managing ewes for maximum survival and profitability is underpinned by four key profit drivers, says Australian livestock consultant San Jolly.
Benefits of beef sires
Use of proven beef genetics delivers the goods on dairy farms, a five-year study has found.
Soil properties critical when applying effluent
Dairy effluent is a great source of nutrients for growing pasture, but managed improperly it can let loose lots of contaminants that harm waterways.
Environment awards prove a worthy challenge for Taranaki couple
Entering the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards was a great challenge for Opunake dairy farmers Kenneth and Rachel Short.
Farm Health
Small things make a big difference in growing lambs
If you were to look at the range of lamb daily growth rates on sheep farms in New Zealand you would find a huge range from as low as 80g to 350g+/lamb/day.
Teaching a dog to ‘leave it’ a useful trick
Dogs can be taught a lot of different commands, more than you would think; the thing to remember prior to training is to run through in your mind their other commands to make sure they all sound different.
International experts to share their wisdom on selenium supplementation
A one-day free seminar on selenium next month in Hamilton will present data on boosting animal health and productivity, says the organiser, BEC Feed Solutions.
Freezing technology boosts pregnancy rates
New frozen embryo technology could revolutionise dairy breeding techniques in Australia.
Cheaper does not mean better
Farmers can no longer simply buy the cheapest drench, assume it is doing a good job of killing worms and not consider the longer term implications, says Jo Houlter, veterinary technical advisor, MSD Animal Health.
Machinery & Products
More than a rear view camera!
Safety comes high on the agenda of many tractor developers and manufacturers, but many industry watchers don’t realise that much of the technology shown at annual shows and exhibitions comes from industrial giant ZF.
Quads an indispensable and major part of farm management strategy
On a typical farm, ask the farmer what he loves most and he may answer: wife, dog and quad; and if the first is out of earshot the order may differ.
Water’s for troughs, not tractors
Labradors and Kiwi farmers love water, the former for swimming and the latter for ballasting tractors by filling the tyres with the stuff.
Will these robots ever catch on?
A UK research company suggests the market for agricultural robots and drones, now about $3 billion annually, will balloon to $10b by 2022.
Fast, easy, accurate drilling
Getting crops into the ground relies on a drill that is accurate, fast and, in these high-tech days, easy to use.
Motoring
Living up to its big reputation
At a recent vehicle launch I mentioned to a fellow journalist that I was getting the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack to…
Jeep 75 years young
Jeep is celebrating 75 years of 4x4, military history and outdoor adventure in 2016 and to mark the event, Jeep…
Want to make that a large one?
Utes are big business in New Zealand, making up around 25% of the market, and seen from Ponsonby to Papatowai…
Vitara turbo gets up, goes
High demand is anticipated for the new Suzuki Vitara Turbo soon to be launched in New Zealand.
Keep it all under cover
A new, easy-to-use cover for utes that doesn't require holes drilled into the bodywork will be taking pride of place…
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The Hound
Seriously, Lincoln?
Your canine crusader had to giggle at the latest spin coming out of Lincoln University, now engulfed in a financial…
Not so GE-free
The Hound had to shake his head at the performance of the Hastings District Council (HDC) and the debacle it…
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» Popular Reads
Drones earning their keep on farm
Don't wait for the technology to be proven – the age of the farming drone is here now, say two…
Washdown nozzle opens floodgate to sales
New hydrofan washdown nozzles launched four months ago are selling in numbers exceeding expectations, says Peter Reid, director of Numedic.
It’s a world record – or is it?
Leeston, Central Canterbury arable farmer David Birkett has unofficially smashed the world record wheat yield by at least 1 tonne/ha.
» Events Calendar
Markets
South Island wool bounces
Despite a strengthening NZ dollar, the varied selection at this week's South Island auction attracted strong support.
Wool market steady
The North Island wool auction received revived support this week with an improved 81% of the 5700 bales selling.
Rural Life
Ozone in the vineyard
The word ozone conjures up images of big holes in the atmosphere, stronger UV light, the risk of severe sunburn…
Drones versus birds
Drones may soon be joining the armoury of weapons used to scare birds away from ripening grapes after a trial…
Boss woman has earned her stripes
Nicky Hutchinson “never dreamed” of becoming ‘The Boss’.