Regional leader award
Eastern Bay of Plenty farmer Rebecca O’Brien was named the 2024 Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Regional Leader of the Year.
Dairy Women's Network is joining forces with robotics company Lely to raise awareness about milking cows automatically.
Farmers interested in introducing robotics to the cowshed in the coming years need to plan for certain requirements and DWN says the partnership creates opportunities for dairy farmers around the country to learn more about the standards they need to meet and new technology as it becomes available to the industry, through its events and workshops.
Automation and big data are the focus for Lely, while practical events and connection with dairy farmers are the focus for DWN.
Combining these two focuses through a formalised partnership opens up another aspect of technology for farmers to explore – one that complements the existing technology of companies like Allflex and the knowledge hubs that are already provided, says DWN chief executive Jules Benton.
“We’re proud to welcome Lely to the DWN family of partners. Like us, they are driven to meet the demands of the industry and make our farmers’ lives easier,” says Benton.
“Our work happens to intersect at the growing of farmers’ knowledge and we are certain that our members will get a lot of value out of this new partnership.”
Lely Centre manager, Lawrence Holden, is looking forward to seeing the relationship between the two organisations develop to suit the changing needs of the primary industries sector.
“We are excited to see what the future of the industry looks like as more DWN members discover Lely and the opportunities for on-farm robotics.” Lely’s goal is to link all data available on milking, feeding and breeding, enabling farmers to make the right decisions and work even more efficiently.
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
Well-known scientist Jock Allison has passed away.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.