Owl Farm flying high
Owl Farm uses proven research and good practice and, importantly, encourages young people into the dairy industry.
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Dairy Industry Awards entries thrill organisers
A total of 393 entries are in for the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
How to feed those extra mouths around the world
New Zealand, a country of 4.7 million, produces enough food for 50 million people. But with 9 billion mouths to feed by 2050, the world needs to produce more nutrition – 30% more.
The big cheese in South Korea
It's been three years since the free trade agreement (FTA) was signed with South Korea and New Zealand cheese is making a significant impact on their shelves.
OZ/NZ share many common problems
New Zealand and Australia share many problems in common in their dairy industries, says Professor Yani Garcia from Sydney University.
Fonterra leading in sustainability
Fonterra is leading the industry in some areas of sustainability, says chief executive Miles Hurrell.
National
Farmer views sought by researcher
Lincoln University PhD student Christina Berneheim is inviting farmers to complete an online questionnaire to express their views on the industry.
Petition pleads for immigration law changes
A 7,500 signature petition was presented to parliament last week calling for changes to NZ’s immigration laws.
Global milk supply forces down milk price
Persistently strong global milk supply forced Fonterra to cut its milk price forecast last week by about 20-25 cents.
Margins under squeeze
With the lowering of the farmgate milk price comes the squeezing of margins.
World
Where to for the UK?
“On a knife-edge,” is how NZ’s former high commissioner to London, Sir Lockwood Smith, describes the British government’s EU exit…
Ireland assembles its agrifood units
With the UK’s Brexit scheduled for April 1, 2019, discussions in Ireland are centred on tariffs, with a general call…
Not even a wild Atlantic storm can stop the Irish
The Irish sure know how to throw a good party, as experienced last month at the National Ploughing Association event…
Mandatory code for Oz processors
Milk processors in Australia, including Fonterra, could soon be slapped with a mandatory code of practice.
Oz processor tipped to be broken up
A large Australian dairy processor may soon be broken up and sold.
Opinion
How to feed those extra mouths around the world
New Zealand, a country of 4.7 million, produces enough food for 50 million people. But with 9 billion mouths to…
Time to let Tip Top go? — Editorial
OPINON: Fonterra doesn't have the capital to take Tip Top to its next phase, so selling it now may be…
Red tape choking primary sector productivity
OPINION: Immigration NZ should attract immigrants to our primary sector as well as they attract overseas investors and entrepreneurs to…
How do we the tackle the meat worker shortage?
The meat industry is short of about 2000 workers, a gap needing filling by much more than just signing up…
Bring on 2019 — Editorial
Without doubt, 2018 will be remembered as Fonterra’s annus horribilis.
Agribusiness
Owl Farm flying high
Owl Farm uses proven research and good practice and, importantly, encourages young people into the dairy industry.
Dairy Industry Awards entries thrill organisers
A total of 393 entries are in for the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
OZ/NZ share many common problems
New Zealand and Australia share many problems in common in their dairy industries, says Professor Yani Garcia from Sydney University.
China remains the key to dairy prices
China remains the key to where the global marketplace is heading in dairy prices, says Westpac economist Anne Boniface.
Countdown on for East Coast Farming Expo
In a little under four months, the East Coast Farming Expo will return for a fourth year of innovation, interaction…
Management
Deer farmer no quitter
When 300mm of rain fell in four hours and blew out a year’s worth of environmental mitigation work, Steve Borland admits “it just about broke me”.
Time to rethink how we farm
Agrichemicals are an addiction and pests are not the problem, claims a visiting American entomologist, Dr Jon Lundgren.
Dairy goats: the high performance ruminants
Assuming a goat’s nutritional requirements fit somewhere between that of sheep and cattle is a mistake.
Goat farmers: Do it once, do it right
All food producing industries are entering a period of increased consumer awareness.
Colourful response to chemical risks on farm
Dairy technology company DeLaval has launched a colour coding system to help prevent chemical accidents on farms.
Farm Health
NAIT for sheep?
Bringing sheep into the NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) system may be a way of getting more value out of the animals, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor claims.
Get a feel for ewes’ body condition
Weaning is an ideal time to body condition score (BCS) ewes as it allows valuable summer feed to be partitioned into lighter ewes to give them a lift before tupping.
Time to put Johne’s on the map
Johne's disease (JD) is a major production-limiting disease of farmed ruminants worldwide and, after CAE, it is the biggest animal health concern for goat farmers.
Don’t treat pests as a problem
Farmers should stop treating agricultural pests as a problem, and instead realise they are a symptom of an unsustainable farming method, says a visiting expert in ‘regenerative’ agriculture.
Time to change milking liners?
Filling the vat with the best milk you can produce is a financial advantage, says milking liner maker Skellerup.
Machinery & Products
‘S’ effect hits Massey Ferguson tractors
Massey Ferguson has announced the S Effect across its entire range of Beauvais-built tractors.
Right on track
Tractors, harvesters and even trailers might run on rubber tracks, but it’s not something you’d expect to see under cattle crushes or hoof trimmers.
New mower turns on a dime
Kubota has unveiled three new models that will replace its previous T series mower line-up.
Tractor and machinery sales on track for record
Sales of tractors are up 17% on this time last year and could set a record by year-end, says NZ Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) president John Tulloch.
Go large with Cadman's Continuous Manure Applicator
While New Zealand plays catch-up and Europe leads in using farm effluent, it was always going to fall to the North American continent to go large — very large.
Motoring
Ford’s revamped 4x4 mounts a number of challenges
The modern trend to fewer cubic centimetres and more gear ratios continues as car manufacturers chase better fuel economy and…
Tried and tested Triton
Performance, safety upgrades and a new look for the 2019 Mitsubishi Triton have the manufacturer suggesting it expects its sales…
Volkswagen Transporter Runner an impressive ride
Kiwis remain fixated on utes of every shape, size and price, but we wonder whether in the rural sector the…
Mercedes ute sets a new standard
It took a while to get here, but now it’s arrived the Mercedes X-Class has created a stir at the…
Making a line for the Sportline
After test driving the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline, we think getting one may be a clever choice.
» Latest Print Issues Online
The Hound
Fire sales?
Your canine crusader hears that Fonterra’s current financial woes could see the dairy co-op dumping many of its key assets.
Boring
This old mutt has been a long-time critic of the multi-national, tax-dodging, political activist group Greenpeace for its sustained and…
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Popular Reads
Petition pleads for immigration law changes
A 7,500 signature petition was presented to parliament last week calling for changes to NZ’s immigration laws.
Don’t treat pests as a problem
Farmers should stop treating agricultural pests as a problem, and instead realise they are a symptom of an unsustainable farming…
Dairy goats: the high performance ruminants
Assuming a goat’s nutritional requirements fit somewhere between that of sheep and cattle is a mistake.
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’.