The last single-focus Effluent Expo?
The sixth Effluent Expo that took place earlier this week at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton, looks like it might be the last single-focus event.
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Strong leadership needed on climate change
The dairy sector is calling for the future Government to provide the strong direction necessary for New Zealand to move toward a low emissions future, says DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle.
Best practice farming gets council thumbs up
A programme, run by independent milk processor Synlait to encourage best practice farming, has been recognised by Environment Canterbury.
Don’t let the blowtorch burn you
The recent political blowtorch on farming is affecting the morale of younger farmers, says Ngatea farmer Mark Townshend.
Dairy prices dip
Whole milk powder (WMP) defied predictions and dropped in the GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) auction overnight.
Farmers applaud retiring commissioner
Farmers have thanked the outgoing Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright for her service.
National
Call for Māori entries
Māori dairy farmers are being urged to enter the 2018 Ahuwhenua Trophy for dairy.
Milk supply revving up - Rabobank
Rabobank’s latest Global Dairy Quarterly says global prices appear to have peaked in the current cycle.
Miraka farmers lift milk quality
An incentive scheme to get suppliers to the Taupo-based Miraka dairy company to produce better quality milk and adopt best-practice systems is producing stunning results.
Prices could soften if rain persists
Three bank economists see a risk of downside to farmgate prices from last week’s GDT auction where the overall price index dropped 2.4%.
World
Waikato rotaries central in 10,000-cow China farm
Two 80-BAIL Waikato Milking Systems (WMS) rotary platforms are at the heart of a new 10,000 cow dairy farm in…
Oz supply chain at crossroads
Australia's key dairy region is facing a “supply chain revolution,” says Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey.
Fleckvieh fill the vats in Bavaria
Southern German dairying practice of keeping cows indoors 24/7 makes a convincing argument for getting cows out of winter cold…
Welsh farmers brace for Brexit
Milk production in Wales has changed dramatically in the last 30 years: in 1984 the country had 6500 producers; now…
Fonterra resumes pizza cheese production in Oz
Fonterra is eyeing a bigger slice of the booming Asian pizza business for its Australian-made cheese.
Opinion
Election chill dampens mood in farming
Although the National Party ended election night the largest party by a healthy margin, its margin wasn’t big enough (unlike…
Feds show the way — Editorial
The bouquet of the week goes to the unfairly maligned dairy sector, in particular the initiative shown by Federated Farmers…
Getting women active in decision making
A course designed to lift farm profitability by helping farming women become more active partners in their farming businesses is…
Is this synthetic food thing for real?
Synthetic food is being talked about rather more than it is being eaten.
Better communication will help bridge rural/urban divide
The farming community needs to step up to help lessen the rift between city and country.
Agribusiness
Provenance story not just clean and green
New Zealand's provenance story is not always based on clean and green; often it relates to the friendliness of the…
EU deal would benefit NZ and EU
Modelling done by the European Community shows that its agriculture would be little affected by a free trade agreement with…
Trade key to NZ’s future
Of the top five countries New Zealand trades with, it only has trade deals with two, an ExportNZ conference has…
Win propels youngster on confidence track
The confidence boost from winning the 2010 Dairy Trainee of the Year award is propelling a young sharemilker along a…
Auckland school to showcase farming
Auckland secondary schoolers will soon get a close look at farming without travelling far.
Management
Best way to preserve feed surplus
Don't assume you’ll get through the year without supplementary feed. It’s not just the availability in times of crisis, it’s also the cost you hadn’t planned for that often causes most concern.
Teasing out a good business in hard times
The slump in dairy prices over the past few seasons proved to have a silver lining for the woman who founded New Zealand’s first teaser bull leasing business.
Couple happy to get back home to farm
Taranaki farmers Peter and Nicola Carver are back on their farm after a recent trip to Wellington as the national ambassadors for sustainable farming.
First-time entrants encourage others to have a go
Entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards was a great learning and development experience, say Keitai farmers Gay Pembroke and Mark Corby.
Farm Health
Pasture and feed issues from wet season
Sodden pastures could become a major feed issue for many lower North Island farmers even after the rain stops and growing conditions improve.
Less, heavier cows means lower emissions
Lower replacement rates and higher body weight/lower stocking rates are the two most effective of five available ways of cutting dairy greenhouse gas emissions, a scientist has told a workshop for rural professionals.
Unbreakable bottles
Animal health company Ceva Animal Health is introducing two anti-infectives to New Zealand, packaged in unbreakable bottles.
Vaccines control disease in people, livestock
Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against life-threatening diseases such as distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis that affect New Zealand animals.
Uterine infection hits production
Wet spring weather is having “a huge impact” on the number of ‘dirty’ cows, says veterinarian Paul Daly, of Selwyn-Rakaia Vet Services, Dunsandel.
Machinery & Products
Only tough will do
The capital cost of high-output modern tractors and machinery has prompted many agricultural contractors to diversify into civil work such as site development, re-contouring and road or race building.
Agco launches new gear, expands plant
Global tractor and machinery manufacturer AGCO is never far from the news, so with the grass harvest about to start in New Zealand, two new products from the MF camp will get plenty of attention.
Stalkbuster leaves worms homeless
Forage maize remains the crop most favoured for feeding cattle in Europe, but over the last 15 years, particularly in Germany, the maize worm or corn borer has become a major pest.
Direct drill delivers real advantages
Kirwee-based business Colin Payne Contracting focuses on direct drilling and bale wrapping.
Agco punching hard with new MF combine harvester
With the European grain harvest just ending, combine harvester manufacturers are whipping up a frenzy for their 2018 models.
Motoring
Calling on history to make a modern point
When you tell your golfing buddies that you’ve just come back from the launch of the Range Rover Velar, they…
Built for speed and more!
Best known for its enduring off-road ability, the Toyota Land Cruiser has added another plaudit to its CV – notching…
Drive this over the Jones
You'll stand out if you're prepared to hand over the moolah for the Jeep Brute Sport. It won’t so much…
New kid on the block
The new kid on the SUV block will have auto sales and marketing managers burning the midnight oil and scratching…
The best just got better
When we reviewed the VW Amorak in February 2016, it was fair to say we quite liked it. For 2017,…
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The Hound
Blast from the past
Your canine crusader hears that the failed former meat company chief executive Graeme Thompson is about to publish a book …
Bottom line
While the nation waits for the former MP for Northland to decide who the new government will be (don’t you…
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Popular Reads
Don’t let the blowtorch burn you
The recent political blowtorch on farming is affecting the morale of younger farmers, says Ngatea farmer Mark Townshend.
Laid back and loving it
The Irwin family -- Geoff, Lee and son Steve -- milk 330 cows on 83ha at Kiwitahi, near Morrinsville, in…
Fonterra now Aussie’s big cheese!
Fonterra is set to become Australia’s largest milk processor following an exodus of suppliers from a troubled rival.
Markets
South Island wool sale eases
The 4700 bales on offer saw a 74% clearance with mixed results, however all prices paid locally are still above…
Wool continues to ease
The 7250 bales of North Island wool on offer saw a 72% clearance with most types easing further.
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’.