Cropping farmers go to polls
Cropping farmers go the polls in the next few weeks to determine the future of their levy-funded research organisation, Foundation for Arable Research.
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Benefits of shearing pregnant ewes
Industry funded studies in New Zealand have shown that mid-pregnancy shearing can increase multiple-born lamb birthweight by up to 0.7 kg and lamb survival by 3 to 5%.
Lambs good for training pups
Lambing is looming closer and if you have a young dog that isn’t showing much enthusiasm for sheep take advantage of the window of opportunity this season offers.
NZ precision ag firm expands
The Lincoln precision agriculture company CropLogic is expanding into the North American market via its takeover of a Washington State firm.
Real progress can be made at catchment level – Rolleston
New Zealand, as we all know, is blessed with abundant water and we have it to ourselves.
Challenges ahead for arable
Big changes are coming in world food supply, says Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) chairman David Birkett.
National
Fat prices continue record run on GDT
Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins says the overnight dairy auction delivered good and bad news.
Brexit bumps
The outcome of the British election is not likely to have any major impact on New Zealand’s negotiations for a free trade agreement, says trade expert Stephen Jacobi.
Rural honours in abundance
This year's Queen’s Birthday Honours had 13 rural people making the list for their outstanding achievements and contributions.
New rules in danger of squeezing out valued workers
DairyNZ says proposed new rules on migrant workers will make it harder to employ and retain good staff.
World
Sky lanterns turn UK farmers red
UK farmers want a ban on a popular Chinese festival where ‘sky lanterns’ are released.
Fonterra’s Aussie opening milk price
Fonterra will pay its Australian suppliers an opening price of A$5.30/kgMS for the 2017-18 season.
Low opening the final straw for Oz farmer
Australian farmer Brian McLaren has been a loyal Murray Goulburn supplier for 48 years but the latest price blow could…
Co-op praised for ‘honest’ forecast
Australian dairy farmers have welcomed dairy co-op Murray Goulburn’s “honesty and transparency” in announcing its 2017-18 milk price.
Kerrygold’s record sales
Irish dairy co-op Ornua says revenue grew 9% last year.
Opinion
Real progress can be made at catchment level – Rolleston
New Zealand, as we all know, is blessed with abundant water and we have it to ourselves.
Doing well for a small outfit
Prime Minister Bill English recently spoke at the NZ Institute of International Affairs annual dinner and touched on trade. Here…
Time farming moved on from low cost to added value
Fieldays at Mystery Creek in mid-June showcased New Zealand innovation, interaction and, in some cases, simply imagination.
Horticulture’s stunning growth points to more export prospects
In 2015 horticulture’s combined domestic supply and exports, excluding wine, were worth $5 billion.
Smarter cashflows a key to growth
The Government's aim to double the value of agriculture exports by 2025 makes sense given their huge contribution to the…
Agribusiness
Dairy meeting environmental demands – report
The dairy industry is ready to tackle environmental concerns, including its contribution to greenhouse gasses, says an independent report.
Forage grasses to be bred locally
International seed business Germinal is increasing its presence in New Zealand, appointing Sarah Gard, of North Canterbury, as its trials…
Dairy farmers dumping debt – bank
Many dairy farmers are taking advantage of this season’s better payout to regain some of the equity they lost in…
Big kiwifruit growth plans for Maori
About 8% of total kiwifruit production comes from Maori orchards, and now there is an ambitious goal to get up…
Health, safety top priority for corporate farmer
Health and safety (H&S) of people is the top priority for a farming group that’s among the largest in New…
Management
NZ precision ag firm expands
The Lincoln precision agriculture company CropLogic is expanding into the North American market via its takeover of a Washington State firm.
Challenges ahead for arable
Big changes are coming in world food supply, says Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) chairman David Birkett.
Shining with big help from robots
Southern Star Farms Ltd, an 85ha mixed farm near Waituna Lagoon, Southland, runs 300 Jersey cows and 2500 breeding ewes – a farm run seamlessly by Darrin and Joanne Crack.
Agro-forestry convert turns ‘preacher’
Milking 80 cows, taking timber orders online, collecting duck eggs and hosting tourists are all in a day’s work for Te Awamutu farmer Graham Smith.
Putting data to good use
Ravensdown is getting ready to roll out a new set of pasture and benchmarking tools designed to enable smarter nutrient decisions by showing planned versus actual nutrient spending over time.
Farm Health
Lambs good for training pups
Lambing is looming closer and if you have a young dog that isn’t showing much enthusiasm for sheep take advantage of the window of opportunity this season offers.
Benefits of shearing pregnant ewes
Industry funded studies in New Zealand have shown that mid-pregnancy shearing can increase multiple-born lamb birthweight by up to 0.7 kg and lamb survival by 3 to 5%.
Do the groundwork before calving
Planning and preparation make for a good calving season, says DairyNZ.
To cull or not to cull?
Ideal growing conditions in many places — despite record autumn rains — have delayed cow culls, allowing some herd managers to optimise their herds for next season.
Herd management reduces lameness risk
Together with mastitis and infertility, lameness is one of the big three problems on many farms, says vet Neil Chesterton.
Machinery & Products
Lightning-strike effect kills bugs
Taking both the Fieldays Innovations Launch and the Locus Research Innovation Awards, the BioFume Ozone System shows early promise for cleaning and bacteria control.
Move up to 70% less dirt
The introduction of the Kverneland KultiStrip System by distributor Power Farming will “bring opportunities to farm environmentally and improve yields and profitability,” the company says.
Brighten up the farm, stay safe
Farms may be awash with safety footwear for men, but not for the girls.
Safe, user-friendly farm machine
Brian Mason and his staff milk 1000 cows at Waikauri View Farms, Wellsford, Northland, running Massey Fergusons for the last 10 years because they are “common-sense tractors” ideal for a dairy farming operation.
Ration mixer good on uneven ground
Claas Harvest Centres have released a new range of mixer wagons, the Trioliet Solomix2 VLL-S, to complement the existing ZK series already sold in New Zealand.
Motoring
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,…
A ute this ain’t!
The latest Land Cruiser 70 series from Toyota is a truck, so it won’t be the choice of Remuera Roamers,…
Lighter Commodore with more bling
You might have to wait a while to buy one, but Holden will premiere the new Commodore Sportwagon at the…
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The Hound
Nasty lot
Your old mate reckons multinational, tax-dodging political activist lobby group Greenpeace is proving just how nasty it can get when…
Not a puff
Winston Peters, has proven again to be all hat and no trousers.
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Popular Reads
‘Drag ‘n drop’ grazing now a reality
The idea of virtual fencing has been around for 20 years, but AgResearch believes its time has come and will…
New rules in danger of squeezing out valued workers
DairyNZ says proposed new rules on migrant workers will make it harder to employ and retain good staff.
We’ve hit peak cow – LIC
The days of high growth in New Zealand cow numbers are over, says LIC chief executive Wayne McNee.
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’.