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Yvonne and Steven Dennis.
Southland farmers Yvonne and Steven Dennis are LIC Sire Proving Scheme farmers of the year.
They milk 780 cows and have always used LIC products; they have been part of LIC’s sire proving scheme for 10 years.
Steven Dennis says the award is a result of a team effort of their farm staff, led by manager Barry Andrew. He thanked LIC farm solutions manager Meagan Colling for nominating them and LIC staff for their passion.
“We were blown away by the enthusiasm of LIC staff; everyone is passionate about their division,” he told Dairy News. “It’s nice to see people so motivated.”
LIC bull acquisition manager (Jersey and short gestation) Malcolm Ellis says the Dennis’s are successful, driven, passionate and have a real interest in herd improvement and recording.
“They have outstanding record keeping and attention to detail. With six weeks HF over the cows and KX over the yearlings, they regularly rear 25% replacements and select down to milk in the order of 22%.”
Ellis says the 50 year old sire proving scheme is the real gold. “Outstanding in its design, the scheme is also outstanding in its participation,” says Ellis.
Last year LIC sire proved 220 bulls in 273 herds; this year that number of herds will go over 300 to prove 250 bulls.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
The first calves of a new crossbred dairy-beef offering are now on the ground at a Pamu (Landcorp) farm near Taupo.
Academic and former Fonterra director Nicola Shadbolt has been elected as LIC director.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
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