Wired for Science: Understanding the feeding habits of mealybug
Fussy children might be frustrating, but fussy mealybugs could help protect the New Zealand wine industry from grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.
PALMERSTON NORTH student Braydon Schroder is the latest winner of the Hugh Williams Ravensdown Memorial University Scholarship.
"Growing up on a dairy farm in the Tararua district, I have built a strong passion for the dairy industry and general farm life," says Schroder.
He plans to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree with a major in nutrition.
"I also aim to complete an honours year to develop a greater understanding in dairy nutrition and farm systems. I love the idea of working with farmers and helping them achieve their financial and production targets to create a better farming business."
Recipients of the scholarship often go on to work for Ravensdown eventually; the fertiliser co-op's general manager research and innovation, Mike Manning says the grant is "good for Braydon, good for Ravensdown and, by developing future leaders in the agricultural sector, good for New Zealand".
The scholarship was established in memory of the late Hugh Williams, who was a Ravensdown director from 1987 to 2000. The grant offers sons or daughters of Ravensdown shareholders $5,000 a year for the duration of their studies for an agricultural or horticultural degree at Lincoln or Massey Universities.
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.
The black and white coat of Holstein- Friesian cows is globally recognised as a symbol of dairy farming and a defining trait of domestic cattle. But until recently, scientists didn’t know which genes were responsible for the Holstein’s spots.
According to the New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2024/25 report, New Zealand dairy farmers are achieving more with fewer cows.
OPINION: Dipping global dairy prices have already resulted in Irish farmers facing a price cut from processors.
OPINION: Are the heydays of soaring global demand for butter over?