Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
PGG WRIGHTSON and software company Xero will jointly sponsor the premier feature at National Fieldays 2014.
The feature, ‘Managing Resources for a Competitive Advantage’, will show where and how farming can best develop systems and processes to manage resources and remain competitive.
Feature exhibitors in the main pavilion are “highly visible”, Fieldays says. “Hot topics” there include feed sources, nutrient management, animal health, workforce, security, control, traceability, water management and power innovations.
Fieldays chief executive Jon Calder says New Zealand’s competitive advantage is its efficiency in converting resources into protein.
“As a nation, maximising productivity in [using] resources we have done incredibly well… and will continue to do if we [collaborate] across industry and sectors. With PGG Wrightson and Xero we look forward to exploring this theme further at Fieldays 2014.”
Xero last month launched its ‘Farming in the Cloud’ software solution during its annual conference, says spokesman Ben Richmond, rural strategy head.
“Managing resources for farms [requires best] milk production and stock levels, [and] extends to the heart of farm management – running a farm as an efficient business.”
“The ability to pinpoint a farm operations financial position at any time coupled and the ability to share information with key advisors in a seamless and collaborative way is central to… a sustainable business…. Farmers together with Xero can use the power of the cloud to increase efficiency and productivity.”
PGG Wrightson general manager marketing Shannon Galloway says the company is proud to be a feature sponsor.
“We know farming is a challenging and complex business and our fortunes are tied to those of our customers.
“This year’s theme is a cornerstone foundation for PGG Wrightson. Everyday our staff work with farmers on their immediate on-farm needs while helping our customers plan.
“We aim to stay abreast of developments in the industry and… provide new products and services.”
PGG Wrightson is a foundation partner in the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium and offers sponsorships and awards in farming.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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