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Good gear key factor in record crop

Warren Darling pictured with his Great Plains Simba SL500 cultivator.

Warren Darling from Timaru knows a bit about growing barley, so much so he broke the Guinness World Record for the crop with 13.8 tonnes/ha in April, with crop harvested on January 23 this year.

Hybrid car comes of age

Firstly, in my defence, I’m a 1970s petrolhead who knew his way around Cortina, Capri and Weber carburettors no problem, so a trip to the Toyota dealers to pick up a loan Camry Hybrid shouldn’t have been a problem.

Sub-soiling pioneer leaves his mark

Des James toured field days and shows up and down NZ with his trusty one tonne ute.

Like many engineers, Des James’ early days were focussed on tractors.

A combine, but not as we know it!

Combine harvesters are the final piece of the jigsaw in growing a successful crop.

Claas spends up on sleeping red giant

While the the world’s farm machinery industry is feeling it tough, sitting alongside an agricultural sector that appears to be in the doldrums, it’s encouraging to hear one big company is looking to the future.

Calf rearing helps medic de-stress

Len and Diane Pickett on their Stratford property

For Len Pickett, working as a St John’s paramedic is the perfect complement to his “other career”, working as a commercial calf rearer, suggests the company that supplies him calf feed – Fiber Fresh.

Closer NZ-China sheep ties

A collaboration between New Zealand sheep researchers and Chinese red meat producers will benefit both countries’ farming systems, the academics claim.

Double honour for Massey vet

Massey University vet Peter Wilson has been doubly honoured recently: he was awarded the Deer Farmers Association’s Premier Industry Award, and life membership of the New Zealand Veterinary Association.

Ram breeders welcome BSC BVs

Ram breeders attending last month’s Beef + Lamb NZ Genetics sheep breeder forum.

A breeding value for ewe body condition score (BCS) will be available to ram breeders by the end of September.

FE’s spread encourages ram breeders

Dr Tricia Johnson and RamGuard testing service head Neville Amyes at the recent Beef + Lamb NZ Genetics sheep breeder forum.

Scientists are noting a geographic spread of facial eczema (FE) and urging ram breeders to start introducing tolerance into their flocks, sooner rather than later.