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Maintain trees near power lines

The large grass fire near Christchurch early this month highlights the need to prune or fell trees likely to touch overhead lines in high winds, says Orion chief executive Rob Jamieson.

Watch for VM in wool

Wool growers wanting to take advantage of premium wool prices need to watch out for vegetable matter in the dry conditions, says NZ Wool Services International’s Purelana manager, Malcolm Ching.

Growers try new grain

Trials of the grain quinoa (‘keenwa’) are expanding in Australia as imports from South America, and prices, soar.

Sheep man gets top role

Well-known sheep specialist Professor Paul Kenyon is the new head of Massey University’s Institute of Veterinary, Animal, and Biomedical Sciences.

Profitability, water quality hand-in-hand

Producing the same quantity of milksolids from half the number of cows would be a winning formula for any farmer.

14 years’ wait for water nearly over

As most of South Canterbury’s farmers grapple with drought, about two dozen in the hinterland of Waimate will be hoping this is their last.

North’s fragmented horticulture needs an action plan – report

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce.

Horticulturists in Northland need to work on a strategic action plan with national bodies such as Horticulture NZ and the Avocado Industry Council, says the newly published Northland Regional Growth Study.

IRD is watching!

Inland Revenue says it’s monitoring the drought and looking at the financial situation of farmers, with a view to seeing how they can best help them through the dry.

Dealing with drought

Whatever it takes, don’t disrupt your capital stock to cope with the drought. That’s the headline message from a seasoned Canterbury consultant who’s seen the region go through severely dry seasons in over 40 years in the industry.

2014’s hangover could be 2015’s gain

Chris Lewis Federated Farmers Waikato provincial president.

A new year and a slight hangover from 2014. This year starts off with a legacy of grunt work by the primary industries and stakeholders; the results I hope will begin to be realised this year.