Lamb prices off the boil
Lamb prices have moved from a boil to a simmer, according to ASB Commodities Weekly report.
Recent
Improved antibiotic resistance test for dairy
Bayer has improved its antibiotic resistance test in dairy cows, adding four new antibiotic families.
Beef + Lamb director nominations open
Nominations have opened for two Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) directorships.
Plastic sheep rake in money
The plastic sheep that became famous around Christchurch city after the earthquakes have slowly started going to new homes.
Biosecurity champs announced
Biosecurity New Zealand announced the winners of the 2018 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards last night.
National
Dairy is not evil
Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis believes there will always be a place for dairy.
Happy medium needed in hops growth
NZ Hops Ltd has at least quadrupled the value of its co-operative during the past 10 years.
Kaumātua pumps controversial issues
Ngāi Tahu elder statesman Sir Tipene O’Regan has backed genetic modification and the export of bottled water in a challenging…
NZ wool for deep-space missions
Auckland wool innovator Lanaco say NASA should determine within about six months whether its wool-based filter technology will be used…
PGW’s seed division sale approved
PGG Wrightson shareholders have approved a plan to sell its seeds division to Danish seeds giant DLF.
World
Where to for the UK?
“On a knife-edge,” is how NZ’s former high commissioner to London, Sir Lockwood Smith, describes the British government’s EU exit plans.
Not even a wild Atlantic storm can stop the Irish
The Irish sure know how to throw a good party, as experienced last month at the National Ploughing Association event at Screggan, County Offaly, Ireland.
Call for Brexit revote
Britain should hold a second referendum on Brexit to make sure the British people fully understand what they will be in for when the UK leaves the European Union (EU) in six months.
Drought top priority for new PM
New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s first trip in the top job was to a drought-stricken farm in Queensland.
Drought crisis for Irish farmers
Farmers in Northern Europe – especially the UK and Ireland – are facing a crisis as drought forces them to sell stock early while they struggle to adequately feed animals remaining.
Opinion
One year down the track
Minister of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Damien O’Connor explains what's been done this year in government.
Freshwater quality an urban issue too
OPINION: It’s time for all hands to the pump because improvement in rural landscapes and municipal areas is worth chasing together.
Dunne in style — Editorial
It was once jokingly said that the next most-important job after the All Blacks coach is the head of the…
New Zealand needs a food security policy
OPINION: Horticulture New Zealand believes it is time to take a strategic and measured look at where we grow our…
Benefits of glyphosate
Glyphosate, the world’s most widely used weed killer, has extensive economic and environmental benefits for farmers, especially New Zealand’s grains…
Agribusiness
Kiwifruit may be the ticket
Growing confidence in the kiwifruit sector is providing new opportunities for pastoral farmers.
Velvet prospects looking sound
Prospects for the velvet market during the 2018-19 season are expected to be reasonably stable, says Deer Industry NZ (DINZ).
New orchard a vote of faith in sector
A new 12ha cherry orchard now being set up by Cromwell’s 45 South is a vote of confidence in the…
Milk levy plan turns sour
Moves by an Australian supermarket chain to introduce a milk levy to help drought-stricken farmers has backfired.
Australia looks at agricultural visa
Australian farmers are throwing their support behind a proposed agricultural visa, which the Government could soon introduce to ease the…
Management
Novel plumbing for Massey research farm
Massey University's sheep and beef research farm is to begin nutrient leaching research using underground water and nutrient collection.
Sheep milking farmers wanted
Farmers between Auckland and Taupo can now take the plunge into sheep milk, says Maui Milk general manager Peter Gatley.
Benchmarking key to plant breeding
Plant breeding research for pastoral farming has shifted from the likes of AgResearch to private institutions, says Derek Woodfield, GM research and development, PGG Wrightson Seeds.
Huge leap forward for sheep genetics
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) Genetics has launched a $5 million genetic evaluation system said to be a transformative step for the sheep industry.
Keeping safety simple
Onfarm injuries are at their highest in the beginning of spring — here's how you can prevent them.
Farm Health
Improved antibiotic resistance test for dairy
Bayer has improved its antibiotic resistance test in dairy cows, adding four new antibiotic families.
Check ewes’ udders after weaning – study
An ongoing study of udder defects in ewes has raised timely new information for farmers, says a Massey University professor.
Changing normal drench routine may have upside
Shifting away from the common 28-day drench routine could help reduce resistance development and even improve livestock productivity, says an…
Training helps identify stressed farmers
An Environment Canterbury advisor who trained to be a Good Yarn facilitator is now better able to help a farmer…
All farmers responsible for NAIT
Making sure all livestock coming on and off-farm are NAIT tagged and registered online is every farmers’ responsibility, says Taranaki…
Machinery & Products
Upgrades for JD’s 6R series
John Deere is updating its lineup of 110 to 250hp 6R series cabbed tractors for 2019.
Solar an answer
Getting mains power to remote stock troughs can run to $80,000 a kilometre, says solar power specialist Alastair Frizzell, of…
Trailed post driver ideal for those ‘elderly’ steeds
Most heavy-duty post drivers require a heavy-duty or substantial tractor to carry the implements on the three-point linkage.
Combi baler gives a big productivity boost
Increasing daily bale output was a priority for Davidson Contracting and the key reason for the firm’s upgrading its NH…
Krone pushes the power envelope
Much like the price of petrol, the power outputs of self-propelled forage harvesters continue to rise.
Motoring
Mercedes ute sets a new standard
It took a while to get here, but now it’s arrived the Mercedes X-Class has created a stir at the…
Touring around in comfort
Okay Holden, you’re not fooling anyone with your raised ride height and plastic wheel arches; the Calais-V Tourer is no…
Forester comes out of the woods
Given that the Subaru Forester virtually started the trend to SUVs years ago, the New Zealand motoring public’s assigning to…
Never lose your car
A new entry-level Range Rover Velar is set to be the model Kiwi motorists can better afford.
Baby Ram no toddler!
The Ram 2500 and 3500 utes have a name for big load-carrying and towing capability but come with a hefty…
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The Hound
New career?
The Hound reckons former agriculture minister and speaker of the House David Carter is heeding calls for him to get…
One law for all?
The Hound would like to know why Greenpeace activists who break the law never get punished.
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Popular Reads
Electric fence relocated from an armchair
It's not uncommon for farms to be a family affair, but the Drumm family at Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland, have…
Top primary sector employers shortlisted
The finalists in the first Primary Industries Good Employer Awards have been announced.
Fonterra drops 30b litre target
Fonterra is dropping a target to achieve 30 billion litres of milk volume by 2025.
Rural Life
Ozone in the vineyard
The word ozone conjures up images of big holes in the atmosphere, stronger UV light, the risk of severe sunburn…
Drones versus birds
Drones may soon be joining the armoury of weapons used to scare birds away from ripening grapes after a trial…
Boss woman has earned her stripes
Nicky Hutchinson “never dreamed” of becoming ‘The Boss’.