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Ambassador for Ireland to NZ Jane Connolly at the 2023 Fieldays Enterprise Ireland stand with John Concannon of JFC Agri Ltd.
In the rural landscapes of New Zealand and Ireland, a shared agricultural heritage thrives, built on a strong mixture of tradition and innovation, with mirror image climates earning both countries global acclaim for their food quality and sustainable agriculture.
Ireland's journey from a longstanding agricultural economy to a leader in science-based innovation is a testament to its commitment to the future of farming. By integrating traditional practices with modern advancements, Ireland helps farms and agribusiness worldwide to not only maximise their yields but also to minimise environmental impacts, inputs, and costs.
Ireland currently exports innovative solutions to over 140 countries, generating over €1 billion in sales annually.
Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government's export agency, returns to Fieldays for the 17th consecutive year in 2024, hosting a blend of established brands and innovative startups, with some new products developed specifically for the New Zealand market.
Exhibitors at the Ireland Pavilion (Stand D67) include a plethora of companies from newcomers such as Agri Data Analytics, who are developing a bovine breathalyser device to capture and measure enertic ruminant methane emissions and JFC Agri, who after visiting Fieldays last year, has adapted its Evolution automatic calf feeder to feed whole milk to New Zealand dairy calves. Dairy Master offers advanced milking systems, feeding equipment, and herd management tools, while Abbey Machinery specialises on the back end of the animals with slurry handling, grassland, and of course, animal feeding equipment.
In addition to the Ireland Pavilion, visitors should look out for other Irish brands being exhibited local distributors or dealers, including Gallagher Animal Management, who will featuring StrongBó Agritech's Auto Weigher system being launched in New Zealand - automated and remote front-foot livestock weighing system for real time performance and health.
Waringa will make their debut at Fieldays, showing Agri-Spread International's multipurpose fertiliser and lime spreaders, Webbline will present Mastek's innovative slurry pumps and dribble bars.
Elsewhere the Power Farming Group will showcase McHale's balers and bale handling equipment, Giltrap Agrizone will be showing HiSpec, Malone, Major, and Prodig products, while Ag Attachments will be featureing Tanco's Bale Shears and Drommone's ball and pick up hitch systems.
The Irish Minister of State for Rural Communities says his country and New Zealand face very similar challenges on a range of issues related to agriculture, including climate change, biodiversity and rural depopulation.
A system that combines UV-C light for disinfection could provide chemical free treatment of plant pathogens and diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis on berry, vine and tree crops.
OPINION: With the 2024 edition of National Fieldays behind us, it would be fair to say that although the mood was positive – a plus, given the negative sentiment across the rural sector – you must wonder if this showcase format’s days are numbered.
JFC Agri, the family-owned manufacturer of agricultural products from Galway, Ireland, used Fieldays to launch its innovative Evolution range of automatic calf feeders, including the state-of-the-art Evolution S4 Automatic Unit.
What do you want from your pasture? That's the question top Massey University scientists were asking farmers at the 'Science for Farmers' site at Fieldays recently.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.
