New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
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.
Professor Wilson, from Massey ‘s Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, specialises in deer nutrition, reproduction, welfare, disease and epidemiology, health and herd profiling of farmed deer and, more recently, mixed species farming.
He received the industry award for his outstanding contribution to the deer sector for 40 years. In its citation, the Deer Farmers Association described him as a prolific researcher and author and a man engaged with industry and the community.
“Peter Wilson stands tall in the history of the development and evolution of the farmed NZ deer industry, clearly in the advancement of deer health programmes, but equally in a whole farm system view based on productivity improvement and systems analysis.”
Wilson also has a long history with the NZVA. He set up its deer branch 30 years ago and chaired it for 20 years.
The association has at least 2000 members and just seven current life members including Wilson. It says he has “done an exemplary job of leading the deer branch with vision, flair and wisdom”.
Wilson says he is humbled to receive the honours.
“It has been an exciting and challenging industry to be part of, but most satisfying is the privilege of working with outstanding colleagues, students and industry people who have contributed so much to my career, so this award recognises their contribution as much as mine.”
The Innovation Awards at June's National Fieldays showcased several new ideas, alongside previous entries that had reached commercial reality.
To assist the flower industry in reducing waste and drive up demand, Wonky Box has partnered with Burwood to create Wonky Flowers.
Three new directors are joining Horticulture New Zealand’s board from this month.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will leave the door wide open for continued conversions of productive sheep and beef farms into carbon forestry.
Federated Farmers says a report to Parliament on the subject of a ban on carbon forestry does not go far enough to prevent continued farm to forestry conversions.
New Zealand Apples and Pears annual conference was a success with delegates and exhibitors alike making the most of three days of exhibitions, tours, insightful discussions, valuable networking and thoughtful presentations.