Fonterra’s Pierre Venter named next vice chancellor of Massey University
The head of Fonterra's R&D facility in Palmerston North is set to literally cross the road and become the new vice chancellor at Massey University.
The interest in the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep has prompted Massey University to run a special field day at their Riverside farm near Masterton on 1 June.
Professor Steve Morris says Massey now has a flock of Romney x Wiltshire ewes which have been mated and are due to lamb in September and these will be three quarter Wiltshire/Romneys. He says the field day is designed to show farmers what they are doing and likely get some feedback from them as well.
He says the drop in wool prices has sparked greater interest in these self-shedding sheep.
"There is definitely a lot of farmers who have expressed interest and it's actually your articles in Rural News that has prompted this. It's probably one of the biggest responses we have had to a newspaper article," he says.
Other Massey scientists such as Professor Paul Kenyon, Drs Hugh Blair and Rene Corner-Thomas will speak along with Richard Morrison whose family has a long history in breeding Wiltshires.
Professor Morris says at the field day they hope to have scanning data about the lambs available and their arm is to hold further field days at Riverside in the future.
Details: Massey University, Riverside, SH 2, 10 kms north of Masterton, June 1, 9.30am - 1.00pm.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
Going one better than a frustratingly close second place finish at last year's event, the country's top axeman, Jack Jordan of Taumaranui, last weekend won the Stihl Timbersports World Championship individual event in.
Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president Brent Chamberlain says a big development for this year is the Wool Zone, first introduced two years ago as a showplace for everything produced from wool, but now greatly enlarged with its own Wool Marquee and more than 30 trade sites.
Salmonellosis is a serious disease in cattle.

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