Data sharing initiative wins national award for saving farmers time
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
LIC has spent $1 million to revamp its semen processing centre in the Manawatu.
The co-op, which is the country’s largest supplier of artificial breeding (AB) services and dairy genetics, opened the centre this week.
The refurbishment will enable LIC to enhance export capabilities and use the centre as a back up to its main facilities in Hamilton if required.
The state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility includes an upgraded laboratory, office spaces, meeting rooms, building exterior and an additional new laboratory for the production of sexed semen.
The centre originally opened in 1960 in Awahuri, near Palmerston North, and was converted in 2008 to a seasonal semen production facility with the sole purpose of collecting and processing bull semen for export to the EU market. Last year, the facility produced 400,000 semen straws for the EU.
LIC opened the upgraded facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 7th.
Speaking at the event, LIC chief executive Wayne McNee said the greater than $1 million investment demonstrates the co-op’s continued focus on increasing its export business to deliver value for its farmer shareholders in New Zealand.
“Many farmers in our key export markets, such as the UK and Ireland, farm their cows on pasture, just like we do in New Zealand. As a leader in breeding dairy cows for grazing systems, LIC is proud to provide these farmers with world-class genetics that enable them to breed the best cows for their farming systems.”
McNee said demand for high quality pasture-based genetics in international markets is growing. LIC’s international semen sales exceeded over 1 million straws for the first time in 2018.
“These improvements mean LIC is well placed to meet the growing international demand as well as critical EU audit requirements.”
The upgrades also make the facility a suitable back-up to LIC’s main operations centre if required.
“This upgrade strengthens our business continuity plans and ensures we are well-positioned to continue to deliver vital services to our New Zealand farmers in the event of a crisis.
“This upgrade will allow us to quickly move operations to Awahuri if we needed, which is critical in spring when we’re inseminating over 100,000 cows a day at peak time.”
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…