120 years through thick and thin
2025 marks 120 years of FMG Advice and Insurance in New Zealand's rural communities.
FMG assessors have begun moving into areas affected by the recent widespread storms and floods, with safety paramount as more bad weather is forecast.
“Road closures are still having an impact on assessors' ability to get to some areas, and we are prioritising the worst impacted,” says FMGs head of Claims Nicki Mackay.
“While it’s still too early to get a clear picture on the extent of damage our clients have experienced, the type of damage includes fully flooded residential, commercial, and rural properties and submerged vehicles to total loss of farm crops, stock and produce," she says
“As these storms continue to sweep through its important farmers and growers have access to good information around remains safe, and on lodging claims when the time is right. Some of that advice includes:
“Everyone’s safety is our top priority as work through this and we urge everyone to use caution around floodwaters and unstable ground,” says Mackay.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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