Move over ham, here comes lamb
It’s official, lamb will take centre stage on Kiwi Christmas tables this year.
Finalists in the 2013 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards, aka the Glammies, have been announced.
From 180 entries, the top 20 have been established after tenderness and yield testing at Carne Technologies.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand CEO, Dr Scott Champion, says the competition, sponsored by Zoetis, has been closer than ever this year.
"The Glammies is a great showcase of what New Zealand farmers do best – produce tender and tasty lamb," says Champion.
"The Glammies is keenly contested by farmers and there are a number of familiar names who've again made it to the final, alongside some newcomers."
The finalists for 2013 are:
Class 1: Best of Breed - Traditional
Doug Brown, Oamaru (Romney) processed at Alliance Smithfield
Annie Carmichael, Matiere (Romney) processed at Taylor Preston
Colin Lockhart, Lawrence (Romney) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Ken McRae, Lawrence (Romney) processed at Silver Fern Farms Finegand
Class 2: Best of Breed – Crossbreed
William Oliver, Te Kuiti (Romney/Lamb Supreme) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Nick Perry, Woodville (Romney/Texel) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Andy Philps, Masterton (Romney / Suffolk/Texel) processed at Cabernet Foods/Kintyre Meats Ltd
David Sangster, Ranfurly (Romdale/Textra) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Class 3: Best of Breed – Terminal X
Craig Crawshaw, Waverley (Romney Lamb Supreme X/Lamb Supreme) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitotara
L & J Gerrard, Winton (Coopworth/Texel / Texel) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane
Donald & Liz Polson, Wanganui (Highlander/Primera) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitotara
David Sangster, Ranfurly (Texel X/Texel) processed at Alliance Lorneville
While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.
Irish Minister of State of Agriculture, Noel Grealish was in New Zealand recently for an official visit.
While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in Palmerston North certainly did, when reigning World Champion Jack Jordan was denied the opportunity of defending his world title in Europe later this year, after being beaten by his big brother’s superior axle blows, at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.
AgriZeroNZ has invested $5.1 million in Australian company Rumin8 to accelerate development of its methane-reducing products for cattle and bring them to New Zealand.
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
A bull on a freight plane sounds like the start of a joke, but for Ian Bryant, it is a fond memory of days gone by.

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