Farmers warned to upgrade as 3G shutdown looms
As the clock ticks towards the 3G mobile network shutdown, farmers are being warned to upgrade or risk losing connection to their supply chain.
A group of Hawke's Bay entrepreneurs have launched StockX, an online rural trading platform for New Zealand farmers.
StockX say they will reduce wastage and inefficiencies in the current, outdated livestock trading system.
The platform says they allow farmers to buy and sell direct, operators to plan and optimise bookings and meat processors to source and buy direct from farmers.
Users have the ability to set up livestock for sale listings and create personalised alerts for listings of interest. Unique to this area, banking is managed through a trust account to ensure security of funds between buyer and seller.
StockX says costs are reduced through direct transactions, value is gained through access to a wider market and relationships and knowledge are built across the whole supply chain.
Managing director Jason Roebuck says "StockX offers farmers choice and control over a key activity in their farming business. Of significant interest to farmers will be the capacity to choose when and whom they sell."
For Taupiri dairy farmers Logan and Sian Dawson, their involvement in the NZ Dairy Industry Awards has been a key catalyst in the growth of their business - the experience helping shape how they approach the farm ownership pathway they are pursuing today.
West Otago dairy farmer Luke Kane has been awarded the 2026 Rabobank Dr John Morris Business Development Prize.
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.

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