Arable Farmers Shift to Dairy as Fuel and Fertiliser Costs Surge
Some arable farmers are getting out of arable and converting to dairy in the faced of soaring fuel and fertiliser prices on top of a very poor growing season.
Ravensdown has appointed Greg Campbell as the new chief executive designate. He replaces Rodney Green when he retires on December 31.
In announcing the appointment, Ravensdown chairman Bill McLeod said Green had given the co-op plenty of notice of his intention to retire.
This gave us the luxury of time to conduct a really thorough search for his replacement, he says.
"We are grateful for that, as Rodney will leave a very different Ravensdown to the one he took over in 1998.
"We especially thank Rodney, and acknowledge the job he has done growing and strengthening the company over the years of his stewardship. This meant we needed to find a special replacement to take over the reins from him.
"We're delighted that Greg will be leading the Ravensdown team."
Campbell will be based in Ravensdown's Christchurch head office, leading a team of 684 employees in New Zealand and Australia. He has held the position of CEO of Ngai Tahu Holdings Group since his return from overseas, and has had wide experience in infastructure, petroleum, rural and waste management.
Campbell says he is "excited about joining the Ravensdown team and looking forward to the opportunities and assisting with building on the great foundations laid by the current management."
Farmers will get an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in sheep genetics at the Sheep Breeder Forum this May.
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
A group of old Otago uni mates with a love of South Island back-country have gone the lengths of Waiau Toa Clarence from source to sea. Tim Fulton, who joined the group in the final fun to the river mouth, tells their story.
Operating with a completely different format from conventional tractors and combine harvesters, the NEXAT prime mover combines all steps of crop production in one modular carrier vehicle, from tillage, through seeding to harvesting.
Reports of severe weather forecast to move over the vast majority of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards this weekend will be very concerning for a significant number of growers.
Seeka chief executive Michael Franks says while it's still early days in terms of the kiwifruit harvest, things are looking pretty good.