Mid-Canterbury dairy farmer boosts milksolids by 50% with millennial mindset
A Mid-Canterbury dairy farmer is bringing a millennial mindset to his family farm and is reaping the rewards, with a 50% uplift in milksolids production since he took over.
Food prices fell 0.5% in May 2016, following a 0.3% rise in April, Statistics New Zealand says.
The fall was mainly influenced by lower fruit and vegetable prices (down 3.7% after seasonal adjustment). Seasonally adjusted food prices fell 0.5% in May 2016.
"Tomatoes and potatoes influenced the drop in vege prices," consumer prices manager Matt Haigh says. "The average price for a kilo of tomatoes fell to $6 in May compared with $6.70 in April."
Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 0.2%, with higher prices for lamb (up 5%). The average price for a kilo of lamb chops was $14.28, up 8% from April 2016.
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
New Zealand red meat exports experienced a 29% increase year-on-year in September, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
BNZ says its new initiative, helping make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier, is being well received by customers and rural professionals.
The head of Fonterra's R&D facility in Palmerston North is set to literally cross the road and become the new vice chancellor at Massey University.
Allan Freeth, chief executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced he is resigning.

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