Getting sheep shape at Pyramid Farm
The vineyards at Pyramid Farm in Marlborough’s Avon Valley have never been run of the mill, with plantings that follow the natural contours of the land, 250 metres above sea level.
Hecton Products, whose name is familiar to many New Zealand sheep farmers, has a new product — Mobile Stock Worker.
This versatile handling unit is designed for easy transport around the farm or between properties, helping to make short work of sheep handling jobs.
Set up or take down is easily achieved in 15 minutes. This is done by simply reversing up to the yard or holding pen, removing the transport wheels and then getting on with the job at hand.
It has a reversible clamp frame to suit left or right handed users. Once the sheep are clamped, the operator is hands free to go about the work.
The dagging race is available left or right handed, and has two anti-backing wings to increase stock flow.
Ideal for drafting, weighing, dagging, mouthing, tagging and inoculations, the units can handle ewes and lambs at the same time without any adjustment.
With the addition of weighing equipment the unit becomes indispensible for monitoring lamb weights then drafting off finished animals.
Southland farmer Nigel King has used a Stock Worker for 12 months and says he is very impressed.
“It’s easy to use, stress free for ewes and lambs and importantly people,” he explains.
“You name it, we’ve done it. Weighing, mouthing, uddering, drenching, ear tagging and even a cheeky wee crutching at the same time.”
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

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