Beef Progeny Test 2025: Genetic insights for NZ beef industry
At Pāmu’s Kepler Farm in Manapouri, mating has wrapped up at the across-breed Beef Progeny Test.
OPINION: Your old mate has long argued Landcorp’s farming business – Pamu – is a bigger dog than he is.
The state farmer’s latest result of $8 million for the half-year ended 31 December, 2020, shows its return on assets – managing 117 farms, 84 of which they own – makes it a terrible business for both the country and taxpayers.
However, a recent brilliant suggestion from North Otago farmer Grant Ludeman would kill two birds with the one stone.
He suggests that the Government order Pamu to completely destock all its farms and plant them in natives – making a huge contribution to decarbonising the country and meeting the CCC’s aim for a 15% reduction in NZ’s livestock numbers – as well as ridding the taxpayer of a poorly performing state business. Win, win!
Fonterra’s impending exit from the Australian dairy industry is a major event but the story doesn’t change too much for farmers.
Expect greater collaboration between Massey University’s school of Agriculture and Environment and Ireland’s leading agriculture university, the University College of Dublin (UCD), in the future.
A partnership between Torere Macadamias Ltd and the Riddet Institute aims to unlock value from macadamia nuts while growing the next generation of Māori agribusiness researchers.
A new partnership between Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) and NZAgbiz aims to make evidence-based calf rearing practices accessible to all farm teams.
Despite some trying circumstances recently, the cherry season looks set to emerge on top of things.
Changed logos on shirts otherwise it will be business as usual when Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses are expected to change hands next month.

OPINION: Here w go: the election date is set for November 7 and the politicians are out of the gate…
OPINION: ECan data was released a few days ago showing Canterbury farmers have made “giant strides on environmental performance”.