A HALT TO Waikato Regional Council monitoring of farm effluent issues by helicopter has been recommended pending a review of the council's environmental rule enforcement methods.

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Minister Nathan Guy says new figures show primary sector exports will reach record levels of $37.7b over the last year – around $1.3b more than previously forecast.

THE FARM Data Code of Practice, launched yesterday (June 10), is a first for the New Zealand agricultural industry.

ST PETER'S School, Cambridge and Lincoln University have announced a new joint venture that will replicate in the Waikato the hugely successful demonstration dairy farm that the University and its partners operate in Canterbury.

DAIRYNZ is again seeking aspiring directors who are interested in taking up an opportunity for an associate position on its board.

THE DAIRY industry will need 2300 more, and better qualified, workers by 2025, says the Ministry for Primary Industries.

AGRESEARCH CHIEF executive Tom Richardson denies claims that his organisation is “haemorrhaging scientists” as a result of a massive restructuring to locate most staff at campuses near Massey and Lincoln universities.

WHEN stock agents and farmers head to livestock sales in Gisborne, Wairoa and Rangiuru, they count on seeing Barrie Gordon.

Fairfax wasn’t alone, of course. All its metro-based brethren took the low road. The TV One News website lit up with “Fonterra has cut its forecast 2014 milk payout… and expects the payout for the 2015 season to tumble to $7/kgMS.”

A RECENT enforcement order by the Environment Court should be a timely warning for dairy farmers to ensure their effluent management systems meet required standards and are capable of coping with farm expansion.