HORIZONS REGIONAL Council’s plan for implementing its controversial One Plan is a “step in the right direction’, says a Federated Farmers leader.

TOUGHER LAWS restricting the use of skilled migrant workers on Australian dairy farms may leave many farmers unable to fill vacancies.

HORIZONS REGIONAL Council deserves credit for its attempt to minimise the fallout on dairy farmers caused by the worrisome One Plan. 

THIS IS my first visit to China as Minister for Primary Industries, and my second visit as a minister. I visited here in April 2012 as the Minister of Immigration and Associate Minister for Primary Industries.

IN HER report for the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business and Cooperative Service, ‘Dairy Cooperatives in the 21st Century – The First Decade’, Carolyn B Liebrand examines cooperatives in the US dairy industry. What her research reveals will be no surprise to New Zealander dairy farmers who clearly understand the cooperative business model.

GOOD FARMERS and custodians of their land Craig and Kathy Harris recently built a ‘weeping wall’ system to process dairy shed and feed pad effluent.

DAIRY farmers looking to maximise production and minimise feed costs may now do this with a production tracking tool launched at National Fieldays by feed specialist SealesWinslow.

HIGH STRESS levels affect cows being trucked from farm to farm, a senior MPI vet is warning.

DON’T ACCEPT a high level of lameness, even if a farm has a history of the problem, delegates at the South Island Dairy Event heard last month.

MUCH HAS been made in the media of the costs associated with implementing the new environmental laws and, whilst there are advice sheets online regarding the planning and permit processes, little or nothing has been discussed about the role of nutrition in controlling nitrogen pollution from the dairy industry. However, there is research to show that feeding strategies and rumen stabilising supplements can assist in reducing nitrogen output and also improve productivity of the herd.