Mention the word ‘conversion’ in the context of land use, and most people assume you’re talking dairy conversion. But now the term is being applied to another trend: lucerne conversion. Andrew Swallow reports.

A RELAXATION of post-graze pasture residual principles and a rapid grazing round lead to some pointed questions at Lincoln University Dairy Farm’s latest Focus Day.

THE JF-STOLL range of 3-auger diet feeders now contains two new models – of high capacity and low height, suiting passage through buildings below 3 m, says distributor CB Norwood.

ADDING A spreader to their contracting business was a strategic decision for a Waikato couple.

THIRTY YEARS is the expected lifespan of a new type of liquid storage tank reckoned suitable for dairy effluent.

Federated Farmers told Environment Southland (ES) at an annual plan hearing their proposal to heap additional costs on to the region's dairy farmers, by increasing a rating differential on dairy land use, makes no sense.

After a harsh drought and massive feed costs, dairy farmers needed good news and Fonterra may have just delivered it.

Westland Milk Products has announced a payout prediction for the 2013-14 season of $6.60 to $7kg/MS, an increase of 60 to 70 cents on the current season.

Fonterra's forecast payout for the 2013/14 will significantly boost dairy farmers' spirits after a tough season impacted by the worst drought for 70 years, says DairyNZ.

Fonterra's opening forecast farmgate milk price is $7kg/MS for the 2013/14 season - up $1.20 on the current season.