FARMERS AROUND the country are making great strides improving the quality of their dairy effluent ponds as they balance the demands of farms and growth. Now the message this summer is, empty your storage ponds when you can.

RATED BY some among the top farmers in New Zealand, Kevin Davidson and his wife Linda run a large enterprise at Onga Onga, Hawkes Bay.

LOSING NUTRIENTS is just losing money. That was one of the key messages from Southland dairy farmer Vaughan Templeton speaking at last week's Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre conference at Massey University.

SPRAYING PASTURE with a fungicide that kills fungus and inhibits FE spore production is the only direct means to manage spore numbers during risk periods. Fungicidal sprays provide a secondary benefit by controlling rust on ryegrass and also give opportunity to apply broad-leaf herbicides to improve pasture quality.

ONE OF the most effective ways to control clinical mastitis in the milking herd is to identify infected cows early, so they can be treated before the disease is spread to other animals, says equipment manufacturer Skellerup.

When funding was pulled from wild animal control in the late 1970s, many of New Zealand's cattle and deer herds fell foul of TB, says Animal Health Board chairman John Dalziell, in the introduction to the board's Making TB History. This extract from the booklet tells one farmer's story.

CLOTHING MAKER Swazi Apparel Ltd will on March 1 launch Dairy by Swazi, a range specifically for dairy farmers. It is made in New Zealand and will sell exclusively in RD1 stores. Swazi designer and owner Davey Hughes says he is pleased with sales of the company's premium, "but research told us there was also a segment of farmers who, while concerned about quality, were after clothing with a few less features [and] value for money." Dairy farmers will be pleased, he says. "By stripping out a few features and added manufacturing efficiency, we've delivered a range of products... at a bloody awesome price." "All the inherent Swazi properties [are there]: durable, the very best of fabrics and craftsmanship." The range will start with five garments: men's pants, shirt and two tee-shirts and a women's skivvy. All garments will be made of fleece, some in different weights. Tel. 06 368 4822 www.swazi.co.nz

Check out Howies Checkpoint: as far as artificial-breeding bulls go, he's leagues ahead of any other.

One of New Zealand's budding scientists will travel abroad later this year to complete his PhD, after winning the 2012 Doctoral Studentship Award from LIC.

Rural retailer RD1 has acquired Ruawai Farm Supplies, Northland. The acquisition takes the RD1 store network to 65 stores nationwide.