dairy farm

Zoonoses prone should raise their hygiene game

Contrast the protective clothing and equipment being used at a typical meat works, for personal and end-product hygiene, with that in a typical dairy shed where aprons are used to keep the torso of the operator dry, but hugely deficient in protecting against urine splashes.

Whilst New Zealand’s rural and lifestyle communities seem to have a better awareness of the “physical” safety issues of farm equipment, PTO shafts and ATVs, in many cases other, “more invisible” safety issues can be overlooked.

Published in Farm Health

Cordless handpiece proves popular

Two new products added to the hum on the Rurtec stand at Fieldays last month.

Published in Machinery & Products

New approach on animal welfare

Government MPs Meka Whaitiri, Gareth Hughes and Mark Patterson at the recent Animal Welfare Advocate Hui held in South Auckland.

A new Framework for Action on Animal Welfare released last month sets out a better approach, says Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri.

Published in Farm Health

Jerseys grow well

The perception needs to change of Jersey growth rates and finishing times, says Whangarei Heads dairy farmer Murray Jagger.

Published in Management

Dairy farmers' profitable sideline

Whangarei Heads-based farmers Murray and Helen Jagger.

The jersey-cross beef business at his Whangarei Heads dairy farm is a sideline – but it is a valuable sideline, says Murray Jagger.

Published in Management

Zero to hero in agriculture’s chase for carbon neutrality

The current political climate has increased the emphasis in the media on how New Zealand will meet its international climate change commitments.

Published in Opinion

Mycoplasma bovis weighs down farmer confidence

Concerns about the impact of Mycoplasma bovis on the agriculture sector have seen New Zealand farmer confidence decline over the past quarter, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey shows.

Published in Opinion

Dumb

A mate of yours truly has questioned the wisdom of the dairy industry-good group DairyNZ promoting the position of the Northland farmer owner of the infamous cow-bashing sharemilker.

Published in The Hound

Synlait lauded for environmental effort

Outgoing Synlait chief executive John Penno says the company’s ‘lead with pride’ programme will be key to progress in farm environments and sustainability.

Global businesses are looking to New Zealand for solutions to tough environmental challenges – especially agriculture, says Abbie Reynolds, executive director of the Sustainable Business Council.

Published in Agribusiness

Money better spent elsewhere

Feds’ meat and wool chair Miles Anderson fears the proposal to appoint an animals commissioner is a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction.

Money spent on adding more layers of bureaucracy to our animal welfare regime would be better spent on addressing our horrific statistics on children, says Federated Farmers animal welfare spokesman Miles Anderson.

Published in General News