Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.

HortNZ's CEO, Kate Scott says they are starting to see the substantial cumulative effects on their members of the two disastrous flood events in the Nelson Tasman region.

The bonus of split calving is that you can match feed supply with feed demand throughout the year, says Neville Porteous of Te Arai Farms in lower Northland.

Pasture based farming is most profitable when the pastures are managed to provide the highest quality feed at all periods during the season, maximising the amount of pasture grown and eaten.

DairyNZ says the results of analysis of Southland swede plants collected last season backs up its advice to farmers that feeding maturing swede crops increases the risk of ill-health in cows.

The mowers will soon start rolling so it’s timely for CB Norwood Distributors to announce upgrades to its Kuhn disc mowers.

Many farms are running with lower than target average pasture covers (APC) this time of the year. The months of June and July were cooler than normal so pasture growth rates have not been where they would normally be.

New features on 2015-16 Krone Swardro swathers will enhance their reputation for good performance, low running costs and long working life, says local distributor Tulloch Farm Machines.

New features on 2015-16 Krone Swardro swathers will enhance their reputation for good performance, low running costs and long working life, says local distributor Tulloch Farm Machines.

At last some much needed rain has fallen.  But some farms have had less 30 mm, so pastures are still declining quickly and I am seeing large differences in average pasture cover (APC) between farms.