VISITORS AT the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards’ 2012  supreme winner’s field day last month may well have felt somewhat ‘blown away’, in more ways than one.

IN THE year 2000, the 805ha (270ha effective) Whatawhata Hill Country Research Farm run by AgResearch was providing no more than 2% return on capital. There were significant erosion problems and its dense, 20km network of streams carried sediment, nitrogen and E.coli to the Waikato River. What remnants of native woodland remained had low biodiversity and bare ground underneath from animal access.

FEDERATED FARMERS Dairy chairman Willie Leferink says he can understand Japanese dairy farmers’ opposition to free trade.

STRONG DAIRY prices have helped push farmer confidence to its highest level in five years, says Rabobank.

DAIRY ENTREPRENEUR Peter Cullinane, principal of Lewis Road Creamery, Mangatawhiri, believes Jersey is to milk what Angus is to beef.

CALF REARING is not for the fainthearted. It is fraught with risk, hard work, aggravation and distress.

EUROPEAN SHEEPMEAT producers are at last awakening to the influence China is having on the global sheepmeat market, says Beef + Lamb NZ chairman Mike Petersen.

NEW ZEALAND’S primary exporters are enjoying buoyant trading conditions despite slower economic growth in China and other emerging markets. 

‘STOP THE boats’ has been the mantra of new Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott since he was first elected Opposition leader in 2009.

A GOOD WINTER and a favourable weather outlook for spring have boosted confidence across the New Zealand beef industry, particularly after the drought, says Rabobank.