Displaying items by tag: 2015

The 2015 Northland Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Brad and Lesley Roberts, were emphatic winners – claiming the title along with six of nine merit awards on offer.

Setup for the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) in March 25-27 is underway, and the organisers expect a rise in exhibitor and visitor numbers. The new site at Kirwee is seen as a big draw.

An easterly airflow promised brief respite from the central South Island’s dry late last week but a drought-breaking weather system is desperately needed, farmers’ leaders and industry representatives say.

While 2015 is barely underway it seems already that the New Year promises to be another important one for the industry.

MPI’s David Wansbrough says a lot of people look for the headline ‘drought declaration’, but they should understand what this means in practical terms. 

Rain in the past week may have helped farmers in Gisborne and Wairoa but the real benefits will only be felt if predicted followup rain arrives.

The first step to successful wine making is managing the crop to an appropriate yield and fruit composition. This requires an understanding of the factors determining the various components of yield (number of shoots per hectare, the number of bunches per shoot and berries per bunch and the size of those berries).

Be proactive in your thinking and recognise your options because the next three weeks will be crucial in planning to deal with drought.

Judges could not whittle down finalists for Dairy Women’s Network’s 2015 Dairy Woman of the Year to the usual three candidates because of the calibre of nominees – so four women are standing this year.

Summer has come and like clockwork so has the hot, dry, windy weather that is synonymous with droughts.