High temperatures and humidity are prompting questions about farm animals’ production, along with their welfare, AgResearch says.

The future of food – especially the emergence of ‘synthetic foods’ and what this might mean for New Zealand as a major food producer – has been prominent in media and barbecue conversations this summer.

With New Zealand experiencing record-breaking heatwaves this summer, AgResearch scientists say farmed animals can be susceptible and the pressure is on farmers to manage it.

A big challenge New Zealand faces is capturing the value consumers place on grass-fed products, says NZ Grassland Association president Dr David Stevens, a senior scientist at AgResearch.

AgResearch says it is starting a big programme to prepare New Zealand for the new era of digital agriculture.

Fencing waterways is proven as effective in combating the risk of contamination in waterways.

A ground breaking ceremony at Lincoln University has marked the start of work on the new $206 million joint facility to house AgResearch and Lincoln University researchers, students and staff.

Tiny creatures in soil that attack plants have been seen to survive for at least three years stored in dry conditions in a recent AgResearch study.

An expert in dairy production systems says farmers now have more science based tools to help them deal with the very wet conditions occurring in many regions, but good farm management still has a big role.

The true cost of weeds to New Zealand’s agricultural economy is likely far higher than previous research suggests, according to a new study funded by AgResearch.