Displaying items by tag: John Roche

The drought in western parts of the North Island is reaching crisis point with many farmers from Northland to Taranaki having to truck in water and feed for their stock at great expense.

An initiative by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to connect farmers with scientists is taking off judging by the response at recent regional field days.

The Ministry for Primary Industries' (MP) head of their On-Farm Support Team, Dr John Roche, says the declaration of a drought or adverse event is a recognition that things are tough in a region such as Taranaki.

According to John Roche, MPI, the saviour for Chatham Island farmers this season has been the weather.

A potential crisis is looming for Chatham Island farmers who are still unable to get their stock off the Islands.

What do you want from your pasture? That's the question top Massey University scientists were asking farmers at the 'Science for Farmers' site at Fieldays recently.

The country's farmers appear to be a little more upbeat than they were several months ago.

OPINION: The Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) Programme is now in the sixth year of the 10-year eradication programme.

Some of the world's major food companies are demanding even more severe environmental targets than New Zealand has provision for in its own climate change legislation.

The complexity of farming and horticulture – and a desire to better connect generally with people on the land – has prompted MPI to put its own staff in gumboots and establish a strong presence in regions.