ROBOTS TRAVERSING dairy paddocks, patch spraying a treatment here, applying some fertiliser or effluent there: sounds far-fetched but the reality is the technology’s already available and a commercial product is just around the corner.

HOW MUCH grass is going to grow on your farm next week?

NEW ZEALAND SHEEP and beef farmers have a new tool to help them calculate how much grass will grow on their farms two weeks in advance.

ASK VETERINARIAN and Waikato farmer Ian Scott what he thinks of new pasture cultivars and, off the record, you’re likely to get a four-letter-word answer.

A MILD and relatively dry winter, above-average pasture growth rates and little pugging has resulted in high average pasture cover levels on many farms. The challenge over the next few months is keeping control of pasture quality.

Unusually good pasture growth has given some dairy farmers an unexpected challenge – too much long grass for this time of year.

A THREE-YEAR experiment with mixed pastures could have big implications for future management of environmental impacts.

AN AGGRESSIVE regrassing programme could raise EBIT/ha from venison finishing nearly $1000/ha, judging by figures presented to a Deer Industry New Zealand focus farm field day last week.

Over 80% of New Zealand dairy farmers intend to renew run-out pastures this season, regardless of their financial outlook, reports a dairy farm survey released recently from CINTA.

Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) funding was announced today to pay for half of a $14 million research programme to deliver better seeds and plant species for farmers.