Breeding for low methane can improve productivity
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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Editorial: NZ's great China move
OPINION: The New Zealand red meat sector, with support from the Government, has upped the ante to retain and expand its niche in the valuable Chinese market - and the signs are looking positive.
Wool-derived protein eyes $2b market
Keratin extracted from New Zealand wool could soon find its way into products used to minimise osteoporosis, promote gut health, and other anti-inflammatories, says Keraplast chief executive Howard Moore.
Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
Winter grazing warning
Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.
Grass-fed red meat campaign targets wealthy Chinese consumers
An eight million dollar, three year campaign to get wealthy Chinese to buy New Zealand beef and lamb is now underway.
National
Teamwork makes antimicrobials work
World antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Awareness Week begins today, and New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) says you too can do your part.
Three-way contest for two Alliance board seats
Three candidates are running for two vacant seats on the board of meat co-operative Alliance.
Red meat sector's 'wait and see' approach in the US
The red meat sector is adopting the New Zealand Government’s ‘wait and see’ approach as it braces for the second Donald Trump presidency in the US.
Fonterra trims board size
Fonterra’s board has been reduced to nine - comprising six farmer-elected and three appointed directors.
World
Sustainability dominates dairy summit
To Kiwi ears, an international conference that talks about a "just and fair transition" to sustainable dairy sounds like a…
Bluetongue on the march
While unrecorded in New Zealand, Bluetongue, an acute viral disease in ruminants, is endemic in tropical and sub-tropical climates.Arla targets $25b in total revenue
European dairy co-operative Arla Foods is forecasting a total revenue of nearly $25 billion this year.Japan hungry for high value Fonterra dairy ingredients
Fonterra was part of a recent New Zealand business delegation to Japan, a market that is one of the co-operative's…Time to bridge the digital gap between rural and urban - FAO
The director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says the UN has a role to…Opinion
Healing a 'sick' heart
OPINION: Like many of you, I am familiar with the old adage "You are what you eat".
Editorial: NZ's great China move
OPINION: The New Zealand red meat sector, with support from the Government, has upped the ante to retain and expand…Editorial: Keep FTAs coming
OPINION: The dairy industry will be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf…GE release 'will taint NZ's reputation, cost billions'
OPINION: At the September Fonterra results meeting in Waihi, I raised concerns about the viability and risks of releasing GE…Co-ops benefit your business
OPINION: How do you keep a farming business viable?Agribusiness
Alliance seeking outside capital
Reeling from two consecutive years of heavy losses, Alliance says it has appointed Craigs Investment Partners to explore external capital-raising…
Another bad annual result for Alliance
Meat company Alliance has posted a second consecutive trading year of a heavy loss.Spring delivers renewed optimism for sheepmeat
After a tough 18-plus months, there is now an air of optimism in the sheepmeat market as we hit the…New ag degrees at Massey
Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree…Ruralco slumps to second straight loss
Farmer co-operative Ruralco has slumped to its second straight financial loss.Management
Spelling pastures
To build resident populations of subterranean clover in hill country pastures, sheep farmers are encouraged to spell selected areas for four to five weeks over late spring and early summer if possible.
Breeding for low methane can improve productivity
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
Taranaki piggery goes solar
Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.
Managing risk for sharemilkers, contract milkers
Free workshops focused on managing risk in sharefarming got underway last week.
SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue
Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.
Farm Health
Goat proof barns, pens to control curious animals
Part of your preventative healthcare needs to focus on the safety of the physical environment, according to a dairy goat farming website.
Better animal genetic gain system
A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.
Monitoring is the past, health management is the future
Animal health company smaXtec says monitoring is a thing of the past, health management is the future.
Developing traits for BCS, udder scoring and fertility
New trait development work is well underway in Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme focusing on three areas - body condition scoring, udder scoring and fertility.
OSPRI writes off $17m over botched traceability system
Animal disease management agency OSPRI has written off nearly $17 million after a botched attempt to launch a new integrated animal disease management and traceability system.
Machinery & Products
BA Pumps expand
Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the iconic Milk Bar mobile calf feeder products, alongside calf and feed trailers.
Entries open for innovation award
Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with the latter delivering a platform for problem-solvers to showcase their innovation to the primary industries.
Mounting kit helps with accurate metering, spreading
StocksAg has introduced a mounting kit to fit its Turbo Jet 8 or 10 units to pneumatic trailed SKY EasyDrills, allowing separate metering and accurate application of products like Avadex through an additional set of outlets behind the drill’s press wheel.
Seed drills carry a new distributor head
Väderstad’s Rapid A 400-800S, Rapid A 600-800C, Spirit 400C/S and Spirit 600-900C/S pneumatic seed drills have received a new distributor head that can be fitted with motors for all outlets.
Solid performer at a sharp price
Waikato dairy farmer Dan Hinton reckons the main reason he hasn’t bought a side-by-side yet is the purchase price, with many brands offering little or no change from $30k to $40k.
Motoring
Jimny goes 5-door
Fifty years ago, Suzuki was a pioneer in developing a small Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with fourwheel drive capability and…
Big tick for a big truck
Electric cars and big American trucks can both bring a little anxiety, but for different reasons.RAM hits 20K!
In a market dominated by utes, Ram Trucks Australia has just put the finishing touches on its 20,000th right-hand drive…Fastest, most powerful Ram
RAM distributor Ateco has always made the point that they sell trucks that eat Utes for breakfast.Kiwi fave goes green
A firm favourite of rural families and those seeking to get off the beaten track, Subaru has announced the introduction…» Latest Print Issues Online
The Hound
Review SOEs!
OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…
Bank reset
OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…
Milking It
Chinese strategy
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
Not fair
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.
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Popular Reads
Record milk price!
A record farmgate milk price for Fonterra shareholders is all but confirmed for this season.
OSPRI writes off $17m over botched traceability system
Animal disease management agency OSPRI has written off nearly $17 million after a botched attempt to launch a new integrated…
Taranaki piggery goes solar
Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits…
