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Rebuilding the Jersey herd
A group of young farmers is spearheading moves to rebuild the New Zealand Jersey herd.
Milk-guard watches over losses
The days of losing dairy products in processing lines and waste streams may soon end.
Business as usual following fire
Fertiliser co-op Ravensdown says it has good stocks of finished fertiliser products despite a massive fire at its Hornby site last week.
Patience tested at Westland Milk
Westland Milk Products chief executive Toni Brendish admits the co-op has tested its shareholders’ patience and she can’t ask them to hold on any longer.
Milk payout dip no dampener
Dairy farmers generally are in good spirits despite Fonterra last week lowering its milk price forecast, says Feds dairy deputy chairman Wayne Langford.
National
Silver Fern Farms announce Plate to Pasture winners
Six inspirational young people from around New Zealand have been named as the Silver Fern Farms Plate to Pasture Youth Scholarships recipients for 2018.
Seminar to rebuild industry after M. bovis
A seminar in Hamilton later this month hopes to rebuild and strengthen the New Zealand cattle industry in the wake of Mycoplasma Bovis (M. bovis).
Huge cost of pasture pests
Grass grub and porina are causing $2.3 billion of damage to New Zealand pastures annually, according to an AgResearch study.
Merino prices spinning a fine yarn
Merino wool is “very much the talk of the town at the moment,” says PGG Wrightson South Island sales manager Dave Burridge.
World
Not even a wild Atlantic storm can stop the Irish
The Irish sure know how to throw a good party, as experienced last month at the National Ploughing Association event…
Mandatory code for Oz processors
Milk processors in Australia, including Fonterra, could soon be slapped with a mandatory code of practice.
Oz processor tipped to be broken up
A large Australian dairy processor may soon be broken up and sold.
Call for Brexit revote
Britain should hold a second referendum on Brexit to make sure the British people fully understand what they will be…
An A$9/kgMS forecast for Oz in 2030?
As you read this, the factors affecting the outlook for global commodity markets are finely balanced, with much swinging on…
Opinion
Fonterra, we need you here
OPINION: Here's a question: one of these things is not like the others; it just doesn’t belong; which is it?…
Dos and don’ts of selling raw milk
It is now legal to sell raw (unpasteurised) drinking milk to consumers.
Better irrigation beats tax on water
Irrigation NZ believes that imposing a nationwide water tax would be unworkable.
Make your vote count
Stimulated by Fonterra posting a loss of $196 million, business analysts, academics and journalists have put forward their views on…
Let the games begin — Editorial
OPINION: Fonterra's upcoming director elections will be an interesting contest with a potential shake-up on the cards, which its board…
Agribusiness
Breast cancer awareness in milking sheds
Milking sheds have since April been more colourful, says GEA, with its FIL Active teat conditioner packaged in ‘vibrant pink’…
Better deal on farm rail crossings
Farmers are happy with KiwiRail’s new policy on private rail crossings.
Australia looks at agricultural visa
Australian farmers are throwing their support behind a proposed agricultural visa, which the Government could soon introduce to ease the…
Could ammonia be the new motion lotion?
Hybrid or electric vehicle (EV) makers had better mind their backs: the hydrogen fuel cell could still be in contention.
First woman head for NZ Young Farmers
Agribusiness leader Lynda Coppersmith has been appointed the first woman chief executive of NZ Young Farmers, from October 1.
Management
Keeping safety simple
Onfarm injuries are at their highest in the beginning of spring — here's how you can prevent them.
Farmers and growers to tell their story
Farmers and growers are being encouraged to enter this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Data, compliance, records all seen to
Farm software company FarmIQ says it can manage the data farmers must collect and provide to prove their compliance and sustainability.
Healthy teats, better milk
Maximising milking efficiency need not compromise animal health. In fact, many improvements to milking efficiency also help to improve udder health and milk quality.
Selecting the right milking liners
The teat cup liner is the only part of a milking machine that contacts a cow’s teat.
Farm Health
All farmers responsible for NAIT
Making sure all livestock coming on and off-farm are NAIT tagged and registered online is every farmers’ responsibility, says Taranaki farmer Nick Brown.
Dealing to worms crucial to stock
A veterinarian is urging farmers to give their parasite control strategy closer scrutiny.
Farmers to wield the needle from October 2019
Farmers will be able to administer a local anaesthetic for disbudding or dehorning, if they are trained, when new regulations come into force on October 1, 2019, says NZ Veterinary Association chief veterinary officer Helen Beattie.
Decoding your milk urea
Several years back, milk processors provided new information on Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN). While some farmers understand the test, the implications of the test and how to manipulate it, there are still many who don’t.
New welfare rules: best to check
With new animal welfare regulations coming into effect on October 1, even if you already think you are doing the right thing it’s best to check.
Machinery & Products
Machine ‘rock concert’ wins the night
Heavy metal addicts of the farm machinery kind made a pilgrimage recently to Morrinsville for distributor and retailer Power Farming’s ‘Big Night Out’.
JD’s new forage harvesters coming
Snippets during the last few months about the new John Deere 9000 series SP harvesters no doubt originate in the ‘mothership’ and are disseminated by social media.
New distribution for Case IH and Kuhn
The forming of CKNZ, a subsidiary of CB Norwood Distributors Ltd, heralds a new direction for the distribution of Case IH in New Zealand as Norwood prepares a new growth strategy.
Feed mixers built tough
Manufacturers of total mixed ration (TMR) mixers should stop claiming their machines have “better steel, bigger tyres and brighter lights” than competitors’ machines.
Bridging the gap between slasher and mulcher
The major range of Cyclone mowers is designed to do the work of a flail-mower, but the rotary layout is said to require up to 25% less power and so save fuel.
Motoring
Golden eagle soars
The Jeep legend was born in WWII but it came of age in the 1970s with a Golden Eagle version…
Touring around in comfort
Okay Holden, you’re not fooling anyone with your raised ride height and plastic wheel arches; the Calais-V Tourer is no…
Forester comes out of the woods
Given that the Subaru Forester virtually started the trend to SUVs years ago, the New Zealand motoring public’s assigning to…
Never lose your car
A new entry-level Range Rover Velar is set to be the model Kiwi motorists can better afford.
Holden goes easy on fuel
Holden has released details of the first-ever diesel Commodore, launching it alongside the first diesel-powered version of the new medium-size…
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Popular Reads
Farmers to wield the needle from October 2019
Farmers will be able to administer a local anaesthetic for disbudding or dehorning, if they are trained, when new regulations…
Long, slow return for M. bovis farmer
Southland beef farmer Ben Walling is suing Southern Centre Dairies owner, Alfons Zeestraten over the spread of the cattle disease…
Fonterra drops milk forecast payout
Fonterra is dropping its 2018-19 forecast payout by up to 50c/kgMS.
Rural Life
Ozone in the vineyard
The word ozone conjures up images of big holes in the atmosphere, stronger UV light, the risk of severe sunburn…
Drones versus birds
Drones may soon be joining the armoury of weapons used to scare birds away from ripening grapes after a trial…
Boss woman has earned her stripes
Nicky Hutchinson “never dreamed” of becoming ‘The Boss’.