Strong milk price down to farmers' efforts - Fonterra boss
New Zealand dairy farmers deserve credit for premium prices fetched around the world for their milk, says Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell.
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How bright will horticulture's star shine in 2021?
Horticulture has the potential to be the brightest star in the primary sector in the coming decade.
Covid minces meat prices
Farmgate red meat prices are taking a hit as Covid continues to disrupt dining out businesses around the world.
Excuses fail to 'cheque' out with rural users
As banks start phasing out cheques for customers across New Zealand, Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says its members are unhappy with the decision.
Not a very cherry start!
What was expected to be a bumper cherry crop this year has been badly hit by untimely wet weather.
Hort sector denied!
MPI has turned down a request from the horticulture sector to declare the recent hail and rainstorms, that decimated many orchards around the country and cost growers millions
of dollars in lost income, as an ‘adverse event’.
National
2020 property market closes on a healthy note
Data release by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) shows there were 175 more farm sales for the three months ending December 2020 than for the same period in 2019.
Dollar causes fall in lamb prices
A report by the ANZ bank paints a somewhat sombre picture for sheepmeat in the coming year and mirrors a similar prediction in MPI’s Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report (SOPI) published in December.
Restricted fire season for Otago District’s Central Zone
Otago District Central Zone moved to a restricted fire season effective at 8am Wednesday 20 January.
Evaluation shows NZFAP Plus offers benefits for sheep and beef farmers
A new voluntary sustainability and continuous improvement standard developed by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) has been piloted by sheep and beef farmers.
World
Pledge to end child labour in agriculture
The director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, has pledged to intensify efforts…
Oz farmers eye Indian milk market ties
The Australian dairy industry is exploring long-term strategic partnerships with the world’s biggest producer of milk – India.Fully recycled bottles for European co-op
One of the world’s largest dairy cooperatives is moving to 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles from next month.NZ seeks Irish support
New Zealand is looking to Ireland for support as it negotiates a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union…World food prices rise for seventh consecutive month
World food prices rose for the seventh consecutive month in December, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations…Opinion
Fonterra's core advantage
Former Fonterra Shareholders Council chairman Simon Couper explores Fonterra's core advantage.
Editorial: Dairy's star billing
OPINION: The statistics speak for themselves; the dairy industry remains the country’s star performer.A year of opportunities and challenges!
OPINION: The year ahead for New Zealand’s primary sector is full of promise and opportunity.Editorial: Are they listening?
OPINION: It will be interesting to see if the Government, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claimed on election night would govern…Cause for optimism in 2021
OPINION: Earlier in 2020, we found the primary sector in an optimistic mood, as the NZ economy turned to our…Agribusiness
Cow toilet collects gold
While we are used to hearing about the latest hi-tech tractors or machines winning medals for technical innovation, it seems…
Dairy awards attract 366 entries
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has received 366 entries for its 2021 competition.The power of good facilitation
“Without a facilitator, we would just have done that farmer thing and sat round, shuffled our feet and waited for…NZ beef and lamb among world's most sustainable
A report from Beef + Lamb New Zealand highlights the role NZ-produced red meat has to play in a sustainable…Co-ops have a bright future - Shadbolt
Agribusiness expert Professor Nicola Shadbolt says that New Zealand cooperatives have a bright future ahead of them.Management
Kiwi rotary systems star in Chinese mega dairies
Another New Zealand company has had success exporting dairy technology to China.
Growing a family legacy
What started with planting some acacia trees 25 years ago has become a multi-generational passion for the Hunt family in Te Awamutu.
Moves to improve winter grazing requirements
DairyNZ says it supports recommendations to the Government from an advisory group looking to improve winter grazing rules for farmers and achieve better environmental outcomes.
Mastitis is not contagious
Mastitis expert Steve Cranefield says as long as the basics of mastitis management are followed the risk of one cow spreading mastitis to another cow is quite low.
Programme to take beef into future
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics is launching a beef programme, which it says is designed to generate more income for beef producers and the economy while also protecting the environment.
Farm Health
Family farm comes full circle with Jersey genetics
Four generations have farmed on John Totty’s 465-hectare property at Staveley, mid-Canterbury with Jersey cows featuring prominently throughout the years.
Perfect conditions for fly and FE
Warm wet weather in many areas of the country creates the perfect conditions for the production-limiting diseases flystrike and facial eczema (FE).
Cow production improved by genetic research and tech
Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) say continued investment in gene discovery and genetic analysis technology is allowing their farmer shareholders to improve cow production valued in the millions.
Keeping scabby mouth at bay
Scabby mouth is common and the infection rate in some sheep flocks can be as high as 90%.
Promising new test for Johne's
A promising new test for Johne’s disease in dairy cattle has been developed at the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) and School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast.
Machinery & Products
Bringing flat batteries to life
Given the absence of power outlets in many remote buildings on New Zealand farms, there’s every chance of ending up with a flat battery when away from civilisation for an extended period.
Kuhn bolsters mower range
Kuhn has bolstered its mower conditioner range with the addition of two rear mounted/ vertical folding models with a 3.10m working width.
Merlo goes greener
Obviously not wishing to get left behind by some of its competitors, Italian manufacturer Merlo is planning to add to its green-liveried telehandler range- with another set of green credentials in the shape of an all-new, all-electric battery-powered Merlo e-Worker model.
New Kubota UTV raises the bar
Kubota New Zealand’s new RTV520 claims to set a higher standard in performance and comfort for drivers.
App takes pressure off
TRS Tyre & Wheel, owned by Trelleborg Wheel Systems, has introduced the TLC Plus App to the New Zealand market.
Motoring
Early pick for car of the year!
As I'm writing this review in early December, I’d like to make a prediction – the new Land Rover Defender…
Forester gets a little spark
Given that we already know already the Subaru Forester is a great SUV – after all it won the 2018…Big, bold brash Ram truck will grow on you
Introduced in 2018, the Ram 1500 brought big American trucks to the New Zealand mainstream – at a price point…Hilux ups the ante - yet again
When the 8th generation Toyota Hilux arrived in late 2015, it was a major departure from the Hilux of old.Mako goes after Raptor
With Ford holding the reins of the ute market since about 2014, it was always going to be a case…» The RNG Weather Report
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The Hound
Seriously?
Your old mate reckons the nomination of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) management team as a finalists in…
Good riddance!
The Hound reckons 2021 is off to a rollicking start with news that professional whinger and anti-farming drone Martin Taylor…
Milking It
Dung paint
India now has its own cow dung paint, a world-first.
Fresh for 60 days
A Queensland-based company is set to release its own production of milk this year that stays fresh for at least…
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Popular Reads
Scientists criticise latest 'US fad'
New Zealand agriculture doesn't need "the latest fad from America," according to New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science…
Flying start to 2021
It's a great start to 2021 for dairy farmers.
Dream start for dairy prices
Dairy farmers can expect a lift in the forecast milk payout if dairy prices continue to climb.