A fine win for NZ Merino
NZ Merino took out the Supreme Award at the 2019 New Zealand International Business Awards.
» Featured
Open Gate days to swing wider next year
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the popular Open Gates initiative is likely to go bigger next year.
A lesson in political science
The Zero Carbon Bill has just been passed into law, but not without significant misgivings from across the farming sector.
RMA not good enough
New Zealand's natural environment is now much more degraded than when the Resource Management Act was developed in 1991.
Fonterra chairman feels the heat
Frustrated Fonterra farmers called for chairman John Monaghan to take responsibility for the co-op’s financial debacle and step down.
Government can’t see the wood for the trees
About 1000 people from around rural New Zealand marched on Parliament last week to protest the Government’s policies on planting trees.
National
Hefty fine for ‘careless’ farmer
A Waikato farming company has been slapped with a $63,000 fine for unlawful discharging of farm effluent.
Speakers lined up for expo
A strong lineup of industry speakers will feature at this month’s NZ Effluent & Environment Expo in Waikato.
Synlait’s foray into supermarkets
Canterbury processor Synlait is boosting its presence on New Zealand supermarket shelves.
What drives production?
OPINION: Good production is 50% feeding and 50% breeding.
World
Wood, sugarcane packs for milk
Australia's oldest dairy company will be selling milk and other products in renewable cartons from next month.
US exports soar
US dairy exporters keep finding new markets for cheese and dairy ingredients despite facing trade tensions.Irish dairy on enviro radar
The expansion of the dairy industry in Ireland is starting to affect the environmental health of the country’s lakes, rivers…Payouts from cashflow, not balance sheet
Fonterra says its payouts to Australian farmers are being funded by its operations, not propped up from other places in…Fonterra’s Aussie struggles
Fonterra has told its Australian farmer suppliers that it remains committed to that market.Opinion
No threat to farming from forestry
OPINION: There’s some agitation out there at the moment about farming being under threat from forestry. Much of what’s circulating…
Saving us from ourselves
OPINION: The Government's policy to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand is working directly against the goals of…Realism or rhetoric? — Editorial
OPINION: In theory everyone is happy with the deal struck between the Government and the agricultural sector over emissions.No time to stand still
Tom Pow, founder of Herd Homes, on the banking and environmental pressures facing farmers.At last a deal on climate change — Editorial
OPINION: Primary sector bosses and Government ministers waxed lyrical at a news conference at Parliament on the new deal on…Agribusiness
Dairy sheep open day draws huge crowd
300 plus rurals turned up at the fifth annual Spring Sheep Co open day at Matangi near Hamilton.
Like father, like son
Competing in the livestock contests at the New Zealand Agricultural Show is not for the faint-hearted.Uncertainty causing stress and anxiety
Newly elected DairyNZ director Tracy Brown says there are more moving parts in the industry now than in the whole…No silver bullet for phosphorus
In New Zealand’s soils, phosphorus does a great job at growing plants but unfortunately it does the same thing if…Dairy consumption on the rise in India
India's dairy market has recently transformed — which is good news for Fonterra's new consumer brand in the country.Management
NZ firm to monitor global lakes
A Christchurch company has won a major technology contest with a satellite-based remote sensing solution that could monitor the water quality of every lake globally.
Managing poo made easy
Irish slurry handling specialist Abbey Machinery is working to get more value from slurry. Business development manager international, Michael O’Grady explains.
Soil moisture: no more looking over the fence
Farm manager Bryan Mitchell describes as brilliant the SCADAfarm systems that allow him to remotely monitor and manage the irrigation of his 300ha of leased grazing land near Kirwee.
Separation gives constant result
Effluent separation offers a number of unique advantages, and opportunities that other systems don’t offer, says farm equipment manufacturer Rakaia Engineering Ltd (REL) Group.
Cultivating the right way
Cultivation of paddocks is common on farms at this time of year. It’s also a time when local storms may occur, adding substantial risk to an important farming practice.
Farm Health
Hot cows affect reproduction
Heat stress has a big effect on reproduction, explains Greg Jarratt, vet and director of Matamata Veterinary Services.
Personality important in farmer anxiety
New Lincoln University research shows analysing a farmer’s personal characteristics is important when dealing with their anxiety.
NAIT helps breeder manage bulls
Bull breeder Peter Maxwell manages a bull stud in central Auckland. Here's how he uses NAIT.
Dairy welfare code revamped
The code of welfare for dairy cattle has been amended to address behavioural needs and off-paddock systems, says the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).
Machinery & Products
Alpego gear built for tough terrain
Contracting business Hilltop Harvesting has found success with Alpego products.
Cold award for weighing system
Simple design coupled with a product that ‘gets the job done’, has led to Datamars taking the Gold Pin at the Best Design Awards.
Making good use of green water
Reporoa farmer Alistair Neville is using the Tow and Fert range for more environmentally-friendly farming practices.
Lower spec Samson
Danish slurry tanker specialist Samson Argo will this week launch its TG range of tankers at Agritechnica in Germany.
Innovation gongs for NH
New Holland Agriculture has picked up three silver medals in the Innovation Awards at the upcoming Agritechnica, November 10 to 16 in Hanover, Germany.
» The RNG Weather Report
Motoring
Colorado gets enhanced content
The Holden Colorado Z71 will be seen with new features when the 2020 model arrives at dealerships in November.
New entry level model for Hilux
Toyota New Zealand has broadened its Hilux range with a new entry level two-wheel drive, the WorkMate, aimed at buyers…New wagon a little different
Subaru's latest SUV offering fills a need for drivers looking for something smaller and a little more potent than your…Hilux ups the ante on safety
Toyota has raised the safety benchmark at grassroots level by introducing its Toyota Safety Sense Package on its hugely popular…Tourer – a practical family car
The new Holden Tourer may be just the ticket for Kiwi families wanting to go on adventures.» The RNG Weather Report
» Latest Print Issues Online
The Hound
Job hunting?
A mate of the Hound reckons outgoing special agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen, who is due to finish his current…
Hot air?
With the Government wanting to implement huge costs on the livestock farming sector by making New Zealand the only country…
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Popular Reads
Fonterra lifts milk price
Good news for Fonterra farmers – the co-op is increasing its 2019-20 forecast farmgate milk price by 30c/kgMS.
Fonterra executive resigns
A Fonterra executive has announced her resignation, nine months after joining the co-op.
Hort strong, but uneasy – survey
Positive sentiment still prevails across horticulture, but Government policies are weighing on the minds of growers.
Rural Life
Mechanisation new for the US
The impetus behind developing the Klima stripper back in 2007 was a continual lack of labour during the pruning season.
New machinery for the vineyard
Mark Daniel on what's new in machinery for the vineyard.
New Holland launches Braud 9000 series grape harvesters
New Holland Agriculture has introduced the new Braud 9000 series to its portfolio of self-propelled grape harvesters, with the 9090L…