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Avocado growers appoint first woman president

The New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association (NZAGA) announced their new chair will be Linda Flegg.

New investment in spirulina production

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Sustainable Food & Fibres Futures Fund will invest in a project to assess the viability of larger scale production of spirulina in New Zealand.

Lowering empty rate with quality feed

On many farms the level of mating success achieved is very much based on the quality of the feed.

Ahuwhenua Trophy's inaugural hort winner

The winner of the inaugural Ahuwhenua Trophy Excellence in Māori Horticulture Award 2020 is Te Kaha 15B Hineora Orchard.

Mayors give government plan to ease seasonal worker shortage

Hastings District Council has given the government a plan to address the seasonal labour shortage faced by the horticulture and viticulture sectors due to Covid-19.

Lely offerings for the future

Dutch robotic specialist Lely launched a new farm management application called Horizon at its recent Future Farm Days 2020.

National

Pamela Storey steps down from DWN board

Pamela Storey has announced that she will be ending her term on the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Trust board this month.

More stockfood options on menu

Swap Stockfoods has operated in the South Island for a while now but has opened a new site in Christchurch that will give more stockfood options to farmers in Canterbury, the West Coast and further north.

Miraka picks up awards

Taupo-based Maori dairy company Miraka took the top honours at this year’s Biosecurity Awards.

Wyeth ready for new challenge

The chief executive-elect of Yili-owned Westland Milk Products Richard Wyeth says he’s looking forward to the challenge of running the company.

World

Lifeline for field day organisers

Australia has introduced a support package for struggling field days organisations.

UN removes anti-meat tweet

The United Nations has removed a tweet following a global backlash from farmers.

Bunnings banning Oz timber “pandering to extremist groups”

Bunnings’ decision to no longer sell timber from an Australian state-owned forestry agency that breached conservation laws is being criticised.

New swine flu has ‘pandemic potential’

Scientists are calling for urgent action following the discovery of a new strain of swine flu.

UK farmers use trackers to recover stolen machinery

An increase in the use of trackers is enabling UK police to recover 100s of 1000s of pounds worth of…

Opinion

Strategies at play

Former Fonterra Shareholders Council chairman and Waipu farmer Simon Couper looks at the strategies of Fonterra's competitors to see how…

The long shadow of M.bovis - Editorial

OPINION: More than three years on, Mycoplasma bovis continues to cast a shadow over some farms.

Running on empty no good

OPINION: Fuelling things up is a constant part of our everyday lives on the farm.

The results are in - now what?

OPINION: Now voters have had their say, the incoming Government has some important decisions to make about farming in New…

Time to review strategy, not the council

Former Fonterra Shareholders Council chair and Waipu farmer Simon Couper suggests they should be reviewing strategy, not the council.

Agribusiness

China's largest rotary parlour

China's domestic milk production has received a boost with the installation of the country’s largest milking rotary parlour.

Alliance puts in good performance despite Covid-19

Meat co-op Alliance Group announced an underlying profit of $27.4 million for 2020. Adjusted for one-off events, the annual profit…

US holds up NZ meat exports

New Zealand's red meat sector exports to the United States grew by 50% during the three months from July to…

Carpet maker's blast from the past

Following its announcement earlier this year of quitting synthetics and only using 100% NZ wool, carpet manufacturer Cavalier Bremworth has…

Investors shedding Fonterra units

Fonterra's unit trading scheme continued to bleed investors in the financial year ending July 2020.

Management

Milking cows behind the barbed wire

A recent field day at the Waikeria Prison Farm near Te Awamutu offered farmers the chance to see what goes on “behind the wire”, alongside introducing the idea of farmers employing offenders near the end or after the term of their sentences.

Don't run out of water

Water is something we often take for granted but over recent years, through the droughts inflicted on us, I have seen many farms whose water systems have been lacking.

LIC invests in start-ups

Farmer cooperative LIC is investing in two agritech businesses working to deliver more value to New Zealand dairy farmers.

Wood chips to help solve nitrogen problem

Preventing nitrogen getting into waterways is high on the priority list for many farmers and growers.

Staying ahead of the game

High-performing farmers are front-footing challenges facing the sheep and beef sector and adapting their businesses, according to new research by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP).

Farm Health

Liver function key to yield and health

Prior to the 1600’s the liver was considered to be the most important organ in the body, much more so than the heart and the brain.

Lowering empty rate with quality feed

On many farms the level of mating success achieved is very much based on the quality of the feed.

TB fight goes on

The total number of TB-infected herds in Hawke’s Bay has risen to 20, following the recent reclassification of a new herd in the Waitara Valley.

Getting to the bottom of ill thrift

Ill thrift is a term used to describe when stock grow at a slower growth rate than expected, given their feed allocation.

Car racing AI technician motors through her work

Dannevirke dairy farmer Tania Cresswell manages her parents’ 55ha dairy farm at Papatawa, milking 160 predominately Holstein Friesian cows.

Machinery & Products

Flowtast glide bar delivers clean forage, protects soil

First seen as an option in its linkage mounted rotary swathers, Pottinger has now released the Flowtast glide bar as an option for its TOP 842 C centre-delivery rake.

Lely offerings for the future

Dutch robotic specialist Lely launched a new farm management application called Horizon at its recent Future Farm Days 2020.

Weeds in for a shock

WIith an increasing focus on reducing chemical herbicides, largely because of crop resistance and a potential build-up of residues, new methods of weed control are appearing.

Front hopper seed drill eases sowing pressure

Austrian tillage and seed drill manufacturer Pöttinger has expanded its range of Aerosem pneumatic seed drills, with the addition of 4 metre and 5 metre folding versions units with a front hopper.

V8 - a baler with a grunt

Following three years of testing with clients worldwide, Ireland-based manufacturer McHale has added a bigger model to its range of variable-chamber round balers with the new V8 series.