Keeping M. bovis at bay during mating
Dairy farmers are using a range of tactics to keep their cows and farms safe from Mycoplasma bovis this mating season.
Recent
Uproar over Mackenzie Country irrigation consent
A controversial dairy conversion in the Mackenzie Country is now allowed to irrigate, even as Environment Canterbury warns that such…
Using your head, do effluent right
Effluent managed well is a nutrient and a benefit to your farming practice, says Pye Group’s Michelle Pye.
Water quality tops politicians’ agenda
Politicians are promising to improve water quality within five years.
Catros+ gets nutrients right down to plant root levels
New Zealand farmers can learn plenty about effluent management from their European counterparts.
National
Lighter and productive cows
Pye Group's farms all aim for a grass-fed low-input system, with minimal grain and fodder beet supplements.
NZ butter lands in the US
The US states Texas and California are being targeted by Lewis Road Creamery for its specialty butter.
Going hand-in-hand to sustain good business
Economic and social sustainability must go hand-in-hand with environmental sustainability, says the only farmer member of the recently named Fonterra…
$50m dryer for sheep milk
A new milk spray dryer to be built next year in Hamilton will help New Zealand’s advance in infant formula…
Rowarth wants better rap for dairy
Science, communication and how dairy works with other sectors to ensure New Zealand has a good reputation for sustainability will…
World
Ireland assembles its agrifood units
With the UK’s Brexit scheduled for April 1, 2019, discussions in Ireland are centred on tariffs, with a general call for a ‘soft’ Brexit that would allow present cross-border agreements to apply in the foreseeable future.
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.
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 the weather – so there’s nothing new.
Oz farmer forced to sell stock
With feed costs almost doubling, one drought-stricken Australian dairy farmer has been deciding to regularly sell livestock. He would like the government to provide rate relief for farmers affected by drought.
Opinion
Fonterra farmers vote strategically — Editorial
OPINION: Fonterra farmers have delivered a stinging rebuke to the co-op leaders: don’t expect us to rubber stamp your director…
Asia next dairy goldmine
OPINION: Asia is the ‘hot zone’ for dairy and will be the next dairy goldmine, especially the markets in China,…
Too late to plant maize silage?
About this time of the year, we always seem to get calls from merchants and farmers asking several versions of…
Crunching the numbers — Editorial
It's crunch time for dairy and beef farmers as they decide how much the two sectors will pay, respectively, toward…
Who best to elect? — Editorial
Fonterra farmer shareholders will this week receive voting papers for the 2018 director election.
Agribusiness
Orders surge for robotic milker
Milking technology company DeLaval says demand for the new DeLaval VMS milking system V300 is exceeding expectations.
Ethics matter most at Oz creamery
Innovative Western Australian dairy farmers Mat and Sue Daubney have added another feather to their cap.
Apprenticeship draws a crowd
One in five people interested in taking up dairy apprenticeships are from Auckland and one in three people placed in…
Labour demand growing
As in the other primary sectors, dairy is experiencing a demand for labour, says Jane Muir, DairyNZ people team manager.
Migrant worker threat ‘just a vote-catcher’
A government policy of a compulsory stand-down that would send home certain migrant workers after three years is a ‘vote-catcher’…
Management
Uproar over Mackenzie Country irrigation consent
A controversial dairy conversion in the Mackenzie Country is now allowed to irrigate, even as Environment Canterbury warns that such…
Using your head, do effluent right
Effluent managed well is a nutrient and a benefit to your farming practice, says Pye Group’s Michelle Pye.
Water quality tops politicians’ agenda
Politicians are promising to improve water quality within five years.
Rain watch on the Coast
A few minutes can make all the difference to saving or losing a paddock to pugging on a West Coast…
Finding the perfect spring fertiliser
Getting the biggest bang for your buck out of fertiliser while protecting economic and environmental bottom lines is a key…
Farm Health
Keeping M. bovis at bay during mating
Dairy farmers are using a range of tactics to keep their cows and farms safe from Mycoplasma bovis this mating season.
Programme to improve sector's in-calf rates
DairyNZ has redeveloped and updated a reproduction knowledge course known as the InCalf training programme.
Copper deficiency’s link to lameness
Every mating season, veterinarians are called to fresh calved heifers presenting with unexplained severe forelimb lameness. This could be down…
Genetics the key to more milk
The ability of dairy cows to use feed to produce higher quantities of milk is a genetics issue, says the…
Prepare for smaller, more productive herds
Dairy farmers worldwide are being urged to prepare now for a future with a smaller herd of higher producing cows,…
Machinery & Products
Catros+ gets nutrients right down to plant root levels
New Zealand farmers can learn plenty about effluent management from their European counterparts.
One tractor keeps cropping farm on track
Ross and Averill Smart have relied on Deutz Fahr tractors to help run their Mid Canterbury cropping farm for the…
Can’t buy it? 3-D print it
British company BuyAnyPart has launched a service manufacturing rare or obsolete parts using 3-D printing technology.
John Deere building on zero-turn range
John Deere has introduced the new diesel Z994R Commercial ZTrak zero-turn mower, said to offer more performance and efficiency, and…
Global fert spreader testing facility
Amazone has opened a Fertiliser Spreader Application Centre to better serve its customers worldwide.
Motoring
Making a line for the Sportline
After test driving the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline, we think getting one may be a clever choice.
Golden eagle soars
The Jeep legend was born in WWII but it came of age in the 1970s with a Golden Eagle version…
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…
Outback front in the wagon wars
It's not hard to believe that the Subaru Outback accounts for about 45% of all the Subarus sold in New…
The Mercedes-AMG G 63: Love it or hate it
Introducing the Mercedes-AMG G 63. Like Vegemite, you either love it or hate it.
» Latest Print Issues Online
Milking It
My goodness!
Another day, another ‘milk’ appears on the horizon.
Dwarf breeds impress
Good things often come in smaller packages and it may soon be true for dairy farmers.
» eNewsletter
Popular Reads
Electric fence relocated from an armchair
It's not uncommon for farms to be a family affair, but the Drumm family at Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland, have…
Top primary sector employers shortlisted
The finalists in the first Primary Industries Good Employer Awards have been announced.
Fonterra drops 30b litre target
Fonterra is dropping a target to achieve 30 billion litres of milk volume by 2025.
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’.