Climate-friendly cows closer
Dairy farmers are one step closer to breeding cow with lower methane emissions, offering an innovative way to reduce the nation's agricultural carbon footprint without compromising farm productivity.
Leading herd management company CRV Ambreed, has appointed two new members to its senior management team.
Mathew Macfie and Andrew Singers have taken on the roles of sales and marketing manager and information management and information technology manager respectively.
"Mr Macfie and Mr Singers collectively bring more than 40 years' experience in agribusiness and the rural sector," says CRV Ambreed managing director Angus Haslett
"Their respective expertise will ensure CRV continues to provide herd improvement products and services that benefit our farming clients and the New Zealand dairy industry as a whole."
Macfie joins CRV Ambreed following more than a decade with Gallagher. His most recent position was on Gallagher's senior leadership team as international business development manager.
As sales and marketing manager for CRV Ambreed, Macfie leads a team of about 50-60 part-time and full-time staff.
"It is a privilege to help our customers better manage their herds and achieve the best possible results for their farming businesses," he says
Singers has come from Ruralco Holdings Limited in Sydney, where he held the position chief information officer.
He has also held several roles within RD1, his latest as group information technology manager, where he led the development of several businesses and farm related IT strategies.
As information management and information technology manager for CRV Ambreed, Singers will focus on CRV's IT framework and business systems.
"Our data strategy is also a key focus for me, particularly with respect to our breeding programme," says Singers.
"I will be working on both the collection of data to support CRV's breeding programme, as well as the generation of farm information products to support the sales team and customers to better manage their herds."
"The aim is that our customers will find it easier to capture data, and get results they need to improve their herd in a more timely way."
Haslett says the additions to its senior management team will help the company offer leading herd improvement solutions in New Zealand.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.