New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
A warning to dairy farmers: a move to sheep milking is probably not an option.
An organiser of a recent sheep milking conference, associate professor Craig Prichard, of Massey University, says sheep milking is never going to come anywhere near replacing the bovine industry.
He says a Taranaki farmer called asking what sort of sheep milking operation he could run on 100ha.
"I said 'you're asking me the wrong question'. I asked 'where is your market, where is your processor and who are you going to sell your milk to?' Often people in the bovine industry are so used to having someone take their milk. This farmer was asking the wrong question.
"Everyone in the sheep milking business has to solve the market and the producer problem first. They must ask, 'where is my market and who am I going to sell to?' That drives the production process. In the bovine industry they do not think market first; they are a supplier driven industry."
Prichard says every bovine dairy farmer in NZ struggles to see their market; it's an institutional problem. He says he knows of many dairy farmers who say the industry is not connecting with customers.
"On the other hand the sheep milking industry is putting customers right at the core of it and they are the ones who are going to drive this sector."
Prichard says the sheep milking conference had good science presentations and showcased where the industry has got to in a relatively short time.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.