LIC ends year with $30.6m profit
Herd improvement company LIC has ended the 2024-25 financial year in a strong position - debt-free and almost quadrupling its net profit.
A new app for farmers has been launched by LIC Automation to help those with CellSense in-line sensors to more easily manage mastitis in their herd.
CellSense is an automated in-line sensor providing farmers with a live somatic cell count (SCC) result within two minutes of cupping the cow. The new CellSense Connected app sends the SCC results straight to farmers’ smart devices. Data is presented in an easy-to-use format on the farmers’ devices (phones and tablets), allowing them to assign a SCC result to a cow during milking.
This means farmers can view reports at their convenience and use them to aid dry off decisions. A flashing light system in the milking shed is an optional extra that alerts farmers to which cows in the herd have a high SCC.
Paul Whiston, LIC Automation’s chief executive says it heard from farmers they wanted an affordable solution enabling better mastitis management.
‘Until now, a herd identification system had to be fitted in the shed so the data from the sensors could be stored. CellSense Connected means no herd identification system is needed. It puts the farmer in control of what is and isn’t recorded.”
The app has been designed for farmers who run smaller operations and are looking for a cost-effective way manage mastitis. LIC Automation have found through on-farm trials that farmers are mainly concerned with the cows that have a high SCC level and tend to record only the outliers in their herd.
CellSense Connected integrates to LIC Automation’s Protrack, allowing farmers to schedule drafts from the app. It is suitable for both Herringbone and Rotary sheds and connects to other LIC Automation products.
Fresh produce grower and exporter T&G Global has overturned last year’s dismal performance by reporting a half year net profit of $1.7 million.
One of New Zealand’s largest fertiliser plants could be forced to shut down for four months as uncertainty looms over gas supply.
Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green says two public meetings held this week should have made it loud and clear that rural families and businesses are concerned about proposed staffing changes at NZ Police.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting on a proposal to ban weedkillers containing chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA).
August 6 marks Farm Worker Appreciation Day, a moment to recognise the dedication and hard mahi of dairy farm workers across Aotearoa - and DairyNZ is taking the opportunity to celebrate the skilled teams working on its two research farms.
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: Sydney has a $12 million milk disposal problem.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait's recovery seems to have hit another snag.