Spray duo provides top protection in high-stakes cereal crops
As the seed cereal manager at Carrfields, in Ashburton, Phil Smith carries a fair weight of responsibility.
In anticipation of on-going growth, international seed business Germinal has appointed Andrew Miller as its sales manager.
Initially based in Dunedin, the new position has a New Zealand-wide focus; growing Germinal’s customer base, building on the work done in the past and the success of the Aber High Sugar Grass varieties.
The company says Miller brings great knowledge and understanding of the New Zealand agronomy sector, as well as hands-on, on-farm, experience from his 200ha, family-owned, dairy farm on the Taieri Plains, near Dunedin.
With a Bachelor of Commerce from Lincoln University, Miller’s career has centred around the seed industry
. “I started work at a small seed company, Hodder and Tolley, and have now come full circle to an exciting and growing, international seed company, Germinal,” he said.
In between he has worked for Wrightson Seeds as a consultant in Australia, Ravensdown in the lower half of the South Island and most recently in an advisory and training role in the Grain and Seed division of Farmlands as an agronomist.
“We sold Germinal products at Farmlands so I know the varieties well. Germinal has high quality varieties which fit many New Zealand systems already, but we are developing new material even better suited to the New Zealand market which will come on stream in the years ahead.
“Germinal has strong science behind its products, so helping farmers understand and realise these benefits by increasing production and profitability excites me and will be extremely satisfying,” he said.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.