How farmers make spring count
OPINION: Spring is a critical season for farmers – a time when the right decisions can set the tone for productivity and profitability throughout the year.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients has awarded $60,000 in tertiary study scholarships to seven students who have set their sights on careers in the primary industries sector.
This year's scholarships bring the total awarded by the co-operative since 2002 to 71.
Warwick Catto science strategy manager at Ballance Agri-Nutrients says it was fantastic to see high calibre students heading into agri-business, science and engineering tertiary education.
"There were strong applicants this year, who all demonstrated a true passion for New Zealand's primary industries sector and see many career opportunities in it. Students recognise that New Zealand is an exporting nation so they are combining disciplines such as marketing, engineering, agriculture, and international business."
"While many students have an ambition to take over the family farm they know they need to gain a tertiary qualification. The primary industries sector has an extensive range of opportunities to offer young graduates. I look forward to seeing where they take the sector in the future," he says.
Ballance handed out four scholarships each valued at $4,000 for up to three years and an additional three, one-year scholarships, each valued at $4,000.
Three-year scholarships were awarded to Timothy Craig from Oamaru, Angela Clarke from Te Awamutu, James Robertson from Ohaupo, and Matthew Poole from Hawera.
One-year scholarships were awarded to Alex Menzies from Omakau, Paddy Ford from Patea and Chris Lowe from Pukekohe.
Ballance received 86 applications for the 2015 scholarship programme, up 11 from last year.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
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