Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says uncertainty in the dairy industry is causing farmers to think twice before investing big time in the sector.
He says while the banks are offering money to invest in the sector, farmers are taking quite a cautious approach.
He says this is because of several things such as the shortage of labour, government legislation and the milk price coming down.
“As a result, there is a real reluctance among farmers to borrow that extra money,” he says.
Van der Poel says that is a reflection of things at the moment, with confidence is quite low and people are worried about what the future may hold.
He says costs have gone up, the last two GDTs haven’t been positive and there is still a labour shortage. He says in the last three years farmers have had to work harder than they would have liked.
“It would appear that they are taking stock, sitting back for a while and seeing how things play out including what actions the Chris Hipkins government might take in the coming months,” he says.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.