Wired for Science: Understanding the feeding habits of mealybug
Fussy children might be frustrating, but fussy mealybugs could help protect the New Zealand wine industry from grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.
Any suggestion of a merger between Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury is now dead in the water following the Minister of Education’s rejection of a partnership proposal by the two institutions.
The proposal, for less than a full merger, envisaged a merged governance body and some joint management systems with Lincoln maintaining its own name.
But it appears that neither institution particularly wanted it to go ahead.
In a letter to the universities last month, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the cost of the proposal outweighed its potential benefit.
“It has also become apparent that neither Canterbury nor Lincoln fully supports the proposal submitted,” he said.
In a joint statement, the universities welcomed the minister’s decision and said they would benefit as proposed by working together.
“Current examples include the Children’s University Canterbury Partnership, joint academic programmes and discussions on postgraduate collaboration.”
A joint working group now set up will better position New Zealand’s land based sector to contribute to a sustainable economy and environmental sustainability via world class teaching and research, they said. – Nigel Malthus
Sheep infant nutrition maker Blue River Dairy is hoping to use its success in China as a springboard into other markets in future.
Plentiful milk supplies from key producer countries are weighing down global dairy prices.
The recent windstorm that cut power to dairy farms across Southland for days has taught farmers one lesson – keep a generator handy on each farm.
The effects of the big windstorm of late October will be felt in lost production in coming weeks as repair crews work through the backlog of toppled irrigation pivots, says Culverden dairy farmer Fran Gunn.
The dairy sector is hopeful of being part of a free trade deal being hammered out between New Zealand and India.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
OPINION: Last week India's powerful Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was in the country for another round of negotiations on a…
OPINION: Two types of grifters have used the sale of Fonterra's consumer brands as a platform to push their own…