DairyNZ lifts breakeven milk price forecast to $8.68 for 2025/26 season
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
A nationwide shortage of zinc – the preferred treatment for facial eczema -- is causing concern to dairy farmers in the North Island, especially in Waikato.
DairyNZ general manager extension Andrew Reid says the wet warm weather in Waikato and potentially in Taranaki and the Lower North Island has seen FE spore counts rise. Farmers are being urged to monitor this closely.
Reid says if farmers can’t get zinc they should talk to their vets about alternative products and check the effectiveness of such products.
Last season FE seriously hampered dairy and sheep and beef farmers.
The other area of concern, says Reid, is the West Coast of the South Island.
“They still have ongoing wet; there's no significant relief from the rain. Farmers have a watching brief from a wellness perspective, and they are frustrated at not being able to get on pastures because of the wet."
He notes that Northland and Hawkes Bay have been dry, but elsewhere farmers are poised for a reasonable autumn and are generally optimistic.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.