Collars a smart move for a happy healthy herd
Tru-Test Active Collars have proven to be a game changer for many Australian and New Zealand farms since launching earlier this year.
As usual the Fieldays Innovations area drew large crowds, showcasing the that special breed of New Zealander who comes across problems, thinks out a solution and builds it, then has the courage to let it be poked and prodded by the public.
The following stood out:
Ag Oxi-Jet from Felton: winner Tru-Test Grassroots innovation Award.
This wash-down nozzle introduces air into the water flow as it passes through a venturi in the body of the nozzle, so increasing the volume of water. This saves up to 40% of the water needed for effective wash-down.
Made of anodised aluminium, the nozzle has a sturdy feel and should endure the rigours of the milking shed and collecting yard.
Fence Step, Bechler Steel: winner Tru-Test Grassroots Merit Award.
This unit uses a galvanised steel step and clamping system that can easily be fixed to round or square posts in areas where people need to get over fences without getting caught up in or damaging the fence.
Simple yet effective, it could replace wooden stiles which are high-maintenance.
Fence Detective, Danz Zappz: winner Vodafone Innovation Technical Award.
Using existing mobile phone technology, designer Danny Hall from Dargaville has developed an app that when held 20cm from an electric fence line shows whether it is live or not.
Simple: green for safe/switched off, red for danger/switched on.
Available for Android and soon to be released for Apple phones from $39.95.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.
New Zealand's dairy and beef industries say they welcome the announcement that the Government will invest $10.49 million in the Dairy Beef Opportunities (DBO) programme.
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