Cyclone Vaianu Threatens NZ Growers with Wind and Rain
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
It's not only the rural sector coming under pressure to clean up its environmental footprint.
Also busy at it is the tyre manufacturer Trelleborg, working on its factories to meet the challenges of climate change.
For example, it is completely re-engineering its Sri Lanka factory’s steam raising plant by installing an advanced biomass boiler. Steam is essential in tyre curing, but the traditional oil-fired boiler burns 3.5 million litres of oil annually and emits 11,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.
Trelleborg’s biomass-fired boiler will cut the plant’s CO2 emission to 1000t of CO2 . It will be commissioned next month.
The plant near Colombo employs 850 people and makes solid tyres for the materials handling and port industries, and pneumatic tyres for light farming applications.
Biomass for the boiler will be supplied by local producers, so shortening the supply line, further reducing the carbon footprint and supporting the local economy.
The work is an aspect of Trelleborg’s Blue Dimension approach to sustainability, combining environmental benefits with benefits for the customers such as higher efficiency and productivity.
Farmers will get an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in sheep genetics at the Sheep Breeder Forum this May.
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
A group of old Otago uni mates with a love of South Island back-country have gone the lengths of Waiau Toa Clarence from source to sea. Tim Fulton, who joined the group in the final fun to the river mouth, tells their story.
Operating with a completely different format from conventional tractors and combine harvesters, the NEXAT prime mover combines all steps of crop production in one modular carrier vehicle, from tillage, through seeding to harvesting.
Reports of severe weather forecast to move over the vast majority of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards this weekend will be very concerning for a significant number of growers.
Seeka chief executive Michael Franks says while it's still early days in terms of the kiwifruit harvest, things are looking pretty good.
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