Start of a turnaround?
In another sign of improving agribusiness sentiment, two listed companies have lifted their forecast earnings for the year.
PGG WRIGHTSON and software company Xero will jointly sponsor the premier feature at National Fieldays 2014.
The feature, ‘Managing Resources for a Competitive Advantage’, will show where and how farming can best develop systems and processes to manage resources and remain competitive.
Feature exhibitors in the main pavilion are “highly visible”, Fieldays says. “Hot topics” there include feed sources, nutrient management, animal health, workforce, security, control, traceability, water management and power innovations.
Fieldays chief executive Jon Calder says New Zealand’s competitive advantage is its efficiency in converting resources into protein.
“As a nation, maximising productivity in [using] resources we have done incredibly well… and will continue to do if we [collaborate] across industry and sectors. With PGG Wrightson and Xero we look forward to exploring this theme further at Fieldays 2014.”
Xero last month launched its ‘Farming in the Cloud’ software solution during its annual conference, says spokesman Ben Richmond, rural strategy head.
“Managing resources for farms [requires best] milk production and stock levels, [and] extends to the heart of farm management – running a farm as an efficient business.”
“The ability to pinpoint a farm operations financial position at any time coupled and the ability to share information with key advisors in a seamless and collaborative way is central to… a sustainable business…. Farmers together with Xero can use the power of the cloud to increase efficiency and productivity.”
PGG Wrightson general manager marketing Shannon Galloway says the company is proud to be a feature sponsor.
“We know farming is a challenging and complex business and our fortunes are tied to those of our customers.
“This year’s theme is a cornerstone foundation for PGG Wrightson. Everyday our staff work with farmers on their immediate on-farm needs while helping our customers plan.
“We aim to stay abreast of developments in the industry and… provide new products and services.”
PGG Wrightson is a foundation partner in the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium and offers sponsorships and awards in farming.
Farmlands says that improved half-year results show that the co-op’s tight focus on supporting New Zealand’s farmers and growers is working.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that discovery of a male Oriental fruit fly on Auckland’s North Shore is a cause for concern for growers.
Fonterra says its earnings for the 2025 financial year are anticipated to be in the upper half of its previously forecast earnings range of 40-60 cents per share.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is having another crack at increasing the fees of its chair and board members.
Livestock management tech company Nedap has launched Nedap New Zealand.
An innovative dairy effluent management system is being designed to help farmers improve on-farm effluent practices and reduce environmental impact.
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