Leah Prankerd: A passion for dairying and farmer support
It was love that first led Leah Prankerd to dairying.
The design and construction of an effective dairy effluent system is a complex process.
It requires the assistance of experts who are qualified and experienced in the field. Communication with the system designers, installers and contractors will be crucial to ensure the result is fit-for-purpose in your farming situation.
According to DairyNZ, a good effluent service provider will offer:
DairyNZ recommends that designers and installers should be involved in the project from start to finish supervising the quality and standard of workmanship during the installation and commissioning of the system. They should be willing to stand by their work.
DairyNZ also recommends farmers use suitably qualified and accredited effluent system designers.
Make sure the system will be up to the job, it says.
A poorly designed system will be expensive and frustrating in the long term, particularly for the farm team. Like milking too many cows through a dairy, it can be done, but it takes longer and the likelihood of fatigue, breakdown and general frustration is extremely high.
A system which is poorly designed may result in problems such as:
"It is important to think about potential changes to the farm system, especially intensification, including an increase in cow numbers, greater use of stand-off and feed pads or the addition of wintering facilities.
"If these are desired but finances don't allow you to accommodate these now, plan for a staged expansion to the system as you require it. Get the system designed with the changes in mind - it can save a big expenditure in the future."
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.
Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through a new initiative designed to make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking easier.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.