Cuddling cows
OPINION: Years of floods and low food prices have driven a dairy farm in England's northeast to stop milking its cows and instead charge visitors to cuddle them.
OPINION: While authorities in New Zealand take their time to decide if a feed supplement promising to slash a cow's methane output should enter the New Zealand market, other countries are giving the green light to farmers to use it.
Research has found Bovaer can reduce a cow's methane output by 30% in non-pasture cattle. Fonterra also announced it would team up with DSM to trial the product in early 2021.
While officials blame Covid and the high number of other applications for the delay, politicians are pointing out that the waiting is costing the industry.
Bovaer has now been cleared in more than 45 countries, with Paraguay the most recent. Bovaer, developed by Dutch animal health firm DSM, first applied in February 2021 for Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approval in NZ. DSM is no doubt hoping that a positive ruling is imminent.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.