Farmers push for greater fitness
Dairy farmers Neil and Glenda Gray are ready to swap the paddock for the tarmac as they prepare for the Farmstrong Fit4Farming Cycle Tour.
Fitness tracker devices have a worldwide following; now there's one for cows, by the Japan tech giant Fujitsu, to boost their breeding efficiency.
The estrus detection system for cattle (EDSC) determines exactly when cows are biologically primed for artificial insemination, reports Digital Trends.
Smarter breeding and birthing are the aims. They consist of a wearable cattle pedometer and a stationary receiver to process tracked data.
The data collected by the receiver is sent to the Microsoft Azure cloud, from where EDSC automatically sends the feedback to a computer or laptop. This gives cattle owners access to loads of valuable information about the livestock, such as timing for early conception and predicted due dates.
Blueberries have the potential to become a major horticultural export, earning up to $150 million within the next three to five years.
Twenty five secondary school students from around New Zealand recently completed a three day residential programme designed to explore career opportunities across the food and fibre production supply chain.
Conversions of sheep and beef farms to forestry have slowed, however new research from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) suggests land of value for food production remains at risk.
OPINION: A simpler, clearer, more effective Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
Too many farmers put reclaiming excise duty on petrol into the "too-hard" basket, says farm accounting software provider, Farm Focus.
Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company has confirmed that chair and director Stephen Allen will retire at the co-operative's annual general meeting (AGM) on 3 December 2026, ending 30 years of service, including more than 20 years as Chair.
OPINION: The Irish dairy sector is facing a new dilemma - maintaining year-round fresh milk supplies.
OPINION: Could beef cows play an increasingly important role in improving profitability and resilience on hill country farms?