Floating Farm Sinks
OPINION: The world's first floating dairy farm, once hailed as a vision of farming's future, is up for sale after seven years.
OPINION: While the Labour government has banned NZ livestock exports, worth up to $500 million annually, their Australian counterparts have no such intentions.
The Australian livestock export industry, which generates AU$2 billion-a-year, has distanced itself from the New Zealand industry, which has been banned from exporting livestock by sea, the ban being phased in over two years.
The Australian Government says it has no plans to ban livestock exports. New Zealand’s move is expected to help Australian farmers win lucrative trade deals with China, which had been spending big on our dairy breeding heifers.
While Australian exporters are sympathetic to the plight of their Kiwi colleagues, and disappointed by the ban, they are looking forward to sending more livestock to buyers overseas, with support from their government that believes animal welfare standards are adequate.
In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.
Efficiency is the big one because it tracks back into what is done on farm.
A four year trial has reaffirmed that mixing plantain into dairy pastures can help reduce nitrogen losses to freshwater while maintaining milk production and profitability, say researchers.
Fonterra has opened its upgraded Chengdu Application Centre, bringing New Zealand dairy expertise closer to customers in one of China's fastest-growing regions.
When it comes to annual rebates, it's been a long time between drinks for Ravensdown shareholders.
Special courses for secondary school teachers to help excite kids about agriculture and horticulture are now being run at Massey University.