Beef prices climb as supply contracts in key markets
With production volumes contracting in most major beef-producing regions, global cattle prices have continued to rise across recent months.
Three major Dutch agribusinesses are joining forces to reduce nitrogen emissions at dairy farms.
Farmer owned dairy co-op, FrieslandCampina, Rabobank and Lely have formed a partnership for the installation of 96 Lely Spheres, spread across all Dutch provinces.
The Lely Sphere is an installation that reduces nitrogen emissions by up to 70% in the barn of a dairy farm.
The three parties hope that after this pilot project the concept will be applied on a broader scale in the sector.
The Lely Sphere is a circular barn system that separates solid manure and urine and converts nitrogen emissions into valuable fertiliser. These can be reused by the farmer for precision fertilisation on the land. In this way a more closed mineral cycle is achieved, the use of artificial fertiliser decreases and the climate in the barn improves.
Recent scientific reports show that with the Lely Sphere, ammonia emissions are reduced by up to 70% in the barn.
With this partnership FrieslandCampina, Rabobank and Lely want to make the investment in a Lely Sphere accessible for farmers. FrieslandCampina will provide a financial contribution to the farms, Lely gives a discount on the purchase of the system and Rabobank offers a loan with advantageous conditions.
The parties say they trust that this initiative will also encourage regional and national authorities to take initiatives to stimulate sustainable agriculture through innovation, and to make the necessary financial resources available.
FrieslandCampina chief executive Hein Schumacher says the co-op always looks at how it can contribute to making the sector more sustainable through technology.
“With the Lely Sphere we achieve an immediate and proven nitrogen reduction,” Schumacher says.
“We believe that this is a more sustainable and future-proof solution for the Netherlands than an expensive buy-out scheme.
“With this we want to encourage the government to take on this approach and invest in farmers who want to make their farm management more sustainable.”
Lely chief executive André van Troost says, together with FrieslandCampina and Rabobank, they want to contribute to alternatives for the current government plans regarding the national nitrogen challenge.
“Instead of reducing livestock and compensating dairy farmers for this, we believe in investing in research and technical innovations to stimulate circular livestock farming and make agriculture more sustainable.
“With this partnership we make the investment in the Lely Sphere more accessible for farmers, enabling them to work towards a sustainable future for their business.”
Rabobank deputy director Food & Agri Martine Boon says that innovation is important for farmers, in order to become more sustainable and to continue farming.
“This initiative is not only a great collaboration but also one of the solutions to the current nitrogen problem.
“Rabobank is happy to contribute to this, in this case, by offering an interest rebate and a grace period for the farmer. This gives them more financial space to become more sustainable.”
Farmers can now sign up to participate in the programme. The cooperating partners expect to install the first Lely Sphere’s after the European summer.
Early next year, the results of the pilot will be evaluated.
Following recent storms in the region, the 69th edition of the Tour of Southland cycling event has been postponed.
A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.
The Government's revised 2050 biogenic methane target range of 14-24% by 2050 is being welcomed by dairy farmers.
An increasing number of students are doing agricultural and horticultural degrees at Massey University by distance learning.
ANZ New Zealand is encouraging farmers and businesses impacted by the recent extreme weather that hit Southland and South Otago last week to seek support if they need it.
When Professor Pierre Venter takes up his new role as vice chancellor at Massey University next February it will just be a matter of taking a few steps across the road to get to his new office at the Palmerston North Campus.
OPINION: Has the horse or horses bolted in parliament?
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer…