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Rising material costs putting pressure on machinery pricing

A surge in raw material prices is pushing production costs to all-time highs and is likely to have serious consequences for the agricultural machinery sector.

The world economy is recovering, but a surge in raw material prices is pushing production costs to all-time highs.

New models mark seventh decade

Valtra recently announced upgrades to its N and T series tractors, with new models already rolling off the production line.

Celebrating its 70th year – and having already released the fifth generation A Series in January – Valtra has just announced upgrades to its N and T series tractors.

New rules for on-farm procedures

Lambs under the age of six months can be docked by a competent person using either a hot iron or rubber ring and the length of the docked tail must be no shorter than the end of the caudal fold.

New animal welfare regulations come into effect on 9 May. These will affect many common procedures carried out on farms, such as tall docking and treatment of bearings.

Plan for hogget breeding

Hogget breeding can be used to increase the total number of lambs weaned on a farm each year if managed correctly.

Bioeconomic modelling, published by Massey University PhD student Lydia Farrell in 2020 and more recent work by the team, has shown that adding hogget breeding to a North Island hill country property would increase cash operating surplus.

Support and resources available for farmers impacted by dry

Farmers facing regions facing dry or extremely dry conditions are being urged to tap into the resources available through industry good organisations and MPI.

Farmers in regions facing dry or extremely dry conditions are being urged to tap into the resources available to them through their industry good organisations and MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries).

Fonterra unveils capital structure plans

Fonterra has unveiled plans to overhaul its capital structure.

Capturing the benefits of catch crops

Sowing a catch crop after winter forage grazing can reduce N leaching losses by as much as 40-50%, according to Lincoln Agritech field research scientist Peter Carey.

Winter forage grazing is used extensively in the South Island as a low-cost system to feed dairy cows and build body condition prior to calving in late winter.

Over-the-top, state control

Jamie McFadden believes the Government's policy on FEPs is unprecedented state control over ordinary citizens.

Rural Advocacy Network chairman Jamie McFadden was a key speaker at the recent round of Groundswell NZ meetings. He spoke about the push for Farm Environment Plans (FEPs) and why these may not be the great cure-all many are claiming. Here is an edited version of the speech...

Shape up or ship out!

Damien O'Connor's recent ban on live exports is an "irrational proposal, designed to appeal to urban voters, swayed by a lunatic fringe", according to Tim Gilbertson.

OPINION: Damien! What were you thinking, banning the live export trade?

Wednesday, 05 May 2021 14:00

God help us

The Hound

OPINION:Your canine crusader ws amused to read about a vegan student doing a farm animal management course in the UK complaining about having to visit a farm as a course requirement.

Published in Rural News