Genetics, Efficiency and Performance: How the Burgesses are raising the bar at Te Poi
Bill and Michelle Burgess had an eye-opening realisation when they produced the same with fewer cows.
DairyNZ is calling on the Government to respond to an advisory group’s recommendations to improve winter grazing rules.
In December, the Southland Advisory Group recommended the Government make several changes to rules under the Government’s National Environmental Standard for Freshwater. These included amendments to pugging and resowing dates.
“DairyNZ supports the group’s recommendations to the government that aim to ensure winter grazing rules are clear and achievable for farmers, and lead to better environmental outcomes,” says DairyNZ chair, Jim van der Poel.
“The advisory group and the Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Primary Industries have been working positively together to make the regulations practical and effective, and we are keen to see a decision announced on the outcome.”
Southland dairy farmer and advisory group member Paul Turner says it is important for farmers to have clarity around what they are doing for next season and beyond in terms of wintering practices.
“People are holding back because they are unsure what to do from a regulatory perspective,” he says.
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.

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