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Ambassador for Ireland to NZ Jane Connolly at the 2023 Fieldays Enterprise Ireland stand with John Concannon of JFC Agri Ltd.
In the rural landscapes of New Zealand and Ireland, a shared agricultural heritage thrives, built on a strong mixture of tradition and innovation, with mirror image climates earning both countries global acclaim for their food quality and sustainable agriculture.
Ireland's journey from a longstanding agricultural economy to a leader in science-based innovation is a testament to its commitment to the future of farming. By integrating traditional practices with modern advancements, Ireland helps farms and agribusiness worldwide to not only maximise their yields but also to minimise environmental impacts, inputs, and costs.
Ireland currently exports innovative solutions to over 140 countries, generating over €1 billion in sales annually.
Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government's export agency, returns to Fieldays for the 17th consecutive year in 2024, hosting a blend of established brands and innovative startups, with some new products developed specifically for the New Zealand market.
Exhibitors at the Ireland Pavilion (Stand D67) include a plethora of companies from newcomers such as Agri Data Analytics, who are developing a bovine breathalyser device to capture and measure enertic ruminant methane emissions and JFC Agri, who after visiting Fieldays last year, has adapted its Evolution automatic calf feeder to feed whole milk to New Zealand dairy calves. Dairy Master offers advanced milking systems, feeding equipment, and herd management tools, while Abbey Machinery specialises on the back end of the animals with slurry handling, grassland, and of course, animal feeding equipment.
In addition to the Ireland Pavilion, visitors should look out for other Irish brands being exhibited local distributors or dealers, including Gallagher Animal Management, who will featuring StrongBó Agritech's Auto Weigher system being launched in New Zealand - automated and remote front-foot livestock weighing system for real time performance and health.
Waringa will make their debut at Fieldays, showing Agri-Spread International's multipurpose fertiliser and lime spreaders, Webbline will present Mastek's innovative slurry pumps and dribble bars.
Elsewhere the Power Farming Group will showcase McHale's balers and bale handling equipment, Giltrap Agrizone will be showing HiSpec, Malone, Major, and Prodig products, while Ag Attachments will be featureing Tanco's Bale Shears and Drommone's ball and pick up hitch systems.
The Irish Minister of State for Rural Communities says his country and New Zealand face very similar challenges on a range of issues related to agriculture, including climate change, biodiversity and rural depopulation.
A system that combines UV-C light for disinfection could provide chemical free treatment of plant pathogens and diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis on berry, vine and tree crops.
OPINION: With the 2024 edition of National Fieldays behind us, it would be fair to say that although the mood was positive – a plus, given the negative sentiment across the rural sector – you must wonder if this showcase format’s days are numbered.
JFC Agri, the family-owned manufacturer of agricultural products from Galway, Ireland, used Fieldays to launch its innovative Evolution range of automatic calf feeders, including the state-of-the-art Evolution S4 Automatic Unit.
What do you want from your pasture? That's the question top Massey University scientists were asking farmers at the 'Science for Farmers' site at Fieldays recently.
The chair of Beef + Lamb NZ, Kate Acland says the rush appears to be on to purchase farms and convert them to forestry before new rules limiting this come into effect.
New Zealand farmers will face higher urea prices this year, mainly on the back of tight global supply and a weak Kiwi dollar.
Andy Caughey of Wool Impact says a lot of people in NZ have been saying it's crazy that we are not using natural fibres in our buildings and houses.
Former chief executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July.
Avian flu getting into New Zealand's poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
The annual domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.
