Irish Agriculture Minister Highlights NZ Farm Differences
Ireland's Minister of state for Agriculture says it’s hard to explain to Irish farmers the size and scale of NZ farms.
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.
While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.
Irish Minister of State of Agriculture, Noel Grealish was in New Zealand recently for an official visit.
While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in Palmerston North certainly did, when reigning World Champion Jack Jordan was denied the opportunity of defending his world title in Europe later this year, after being beaten by his big brother’s superior axle blows, at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.
AgriZeroNZ has invested $5.1 million in Australian company Rumin8 to accelerate development of its methane-reducing products for cattle and bring them to New Zealand.
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
A bull on a freight plane sounds like the start of a joke, but for Ian Bryant, it is a fond memory of days gone by.

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