Timaru-Bred Bull Takes Out 2026 Mahoe Trophy
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
Herd improvement company LIC has entered the Indonesian market.
The farmer-owned co-operative has confirmed a distributor in Indonesia and secured its first genetics sale.
The agreement comes as Indonesia looks to increase domestic milk production, supported by a government-backed programme to provide nutritious meals, including milk, to school children.
LIC’s general manager of international, Paul Dunbar, says the distributorship reflects growing demand to support Indonesia’s dairy industry through improved herd performance.
“Indonesia has clear ambitions for its dairy sector, and LIC genetics provide a proven pathway to help lift productivity.”
Dunbar says expanding into international markets allows LIC to stay close to emerging global trends while also delivering value back to New Zealand farmers.
“Our focus is on producing the best pasture-based genetics in the world. Where there’s a clear fit, we can deliver value for farmers offshore while continuing to support our farmer shareholders at home.”
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world with more than 287 million people, and a dairy industry on the rise. Milk production exceeded 550 million litres in 2025, with further growth expected in 2026.
State farmer Pamu has delivered its strongest operating result on record.
Four years since it was first detected in New Zealand, researchers and growers now know much more about management of maize pest fall armyworm (FAW).
The Government has announced it will pause key parts of Waikato Plan Change 1 (PC1) in a decision that is set to give Waikato farmers a reprieve from new consenting and farm-planning requirements while the wider resource management system is overhauled.
OPINION: The time has come for the Government to back the organic sector.
Plan ahead and be patient. That’s the message to farmers and horticulturalists from the chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, Kent Weir.
The industry is crying out for graduates with agricultural related degrees.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…