New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
THE FARMER Leptospirosis Action Group (FLAG) has contracted Massey University researchers to find out if leptospirosis affects agricultural productivity.
FLAG is funded by Government's Sustainable Farming Fund, Agmardt and industry stakeholders. It's project team includes representatives from Rural Women New Zealand, the Deer Farmers' Association, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
"Infection in deer herds has been shown to lead to up to a 6.4kg lower average live weight at slaughter and up to a 10 per cent reduction in weaning rate," says Massey EpiCentre associate professor Cord Heuer.
Disease control through vaccination has proven highly effective in eliminating such losses, he says, while dairy and pig farmers already tend to implement control methods, which are presumably behind a drastic reduction of human Leptospirosis since the 1990s, Heuer adds.
"But at the moment there is no information about what benefit, if any, these measures might have for sheep and beef farmers. We know that 97% of adult sheep flocks and 97% of beef breeding herds have evidence of infection, with more than 50% of animals in New Zealand being antibody positive.
"What we don't know is if there's a productivity decline associated with the infection."
Given the results from deer herds, Heuer expects the findings could be similar for sheep and beef, but research will determine whether that is the case.
"More conclusive evidence is needed for farmers to make an informed, science-based decision about leptospirosis control programmes."
As well as research, an extension programme will engage stakeholders and disseminate scientific findings related to the disease through a series of field days and seminars. These will target farmers and farm workers, veterinarians, other rural workers, rural medical professionals and other stakeholders.
FLAG member Neville Haack says the group will hold regular farmer field days and provide updated information for farmers when applicable.
"We will also enlist a number of demonstration farms that will provide information through blood testing and production monitoring."
Haack adds a Leptospirosis website is being developed with Rural Women New Zealand that will act as an information portal for the latest research and other updates from the group.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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