Massey Uses Portable Analyser to Measure Pasture Soil GHGs
Researchers at Massey University are using a special piece of scientific equipment to improve the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from pasture soils.
The interest in the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep has prompted Massey University to run a special field day at their Riverside farm near Masterton on 1 June.
Professor Steve Morris says Massey now has a flock of Romney x Wiltshire ewes which have been mated and are due to lamb in September and these will be three quarter Wiltshire/Romneys. He says the field day is designed to show farmers what they are doing and likely get some feedback from them as well.
He says the drop in wool prices has sparked greater interest in these self-shedding sheep.
"There is definitely a lot of farmers who have expressed interest and it's actually your articles in Rural News that has prompted this. It's probably one of the biggest responses we have had to a newspaper article," he says.
Other Massey scientists such as Professor Paul Kenyon, Drs Hugh Blair and Rene Corner-Thomas will speak along with Richard Morrison whose family has a long history in breeding Wiltshires.
Professor Morris says at the field day they hope to have scanning data about the lambs available and their arm is to hold further field days at Riverside in the future.
Details: Massey University, Riverside, SH 2, 10 kms north of Masterton, June 1, 9.30am - 1.00pm.
DairyNZ deputy chair Cameron Henderson has been re-appointed unopposed for another term.
Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are coming to the West Coast of the South Island.
Most dairy regions around the country have had a pretty good season so far says Tracy Brown.

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