Rain great, but drought biting
"Everyone's trying all sorts of combinations to get through" is how Cheviot's Emmet Daly describes North Canterbury farmers' efforts to cope with their sixth season of drought.
Farming visionaries are getting a come-on from the Sir Peter Blake Trust.
It wants to recognise people who have 'dared to dream' and act to make their ideas a reality.
Farmers are not as well recognised for their achievements as they should be, says the trust's chief executive, Shelley Campbell, announcing the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Awards, a key event in the trust's annual Leadership Week in June 22-29.
The aim is identify six leaders aged 25-45 who have inspired and achieved in many walks of life – sometimes in relative obscurity. Anyone can nominate a worthy emerging Kiwi leader, to a deadline of March 30.
Campbell says the awards are to encourage New Zealanders to develop the kind of leadership demonstrated by Sir Peter Blake during his yachting and environmental feats.
Blake dreamed of winning the America's Cup, then dared, as a natural leader, to get all New Zealand behind him to make it a reality.
"True leaders dare to dream. They are willing to stand tall and put a stake in the ground, to believe. It's their vision, their ability to inspire and their belief that makes them stand above the rest.
"And this year we'd like to see more nominations from the agriculture industry.... It would be great to recognise their achievements."
The Emerging Leaders are announced alongside the Blake Medal, which celebrates a great New Zealander with an outstanding contribution to the country.
www.sirpeterblaketrust.org
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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