Farmers warned to upgrade as 3G shutdown looms
As the clock ticks towards the 3G mobile network shutdown, farmers are being warned to upgrade or risk losing connection to their supply chain.
Rural internet suppliers have improved their time-of-day (TOD) performance over the last 12 months, now matching ADSL and VDSL in urban areas.
The internet speed monitoring company TrueNet says time-of-day variances on fixed wireless are worse than ADSL, but the actual speeds overall are faster.
TrueNet says TOD is a critical performance criterion and ISPs serving the rural sector have responded by matching standard connections with Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) funded connections at 95% or better.
The company says fixed wireless is now a viable and successful technology in rural regions and places between ADSL and VDSL in performance.
“As fixed wireless gains in popularity it’s expected to suffer from some congestion as demand grows, so it’s good to see that the rural wireless speed has settled around 78% of best hour speed.”
Ospri is reducing TB testing frequencies and movement control measures as the disease risk subsidies in parts of the country.
Farmgate beef prices remain at record levels and show no sign of easing.
Buyers trying to secure supply are keeping dairy prices at elevated levels.
Labour supply, and not geopolitical events, remains New Zealand dairy farmers' biggest worry, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean.
Farmlands Co-operative has announced Rachel Aldikacti will be its new chief sales officer.
From 14th - 22nd March, Cornwall Park will play host to Farm Week, seven days of activities centred on farming, agriculture and the farm's heritage on the site.

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