Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
Federated Farmers is putting up two helicopters today to check on farmers isolated by the earthquake.
Katie Milne, a Feds Board member who is helping to coordinate assistance to farmers in areas hit by the quake, says they have not heard from some farmers, but she suspects telecommunications are out and road access cut.
The Feds are coordinating the response of which DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ and others are a part of.
Milne says many hill country farmers are very resourceful and are used to being isolated from time to time. Some have their own helicopters and aircraft. Milne says she suspects many homes and farming infrastructure have been badly damaged, but says on some farms there will be a number of houses and that may help the situation.
Power and fuel will be big issues for farmers and hence the need to get roads cleared as soon as possible.
Milne says once they know the farmers’ needs, they can start matching that with the necessary resources. But at this stage farmers with damage to their properties will need people who are qualified or capable of carrying out that work without supervision.
Well-meaning people who can’t do the necessary work will cause more problems for farmers, she says.
Milne says they want to get an accurate picture of the devastation before the ‘ugly weather’ comes in today and tomorrow.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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