Kubota joins forces with Hurricanes
Japanese agricultural equipment maker Kubota will have its stamp on the home jersey for the Hurricanes.
One of the country’s most promising young cattle judges is heading to the US to play professional rugby.
Gordon Fullerton, 22, who grew up on his parents’ dairy farm near Te Awamutu, has been signed by Old Glory DC.
He’ll relocate to the US this month and will be based in the nation’s capital, near the White House.
“This is my first professional rugby gig. There are quite a few unknowns, but I’m really excited,” said Gordon.
“It’ll be great just to focus on rugby for a bit and test the boundaries, although it will be hard been away from the cows.”
Gordon has been playing premier-grade rugby in the Waikato for the Te Awamutu Sports Rugby Club.
Old Glory DC competes in a national competition and will clash against teams from Texas, California and New York in 2020.
Gordon’s other major passion is dairy cows.
His parents own Woodcote Holsteins, one of the top producing Holstein Friesian herds in the country.
Gordon has spent the past two years working for LIC as a genetics specialist.
“It’s a diverse role which I’ve really enjoyed,” he said.
“I’ve been able to travel all over the country and visit some impressive dairy farms.”
“Talking with passionate dairy farmers not just about their cows, but also their farming businesses, has been a bonus,” he said.
Gordon faces a long drive if he wants to milk a dairy cow in his new home.
“The closest dairy farms will be a couple of hours drive from Washington, or in the neighbouring state of Pennsylvania,” he said.
“I plan to visit a few dairy farms while I’m over there. It’ll be an interesting learning experience and good for the soul,” he said.
Gordon might be a rising talent on the rugby field, but he’s also gaining national recognition in the cattle show ring.
The Holstein Friesian NZ member recently received the coveted Pitcairn’s Trophy after winning a junior judging competition in Christchurch.
He also took out the World Wide Sires all breeds junior judging competition at Stratford A&P Show this month.
“I’ve been judging since I was a teenager. I enjoy going to shows and watching dairy cattle in the show ring,” he said.
“Judging is quite a skill. You have to be able to confidently articulate why you have placed one animal before another.”
“We’re looking for a functionally sound animal with a strong udder and sound feet and legs to help her live longer and be more production,” he said.
Talking into a microphone in front of exhibitors and a large crowd has delivered unexpected benefits.
“It’s helped me get better at public speaking.”
“It’s always useful if you’re in a situation where you’re outside of your comfort zone and you can talk your way out of it,” he laughed.
Gordon’s contract in the US runs until June 2020, which he hopes will be extended.
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.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.