How genetics influence calf growth and mature cow size in NZ
This is the second in a series of articles from Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Informing New Zealand Beef programme.
A hub farm in each of Beef + Lamb NZ’s seven regions and more focus groups are being rolled out for the red meat sector this year.
This is part of B+LNZ’s refreshed strategy, where it is lifting investment into their extension programme and putting more boots on the ground to help and guide farmers.
B+LNZ chief executive Alan Thomson told the organisation’s annual meeting in Rotorua today that the biggest changes under their refreshed strategy are in the extension area.
“What we heard from farmers during the strategy review is you wanted more boots on the ground helping farmers.
“In the last year we have been focused on recruiting great people to deliver the focus groups and hub farm programmes.
“Focus groups are small group learning initiatives that focus on a specific area of on-farm business or performance.
“All the research shows that these kinds of learning environments drive the most change on farm.”
Thomson says they have begun rolling out focus groups in all the regions.
By contrast, a hub farm showcases real-time farm business changes from implementing a change on the farm.
He adds that the aim over the coming year will be to set one hub farm up in each region.
“For both the focus groups and hub farms farmer council input has been critical and I’d like to sincerely thank them for their important work.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
If there was a silver lining in the tragedy that was Cyclone Gabrielle, for New Zealand Young Grower of the Year, Grace Fulford, it was the tremendous sense of community and seeing first-hand what good leadership looks like.
New research could help farmers prepare for a future where summer rainfall is increasingly unpredictable and where drought risk is rising, no matter what.
The first calves of a new crossbred dairy-beef offering are now on the ground at a Pamu (Landcorp) farm near Taupo.
Spinach is NZ's favourite leafy green, according to the Department of Statistics.
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