A significant fertiliser breakthrough?
Former ACT MP and Federated Farmers president Owen Jennings believes he's come across a new fertilising method in Australia that yields "outstanding results".
Centre-pivot irrigator ruts are contributing to the high accident rate amongst groundspreaders.
The New Zealand Groundspread Fertilisers' Association, (NZGFA) would like to see a reduction in recent accident rates amongst groundspreaders.
NZGFA president Stuart Barwood says "we are aiming to make farmers aware of the dangers to groundspread fertiliser drivers and trucks. Centrepivot ruts are a major accident waiting to happen.
"As the centre pivot irrigator moves slowly in a paddock, the movement of the wheels along the same track can "dig trenches" creating a major hazard. Groundspread fertiliser trucks are particularly vulnerable as they have narrow tyres that could easily drop into a pivot rut.
"There have been reported cases of drivers being thrown from their seats and hitting the roof or sides of the cab. Damage to springs, steering and sensitive on-board computers are also common.
"Our groundspreaders are highly skilled operators controlling expensive and complex machinery. The strict guidelines of Spreadmark assurance mean delays to farmers every time a truck hits one of these ruts.
"Accidents caused by centre-pivot irrigator tracks can be easily avoided by farmers ensuring groundspreaders are aware of where the ruts are in the paddock and filling in the ruts with hard material," Barwood says.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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