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.
A group of Hawke's Bay entrepreneurs have launched StockX, an online rural trading platform for New Zealand farmers.
StockX say they will reduce wastage and inefficiencies in the current, outdated livestock trading system.
The platform says they allow farmers to buy and sell direct, operators to plan and optimise bookings and meat processors to source and buy direct from farmers.
Users have the ability to set up livestock for sale listings and create personalised alerts for listings of interest. Unique to this area, banking is managed through a trust account to ensure security of funds between buyer and seller.
StockX says costs are reduced through direct transactions, value is gained through access to a wider market and relationships and knowledge are built across the whole supply chain.
Managing director Jason Roebuck says "StockX offers farmers choice and control over a key activity in their farming business. Of significant interest to farmers will be the capacity to choose when and whom they sell."
Additional reductions to costs for forest owners in the Emissions Trading Scheme Registry (ETS) have been announced by the Government.
Animal welfare is of paramount importance to New Zealand's dairy industry, with consumers increasingly interested in how food is produced, not just the quality of the final product.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The closure of SH2 Waioweka Gorge could result in significant delays and additional costs for freight customers around the Upper North Island, says Transporting New Zealand.
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General Ray Smith believes there is potential for an increase in dairy farming in New Zealand.

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