Genetics, Efficiency and Performance: How the Burgesses are raising the bar at Te Poi
Bill and Michelle Burgess had an eye-opening realisation when they produced the same with fewer cows.
DairyNZ's long-serving chairman John Luxton will step down later this year.
Chairman since 2007, Luxton was a founding director of DairyNZ, during the transition from two earlier industry organisations – Dexcel and Dairy Insight.
Luxton began as a director with Dexcel in 2003.
DairyNZ today announced that nominations open this week for farmer-elected directors. Luxton is not seeking re-election.
Nominations open on August 5 and close on August 28, with voting held from September.
Two other directors' positions are up for election, with Michael Spaans and Ben Allomes retiring by rotation, but still eligible to stand for re-election.
Returning officer Anthony Morton says nominations must be received by 12noon on Friday, August 28.
All farmers paying a levy on milksolids to DairyNZ are eligible to stand for election.
An information pack outlining criteria and nomination requirements for the positions can be obtained from the returning officer or via the websites.
"If more than the required nominations are received, elections will be carried out by postal, fax and internet voting using the STV (single transferable vote) voting method. Votes will be weighted by annual milksolids production. Voter packs will be posted on September 14 to all registered DairyNZ levy payers," Morton says.
Results will be announced at the DairyNZ annual general meeting in the Waikato on October 13.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.
A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.

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