MOU a significant milestone
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lincoln University and Ballance Agri-Nutrients is being hailed as a significant milestone.
A Lincoln-developed optical nitrate sensor for groundwater is now in use nationwide after a low-key but successful commercial launch.
Developed by Lincoln University-owned Lincoln Agritech, the slim stainless steel device is designed to be lowered down bores and wells for real-time monitoring of nitrate levels.
It is cheap and simple enough for widespread deployment, the company says.
Dr Blair Miller, Lincoln Agritech’s group manager of environmental research, told Rural News that after six to eight months of limited release “to make sure there’s no hidden fishhooks,” the device is now ready for much wider distribution.
It is being marketed under the brand name Hydrometrics and an Australian distributor has been appointed.
Miller says the sensor had been in use at the Hinds-Hekeao Managed Aquifer Recharge project – from prototype through to the current commercial model – and was giving good results. Five regional councils have bought or leased it, so have companies.
Miller says that unlike some alternatives the Hydrometric sensor fits down a 50mm sampling well, which was much less expensive than drilling larger bores.
At about US$S5000 it’s also “price disruptive” when similar technology typically cost upwards of US$15,000.
“We’ve actually brought the price down to a level that farmers could start looking to use it themselves to understand the impact of their own operations. And we have sold it to farmers.”
Miller says nitrate leaching into groundwater is a huge NZ farm problem.
“If you can’t measure it you can’t manage it,” he says. “One of the drivers behind the sensor of course is to give all stakeholders who are interested a cost-effective and reliable option to measure water quality, but particularly nitrates.”
A surface water variant is now in development, although it would have to handle a much larger range of contaminants.
“To come up with a lower-cost version of a sensor suitable for surface water is a challenge but we’re well into the initial research phase.”
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…