increase font size
Ian Woolley
Two veteran NZ ploughmen have won themselves a trip to the World Ploughing Championships which is being held in Ireland in September.
At the recent NZ Ploughing Championships, Ian Woolley of Blenhaim won the Silver Plough conventional competition and Timaru's Bob Mehrtens the reversible event; both will now compete in Ireland.
Paul Houghton won the vintage tractor competition, while John and Sharon Chynoweth took out the Rural News Group-sponsored horse ploughing event.
This year's NZ championships were held at Seddon in the upper South Island. Woolley says soil conditions were really great for the competitions, which attracted about just over 30 contestants from around the country. He says the numbers of competitors were slightly down - due mainly to Covid.
"The weather on Saturday was a bit overcast but still warm and really nice and it attracted a decent crowd of onlookers," Woolley told Rural News. "On Sunday, the weather deteriorated with a sort of misty rain but not cold.
"The venue was superbly prepared and considering that Seddon is renowned for being dry, as a competitor you couldn't have asked for anything better."
Woolley is excited about the prospect of ploughing in Ireland and says the Irish are renowned for their hospitality. He and Mehrtens will borrow tractors in Ireland, rather than try and ship their own. Irish Ambassador Peter Ryan was at the event and because he finishes his posting to NZ in August, will meet up with the NZ team when they come to Ireland.
The World Ploughing Championships will be held near the village of Ratheniska, about 90km south-west of Dublin. The event is huge and incorporates displays of farm equipment and services, much like our national Fieldays - only bigger. Up to 400,000 people are expected to attend the event.
The Irish Minister of State for Rural Communities says his country and New Zealand face very similar challenges on a range of issues related to agriculture, including climate change, biodiversity and rural depopulation.
In the rural landscapes of New Zealand and Ireland, a shared agricultural heritage thrives, built on a strong mixture of tradition and innovation, with mirror image climates earning both countries global acclaim for their food quality and sustainable agriculture.
MPI director general Ray Smith reckons NZ has a lot to learn from the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority – called Teagasc (pronounced ‘Chog us’).
OPINION: In Ireland, climate change is also causing issues for farmers.
Trevor Mallard has had a colourful career. Now he's got his dream job as Ambassador to Ireland - a country which shares much in common with NZ. Before he left for Ireland, Mallard spoke with Peter Burke.
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…
