New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Heavy weekend rain, in the lower eastern half of the North Island, will start to turn things around for farmers who have been facing a desperate situation with drought.
More rain is expected in the next 24 hours.
Dairy farmer Ben Allomes, who farms near Woodville in the Tararua District, says the rain will ease the situation on his and other farms.
Allomes described the situation, prior to the rain, as tight with supplementary feed in either short supply or very expensive.
He says in the past week, he’s managed to get a few more cull cows off the works which has eased the pressure.
However, Allomes points out that more rain is still needed to improve the feed situation going into winter.
President of Federated Farmers for Wairarapa, William Beetham, says some parts of his region received up to 200 millimetres of rain, which he says has come at the right time.
Beetham says with sunny weather and the soil still warm the grass should now start to grow. He says the feed situation has been very tight with baleage almost impossible to get – although supplies of straw and grain were available.
Beetham says with Covid-19 the closure of the sale yards has made it hard for farmers. He has three properties and employs six fulltime staff and has put in place a whole set of protocols to protect staff to allow them to work.
Beetham says his workers have also been issued with letters, designed by Fed Farmers, which state that staff are working in an essential industry and have to travel between farms to carry out their work.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
New Zealand must continue to educate Chinese consumers about the unique qualities of its red meat products and how they differ from competitors, says Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton.
There are opportunities outside the farmgate for young farmers to further develop their skills, says 2025 Primary Industries Emerging Leader Award winner Bridie Virbickas.
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