Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel says science and farmer innovation will once again find solutions to challenges facing the dairy sector.
Addressing the DairyNZ Farmers Forum in Cambridge, he says the dairy sector is facing different challenges today than what it faced three decades ago.
“Some are a result of our success,” he says.
“The research we did in the 80’s and 90’s helped dairy to outcompete other land uses and we saw dairy expand, especially in the South Island.”
The dairy sector grew by 100% between 1985 and 2015. This meant dairying became more intense and covered a larger area.
Van der Poel says this increased our environmental footprint and the number of high-quality people needed to run those operations.
“And once again science and farmer innovation will be a key factor in finding solutions.”
He says DairyNZ is currently in the decade of research into methane reduction, nitrogen leaching and changing the job on farm through modern farming practices and technology.
Van der Poel says in his view, dairying has a great future.
“We are globally recognised for the quality of what we produce.
“The commitment to funding the science we need to do to resolve today’s issues together with our innovation and resilience will help us get there.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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