Does new tech really deliver?
OPINION: New technologies can promise the world but how do we know if they are delivering?
AGRICULTURAL FIELDAYS 2014 will be a measure of how the agribusiness sector is gearing up to capitalise on growing export opportunities, according to New Zealand's largest agricultural lender, ANZ New Zealand.
"With an economic recovery in full swing and growing export demand for New Zealand agricultural products, the scene is set for farmers to again invest in the technology that will drive productivity," said Graham Turley, ANZ's managing director commercial & agri.
"Agri-business is New Zealand's most productive and successful business sector and it achieves this through ongoing investment in market leading technology. Agri businesses are only as successful as they are because they constantly innovate.
"This is why Fieldays plays such an important role. Increasingly it is an event where those who drive New Zealand's agricultural success go shopping for the ideas and technologies that lead to profitable, sustainable businesses with a clear pathway to growth, Turley says.
"New Zealand has the potential to capture $1.3 trillion more in agricultural exports between now and 2050. To realise that opportunity there is a need for up to $NZ340 billion in international and domestic investment to enable production growth and support farm turnover."
ANZ will be getting behind National Fieldays again as a strategic partner. ANZ is not only New Zealand's largest on-farm lender, but it is also the largest bank to agri supplier industries, processors and exporters. Its strategic partnership with Fieldays reflects ANZ's broad and long-term commitment to New Zealand agriculture.
"We've been sponsoring Fieldays for around 40 years, during which time millions have attended what has become a landmark event for agriculture in this country, and internationally," Turley says.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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