Wired for Science: Understanding the feeding habits of mealybug
Fussy children might be frustrating, but fussy mealybugs could help protect the New Zealand wine industry from grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.
Last year's winners: Annabelle and Richard Subtil, of Omarama Station, and John Young and Lyn Godsiff, of Clearwater Mussels.
Three red meat producers and a wine business will be up against each other for the finals of the Lincoln University Foundation 2016 South Island Farmer of the Year.
The four finalists are:
· James Dicey, a viticulturist and owner of Grape Vision Ltd based in Bannockburn, Central Otago.
· Lauren and Geoff Shaw, sheep and beef farmers in Central Otago, near Ranfurly.
· Lyn and Neil Campbell, Campbell Farms, Middle Valley, near Fairlie in South Canterbury farming sheep, beef, bulls and deer, and arable crops.
· Simon Lee, manager Mendip Hills Station, Parnassus, North Canterbury, farming sheep, beef and deer.
Foundation chair Ben Todhunter says he’s looking forward to a great finals night on November 16.
“The finals dinner is always one of the highlights of this competition. It’s a chance to hear directly from the finalists about what makes their business succeed; their innovations and inventions, vital points of difference, and generally just what makes a farm business, good enough to make the finals of this prestigious competition, tick.
“This event is a key part of the Foundation’s work to encourage and develop excellence and leadership in New Zealand’s primary industries and I encourage all farmers to join us to support the finalists’ presentations, and learn from them.”
The finals and dinner will be held at Lincoln University Te Kete Ika – Food and Function Centre from 5.30pm on November 16. Bookings can be made at http://www.lincolnuniversityfoundation.org.nz
For the most part, dairy farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and the Manawatu appear to have not been too badly affected by recent storms across the upper North Island.
South Island dairy production is up on last year despite an unusually wet, dull and stormy summer, says DairyNZ lower South Island regional manager Jared Stockman.
Following a side-by-side rolling into a gully, Safer Farms has issued a new Safety Alert.
Coming in at a year-end total at 3088 units, a rise of around 10% over the 2806 total for 2024, the signs are that the New Zealand farm machinery industry is turning the corner after a difficult couple of years.
New Zealand's animal health industry has a new tool addressing a long-standing sustainability issue.
The Government has announced that ACC will be a sponsor of this year's FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition.

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