New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
There's been a 20% increase in student enrolments in agricultural degree courses at Massey University for 2015, the first such surge in many years.
Dr James Millner, programme director for the ag science degrees, says this year about 140 students will take their degree courses, including bachelor of agri science, emphasising production, and bachelor of agri commerce, with more of an off-farm focus. Interest is also rising in BSc with an agricultural component.
Millner can’t precisely explain these increases, but says Massey intends to survey the students when they arrive on campus.
“Students are more focused on where careers and the highlighted opportunities in the primary industries are starting to have an effect,” he told Rural News. “Most students seem to be from rural backgrounds, but also from cities – including the metropolitan cities.”
Massey has had its recruiters out in key markets to sell the message about the value of agricultural degrees. They are trying to attract students from the big cities.
Millner a lot of effort is going into pointing out to young people, parents and teachers that agriculture is more than just farm work. These jobs are in the service industries including law, accounting, finance and consulting.
“But I am still getting feedback from students in prestigious high schools who should know better about the opportunities in agriculture.
“Young people have said that when it’s suggested they pursue a career in agriculture they get laughed at and told to get serious and asked ‘why aren’t you more ambitious’ and all that sort of stuff.”
Millner says, sadly, agriculture is still regarded by many influential teachers as ‘second rate’.
Meanwhile, Lincoln University is also seeing a rise in students wanting agriculture courses.
Head of Lincoln’s faculty of agriculture, Professor Tony Bywater, says agricultural student numbers have steadily grown over the past few years.
“While this is good for the industry, I am not so sure if it is a good thing for me!” Bywater joked to Rural News.
“I am looking at 300 agriculture students in my first year class this semester.”
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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