Major shakeup for the NZ science system
The government has announced a major restructuring of the country's seven crown research institutes (CRIs), which will see them merged into three public research organisations (PROs).
NIWA is predicting average to above average temperatures for early winter, May to July, for most of the country – except for "near average" in the east of the South Island.
Early winter rainfall is likely to be normal or above normal in the north and east of the North Island, and near normal in other regions.
Similarly, soil moisture levels are likely to be normal or above normal in the north and east of the North Island and near normal in other regions.
Despite the overall pattern of near or above average temperatures, frosts typical of winter will occur from time to time.
Early winter rainfall is likely to be normal or above normal in the north and east of the North Island, and near normal in other regions.
Soil moisture levels are likely to be normal or above normal in the north and east of the North Island and near normal in other regions.
River flows are likely to be normal or above normal in the north and east of the North Island, normal or below normal in the west of both islands, and near normal in the north and east of the South Island.
Regional predictions for the next three months:
Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty: Early winter temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average. Seasonal rainfall totals, soil moisture levels, and river flows are all equally likely to be in the near normal or above normal range.
Central North Island, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wellington: Seasonal temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average. Early winter rainfall totals and soil moisture levels are likely to be near normal for the three month season as a whole, while river flows are likely to be near normal or below normal.
Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa: Seasonal temperatures are equally likely to be in the near average or above average range. Early winter rainfall totals, soil moisture levels and river flows are all equally likely to be in the near normal or above normal range.
Nelson, Marlborough, Buller: Early winter temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average. Seasonal rainfall totals, river flows, and soil moisture levels are all likely to be in the normal range.
West Coast, Alps and foothills, inland Otago, Southland: Early winter temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average. Seasonal rainfall totals and soil moisture levels are likely to be in the near normal range, while river flows are equally likely to be in the near normal or below normal range.
Coastal Canterbury, east Otago: Seasonal temperatures are likely to be near average. Early winter rainfall totals, river flows, and soil moisture levels are likely to be in the normal range.
OPINION: The shakeup to the science sector with the proposed merger of four ag related crown research institutes (CRIs) into one conglomerate has drawn little public reaction.
Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.
The countdown is on to be one of the most anticipated events in the sheep and beef industry, the East Coast Farming Expo.
Applications for the 2025 intake of Rabobank's Farm Managers Programme (FMP) and Executive Development Programme (EDP) are now open.
Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom at the end of September.
Beef + Lamb NZ wants farmers to complete a survey that will shed light on the financial toll of facial eczema (FE) at the farm level.
OPINION: Ruth Richardson, architect of the 1991 ‘Mother of all Budgets’ and the economic reforms dubbed ‘Ruthanasia’, added her two…
OPINION: Why do vegans and others opposed to eating meat try to convince others that a plant based diet is…