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BLNZ’s Jason Griffin.
Setting up for next year’s production was the theme of a Beef + Lamb NZ field day held last week at Massey University’s Tuapaka farm just outside Palmerston North.
The event attracted about 50 people including farmers and consultants. They heard about the red meat sector from Murray Jones of Silver Fern Farms and from Massey scientists Steve Morris and Paul Kenyon.
BLNZ’s Jason Griffin says their aim was to provide farmers with information as they gear up for the breeding season.
Vet Barney Askin ran a session on choosing rams.
“It’s getting their rams checked and in the right condition; we call it a ram warrant of fitness,” Griffin told Rural News.
“Also looking at the issue of hogget mating, which means getting them up to the required weight and condition or, if they are not, making a decision not to mate them at all.”
Griffin says the field day showed some of the research work Massey is doing at Tuapaka, such as its work on water quality monitoring, seen by the farmers during a brief tour of the farm.
“I think farmers are pretty positive at the moment,” Griffin said. “They have had a good spring and summer and it’s only of late that it’s gone dry, but people accept that at this time of the year.
“Prices have been good and so has productivity. Stock are looking good and ewes should go to the ram in good condition.”
Griffin emphasised the need to condition score ewes and gather all necessary information as they head into the new season.
Meanwhile, farm consultant Gary Massicks, who facilitated the day, said it was great for farmers to see the research Massey University is doing for their benefit, especially in water quality.
Although compliance is feared by ome farmers, younger farmers generally don’t see it as an issue as they have grown up in a ‘compliance environment’.
“For the younger generation technology is a way of life,” Massicks said.
Massicks sees farm labour as a big problem. “It’s a real concern -- getting quality shepherds, stockmen and shearers.”
He said some farmers are thinking of moving out of sheep because it is too hard to get labour and it is harder for older farmers -- a pity because there is good money in sheep.
“On the other hand, cattle don’t grow dags,” he says.
Recent widespread autumn rain will have triggered the germination of subterranean clover seeds, and the resulting seedlings should be allowed to reach the 3–4 trifoliate leaf stage before grazing, says Beef+Lamb NZ.
Massey University has begun trialling the use of superior beef genetics in its two dairy farms as part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's dairy beef progeny test.
A hub farm in each of Beef + Lamb NZ’s seven regions and more focus groups are being rolled out for the red meat sector this year.
Soon farmers and working dog breeders will be able to have a dog that best suits their needs thanks to a team of researchers at Massey University.
The red meat sector is poised for a strong rebound this season, with export receipts forecast to top $10 billion and farm profitability to almost double.
Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.
The DairyNZ Farmers Forum is back with three events - in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Among this year’s Primary Industry NZ (PINZ) Awards finalists are a Southlander who created edible bale netting and rural New Zealanders who advocate for pragmatic regulation and support stressed out farmers.
Rockit Global has appointed Ivan Angland as its new chief operating officer as it continues its growth strategy into 2025.
Nominations are now open for the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
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