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.
A field trip to a dairy farm and Massey University agri science facilities has helped change the attitudes of a group of postgraduate Massey journalism students.
This was revealed in a paper presented to the recent Science Communicators Association conference by Dr Cathy Strong, a senior lecturer in journalism at Massey University. She and Rural News reporter Peter Burke organised the day.
Strong says a survey of the students indicated the trip increased their knowledge of the primary sector by about 34% and more for students who came from an urban background.
Strong says the agricultural project involved each student writing a news report on the state of NZ agriculture and producing a video news item about an aspect of the field day. She says the survey of the students also showed the trip increased their interest in covering agricultural stories.
"What we were trying to do was entice bright young journalists to be able to cover agricultural stories. There is no doubt that the experience of seeing farming firsthand helps in this process."
Strong says a similar trip is planned for next year.
Meanwhile, Rural News reporter Peter Burke also presented details of a field trip for secondary school teachers which he and DairyNZ's Susan Stokes have organised for the last three years.
He told the conference that the trip has now become a popular event for teachers, who say it gives them valuable information to direct young people into agricultural careers.
One teacher told Burke they will be using the examples of the field day to include in business and economics classes. Others have commented on how much they have learned about the breadth of career opportunities in agriculture.
Burke adds they have already been asked by some teachers to run the trip over two days and this is now being looked at.
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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