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THE WORLD ploughing championships for 2014 recently concluded with mixed results for the two New Zealand competitors.
Held near Bordeaux, in south-western France, the event was a great success with competitors from 29 different countries competing in each division with conventional and reversible ploughs.
First time competitor Mark Dillon from Riversdale in the conventional section finished 18th overall after finishing 17th in the stubble on the opening day and 20th on the grassland plot on the second day. He gained sponsorship, while there, from a local winery run by a Wellington woman and her French husband.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Taylor, from Putaruru, in the reversible section finished 7th overall after coming 10th in the stubble and 6th in the grassland. He represented New Zealand last year in Canada and will again represent New Zealand at the 2015 world championship to be held in Denmark.
The Republic of Ireland – a stronghold of good ploughmen – had a unique result. The winner of the conventional section Eammon Tracey finished third in Canada in 2013 and the winner of the reversible plough division, John Whelan last year finished, third this year.
Of the 58 different ploughs used all – except four – were Kverneland or Kverneland-based.
With applying lime still being the most effective method of correcting soil acidity, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that a lime spreader took out the coveted Machine of the Year award at the recent Irish Ploughing Championships.
Fine weather brought out the crowds to this year’s national ploughing championships at Kirwee, Canterbury, last month.
World Ploughing chairman Colin Millar, of Rotorua, says the winners of this year's NZ ploughing championships are in contention with the best in the world.
Murray Grainger of Mosgiel was one of many competitors from the South Island at this year's national ploughing championships held at Rongotea in Manawatu.
Ideal conditions greeted competitors at the 61st National Ploughing championships held near Rongotea in the Manawatu over the weekend.
A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.
Healthcare appears to be the big winner in this year's budget as agriculture and environment miss out.
OPINION: Foreign policy is a real strength of Winston Peter and this is recognised by Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) officials who, so the story goes, wanted him in his present role because of his experience in that field.
DairyNZ subsidiary New Zealand Animal Evaluation (NZAEL) will update the genetic base used to calculate Breeding Worth (BW) next month.
Ruralco has donated $10,000 to the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust following a recent fundraising golf tournament.
Nominations are open for three positions on the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
