Halter goes global, but NZ farmers remain core to innovation
Virtual fencing company Halter is going global but for founder Craig Piggott, New Zealand farmers will always remain their main partners.
A kiwi company that believes its computer software can help reduce farm accidents and fatalities is joining the New Zealand 2019 Agritech mission to UK and Ireland.
Zero Harm Farm will join 20 other businesses representing the sector, taking in the Irish Ploughing Championships. National Fieldays Society will pay for its flights and accommodation.
The company contested the 2019 Fieldays International Innovation Award with its simple, portable and paperless system for better managing safety, communication and compliance in agribusiness.
As participants they were eligible to apply for a $5000 scholarship to take part in the mission.
Fieldays’ international business manager Jim Grennell says Zero Harm Farm won funding because its software application addresses a big problem associated with workplace safety on farm.
“The location based hazard management system can be simply and rapidly adapted to specific workplaces,” he said. “It can work in all farm systems needing hazard management and so is scaleable from a global perspective.”
Zero Harm Farm co-founder Mark Orr says its system can help reduce serious harm and fatalities on farms globally.
“This trade mission will help us understand the nuances of additional markets, and give us a feel for the UK and Ireland’s agricultural future direction in general.”
The company will exhibit in the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Precinct, where it will have a booth and facilities for the three day of the event, and opportunity to present at functions.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.