Drought drops sheep, cattle numbers
Sheep and cattle numbers continue to decline, and this year's drought hasn't helped, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ).
OPINION: Our Aussie mates never miss a chance to put one over us, as seen in a recent op-ed by farm analysts 'Episode 3'.
The Bruces not only clocked the 45% drop in our national sheep flock since 2000, they're also very interested in the decline in our breeding ewe numbers to 14.28 million - a clear signal of our future production capacity.
Or as the Ockers called it, "a strategic opportunity for Australia".
They've also correctly ID'ed one of the main causes of this decline, "the conversion of grazing land to forestry for carbon farming".
This old mutt reckons we're not out of the game yet though, as long as we keep pressure on the powers that be to stop the drift from sheep to trees.
The Bruces are banking on that falling on deaf ears!
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.