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.
An increase in the use of trackers is enabling UK police to recover 100s of 1000s of pounds worth of stolen machinery.
According to FarmingUK, Police Scotland recovered £893,000 (NZ $1.72 million) worth of tractors, quad bikes and other farm machinery in 2019.
Such recoveries are continuing into 2020, with £400,000 (NZ $770,000), or 130 vehicles, recovered in the first four months of the year.
FarmingUK says according to insurance provider NFU Mutual, farmers are increasingly using Construction and Agricultural Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) markings and fitting tracking systems approved by British Insurance research house, Thatcham.
CESAR was established in 2008 as an official construction and agricultural equipment security and registration scheme to prevent theft.
The scheme, paid for by farmers with a one-off cost, offers Datatag ID technologies, a 24/7 UK Contact Centre, and instant access to its database by police.
Scotland Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) coordinator Alan Dron says farmers’ increased uptake in the scheme has been fundamental in helping police to recover stolen machinery.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.

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