The impact of the outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis is a wakeup call for everyone in the agriculture sector, says Beef + Lamb NZ’s chief executive Sam McIvor.

Farm veterinarians are struggling with the emerging health effects of long-term fodder beet use on dairy farms, says DairyNZ senior scientist Dawn Dalley.

It last happened 60 years ago: the Deep South hosted the final of the NZ Ploughing champs in 1958.

Corporate farmer Colin Armer, among New Zealand’s most prominent, says dairying will prosper more by greater pasture utilisation than by supplementary feeds that incur many direct expenses and associated costs.

Getting the right people is the key to running a successful business, says Stu Taylor, manager of a large dairy farming operation near Whanganui.

In the wake of the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak, one of New Zealand’s main bull semen suppliers is calling for an industry body to be set up to implement country-wide testing and biosecurity standards.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has done at least 15000 tests for Mycoplasma bovis.

Bright green peanut butter baits are being laid in an area of the Mackenzie District for the third year running to try to suppress an isolated population of wallabies adjacent to the Mount Cook National Park.

About 100 people attended a meeting with Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) officials in Waimate last night for an update on the cattle disease, Mycoplasma bovis.

Corporate farmer Colin Armer, among New Zealand’s most prominent, says dairying will prosper more by greater pasture utilisation than by supplementary feeds that incur many direct expenses and associated costs.