A CHALLENGING time in his first season as a sharemilker has served to set Clarence Stolte (26) on the pathway to success. 

DAIRYING IN Taranaki produced $1 billion worth of milk in the last financial year, reports industry body DairyNZ as it heads into the province next week for its annual general meeting.

THE MINISTRY for Primary Industries has reiterated Dairy NZ’s advice to check cattle for symptoms of anaemia as a new strain of tick-borne disease Theileria sweeps south.

A MILD and relatively dry winter, above-average pasture growth rates and little pugging has resulted in high average pasture cover levels on many farms. The challenge over the next few months is keeping control of pasture quality.

IN THE first makeover of its 7R series tractors since their launch in 2011, John Deere is rolling out five new 7R models from 154-213kW power for 2014. 

TRACTOR COMPANY New Holland has added its Electro Command semi-powershift transmission to the T5 tractor range, saying it expects this feature to increase the machines’ appeal to livestock and mixed farmers, and contractors. 

A 4-METRE disc airseeder launched at Fieldays by Reese Agri is “a hit” with contractors, the company says. The machine is a disc variant of the Aitchison Airpro airseeder.

NICK DROMGOOL, acting chief executive of New Zealand's National Fieldays – the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural show - visited Ireland's Ploughing Championships this week.

THE MEAT INDUSTRY Excellence (MIE) group has welcomed the appointment of James Parsons as the chair-elect of Beef & Lamb NZ (B&L) but says he will have "his work cut out".

THE HUNT IS ON for New Zealand's top Farmax rural consultants in the company's inaugural Consultant of the Year Awards.