Winning the 2013 Bay of Plenty Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title has proved a natural progression for Russell and Nadine Meade (pictured).

By winning the 2013 Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title, Andrew and Michelle McPherson are well positioned to attract business growth opportunities.

Cattle continue to pour out for slaughter with cows leading the charge. Some companies continue to focus heavily on killing cows with less space being allocated for steer or bull.

Environment Southland is closely monitoring river and groundwater levels as dry weather continues in the region, with no significant rain predicted until next Friday, March 15.

RESEARCH AND Development hubs such as Lincoln, Ruakura and Palmerston North are a great asset but they should have more input from private companies as well as the traditional institutions of the universities and Crown Research Institutes, says Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce.

FERTILISER COMPANY Ballance says it shares farmers’ sentiment that nitrate inhibitors containing DCD should be allowed back on the market. 

THE IRISH dairy industry is preparing for the lifting of restrictions by the European Union (EU) that limit the amount of milk farmers throughout Europe can produce. The quota under the common agricultural policy (CAP) comes off in 2015.

SIX EUROPEAN nations’ dairy farms and research bodies have launched a €3.1m (NZ$4.8m), three-year project to develop technology integrating robotic milking of cows with grazing.

NUFFIELD IRELAND has released a report ‘Dairy Cooperatives for the 21st Century’ written by County Waterford dairy farmer David Murphy, reports ICOS, the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society.

FONTERRA’S MILK for Schools scheme has secured its first co-sponsor – Fisher & Paykel, supplying Fonterra with discounted fridges for each of the participating schools.