AN ATTEMPT by a central North Island Maori trust to buy two dairy farms owned by the Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin has been rejected, despite the Chinese company having asked the trust to put in a bid.

MORE DIVERSITY of pasture species diversity could give dairy farmers more options for managing environmental impacts and improving pasture resilience during drought, says Dr Sharon Woodward, DairyNZ senior scientist. 

HIGH STRESS levels affect cows being trucked from farm to farm, a senior MPI vet is warning.

DROUGHT HAS prompted many more farmers to look hard at how they handle and feed silage, says equipment supplier Webbline.

IN A move apparently designed to appease farmers affected by its One Plan, Horizons Regional Council now proposes all farmers who need a consent under the One Plan will get one – to continue farming.  

The annual South Island Dairy Event was held at Lincoln last week and while many sessions were sector specific, there were plenty of take-home messages for the wider farming industry. Andrew Swallow reports.

FONTERRA AND listed Australian milk processor Warrnambool Cheese & Butter (WCB) have announced an opening price of A$5.60/kgMS for this season, 5c more than rival Murray Goulburn.

MAKING THE most of a higher milk price will be discussed at a Northland Focus Farm field day on the farm of Alister and Lyn Candy, at Okaihau on July 2. DairyNZ will be in support.

SAM CAPES is switching permanently to once-a-day milking to restore some sanity to his hectic life as dairy farmer. 

TIME IS running out if you want to vaccinate to minimise the risk of a rotavirus outbreak in your calves this spring.