THERE ARE growing concerns about the actions – or lack of them in many cases – of the Ministry for Primary Industries in relation to its core functions.

OUR RURAL communities and our rural businesses remain the backbone to New Zealand’s success. The pragmatism and clear-sightedness of rural people is essential to the public debate we’re currently having about how the country is run, and what’s important for our future.

SITTING IN the World Farmers Organisation general assembly in Japan – the ‘UN of farming’ – I was struck by how farmers feed families the world over. 

FOR MOST months of last year the Tomoporakau Stream leaving the Southland Demonstration Farm contained less nitrate than when it flowed onto the property.

IT’S GOING to take time and considerable investment to meet the measures Otago Regional Council is promoting to improve water quality, judging by the comments of two south Otago sheep and beef farmers to a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand nutrient nous seminar.

EXTRA VIGILANCE is needed in changing diets with dairy cows, particularly as the use of bought in supplements increases, says a fertiliser and nutrition firm that has good cause to be making such warnings.

LIGHT EWES, likely due to the recent drought, deserve all the help they can get prior to lambing this year, says Merial.

THE AWARD-WINNING Deutz Fahr 7250 TTV tractor will be a strong motive-power attraction at Fieldays this year, claims its local distributor.

LANDCORP IS testing ATV Lifeguard quad rollover frames on two of its farms, reports the maker, Ag-Tech.

BEFORE YOU make costly changes to meet environmental regulations ask your regional council some key questions, delegates at an ATS Federated Farmers nutrient seminar in Ashburton last week were told.