REINFORCING NEW Zealand's strength and reputation in land management is the opportunity for Lincoln University, says former AgResearch chief executive Dr Andrew West who was last week announced as the university's new vice-chancellor.

WHILE WEATHER forecasting is improving all the time, there is still uncertainty to understanding what weather you’ll get when.  

LOBBYING IS underway to gain Australian Government funding for a national programme to conduct energy assessments in dairies.

MANAWATU Rangitikei Horowhenua Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year for 2012, Shaun and Liza Connor, are going up in the dairy industry and reducing their herd size at the same time.

SOUTH AUCKLAND farmer/contractor Ad Raaymakers is so hooked on the Fendt 714 he recently went out and bought another.

The winners of the 2012 Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Barry and Nicky McTamney, take the next step in their dairy farming career in June when they enter an equity partnership.

There was only two points in it at the Carterton Events Centre on Saturday night.

THE MASSEY Ferguson 5400 series tractors released in 2011 have proved to be a popular choice among New Zealand farmers, says New Zealand manager for Massey Ferguson, Peter Scott.

Fonterra's decision to drop its 2011-12 forecast payout by 15c/kgMS demonstrates the trade exposed nature of our primary industries, says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Willy Leferink.

The establishment of a regional water entity could well be the way forward for Canterbury - and the place to debate this will be the IrrigationNZ conference in Timaru next month.