SHUTTLING ONE tractor between two dairy farms was a nuisance so the Singh family bought another – a Case IH Maxxum 115X Bronze.

WE DON’T often get to drive a Lexus at Rural News, and it’s always welcome. We know we are in for something special when Lexus calls. 

A 2.7M GLABER mulcher has halved the time needed to maintain pasture quality, says Kaitaia grower and drystock farmer David Foster. He raises bulls and grows kumara on his farm on the western edges of Kaitaia.

MENTION WATER quality and the topics that spring to mind are run-off, leaching and the state of our lakes and rivers, but for livestock farmers animal health should be up there too, says a Feilding nutritionist.

HALF THE human cases of leptospirosis recorded each year in New Zealand are farmers, a turnaround from 15 years ago when meat workers dominated disease statistics, one of a new series of videos from Massey University warns.

ONLY 10-20 years ago the idea of unmanned planes mapping crops was seen as science fiction or the domain of space agencies, but now it’s commercial reality for just $5/ha here in New Zealand.

WAIKITE STATION is set in the valley of the same name about 30 minutes drive south of Rotorua. It’s a beautiful area with commercial and lifestyle farms and is popular for its hot thermal pools.

WITH SPRING finally (hopefully) here and the grass starting to grow, farmers will be looking to rebuild their supplementary feed stocks by making hay and silage.

YOU KNOW there is something seriously wrong with the priorities in the country’s education system when we have only 100 agricultural science graduates – compared with 120 in acupuncture – in one year. If this wasn’t so serious it would be a joke. 

TO ACHIEVE our goal of doubling exports by 2025 we need to ensure industry has the right people with the right skills. Already there are 350,000 people in New Zealand employed in the primary sector. By 2025 there will be closer to 400,000.