So-called sacrifice paddocks are a last resort option for protecting wet pasture from the effects of stock trampling in winter.

Safety around effluent ponds is essential. In general the Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992) rules bear on ponds’ operation rather than their design and construction, so they affect the pond owner more than the designer or builder.

Canterbury cropping farmers now have access to a Farm Environment Plan (FEP) template developed especially for their farm system.

Good management practices for water quality in Canterbury are detailed in a new document published last month.

Diary farmers in the Waipa River catchment are being offered free consultancy to develop environmental plans as part of a project to improve the health of the Waikato River. 

Toplink Machinery exhibited at National Fieldays the Tramspread contractor unit, a self-contained system that enables one-man operation and the ability to arrive on farm, set up quickly and spread effluent, then pack up and move to the next job.

An app which sends out a daily text message to dairy farmers can completely eliminate the risk of them receiving a hefty fine for spreading too much effluent on their farms but can also save them money of fertiliser.

When Irish farmer Niall Austin lost a cow and calf during an unexpected difficult calving, he decided to act.

New research just completed by Tony Martin shows many New Zealand firms could be missing good export opportunities in emerging markets.

Recent events confirm that unexpected change and volatility have become the norm for farming.