Displaying items by tag: maize

My wife and I recently travelled to England to attend a family wedding in rural Kent.

Many farmers are experiencing lower stored feed reserves on hand and some are considering growing or increasing their on-farm maize crop grown.

Last month, in response to some pretty scary price rises, I wrote about the need to control costs. 

Farming is becoming increasingly complex. Until recentyl, farmers had relatively few issues to focus on: feeding cows, producing milk and hopefully making enough money to feed their family and pay off their mortgages.

Everywhere I go, whether it be in town or on farm, I hear a similar topic being discussed. It’s the fact prices have risen and as a result farmers and growers have become very focused on controlling on-farm costs.

Over the last decade there has been an increasing national emphasis on measuring and mitigating the environmental impacts of food production systems.

Given that New Zealand farmers are being expected to improve their environmental footprint, some trials in the UK around under-sowing in growing forage maize crops may have some benefits here too, particularly in the south.

OPINION: We are living in some pretty crazy times.

OPINION: I am a maize tragic. While that may come as a surprise to some, those who have read this column over the last few years will know exactly where I am coming from.

Reports are coming in from across the country indicating the cold and wet spring has meant many farmers and contractors planting crops are behind with their planting schedule.