Exile on Main Street
New Zealand’s rural-led economic recovery is being hamstrung by a shortage of working-age staff, an inability to retain people and…
Live export run abandoned
Hundreds of farmers and livestock companies are making plans to recover thousands of cattle from a pre-export isolation (PIE) farm near Tokoroa. The move comes after Hamilton-based livestock exporter Genetic…
AgResearch embraces Mātauranga Māori with new research group
Crown Research Institute AgResearch has launched a new Māori Research and Partnerships Group to help incorporate Mātauranga Māori into its existing science structures. Its head Ariana Estoras says Mātauranga Māori…
The ag sector’s budget 2022 wish list is for science
If increasing productivity is the name of the Government’s game, then the agriculture sector’s wish list for Budget 2022 is all about science. The farming sector helped bankroll the economy…
Recycling ramps up for Teatseal treatments
As the drying-off period for dairy cows approaches, a recycling initiative headed up by animal health company Zoetis will be doubling down on keeping plastic waste out of landfills. This…
No lessons in shaming and bullying farmers
Somewhere, beneath the hyperbole, there had to be a human. Usually, in all disagreements and misunderstandings there are two factors at play – the issues and how the issues are…
Sector pumped by gas funds
Farming leaders have greeted the Government’s allocation of almost three quarters of a billion dollars to the primary sector in…
Dry autumn sparks adverse event declaration for Waikato
Extremely dry conditions in South Auckland and Waikato have prompted the Ministry for Primary Industries to classify the region as a drought. The declaration as a medium-scale adverse event will…
Real action starts after 2025 for agriculture
The Government will pour a further $338.8 million over the next four years into new science and commercialisation of new products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture – New…
New loan requires less gas and more care
Farmers wanting to borrow against their environmental and social goals now have the ability to raise a loan and earn a discounted interest rate, should those goals be achieved. BNZ…
Live export run abandoned
Hundreds of farmers and livestock companies are making plans to recover thousands of cattle from a pre-export isolation (PIE) farm…
Record profit for Anzco Foods
Anzco Foods has navigated a challenging year to deliver a record net profit before tax of $75 million for the year ended December 2021. The company booked turnover of $1.64…
Trade challenge launched over Canada dairy access
New Zealand has finally pulled the trigger on a legal challenge against Canada’s failure to uphold its end of the bargain in the Comprehensive and Progressive TransPacific Partnership trade agreement.…
Strong wool shows some life
Crossbred wool is showing a little more spring in the market with stronger buying power finding buyers eager to get their hands on supplies. Prices over recent sales have…
The ag sector’s budget 2022 wish list is for science
If increasing productivity is the name of the Government’s game, then the agriculture sector’s wish list for Budget 2022 is…
Taratahi liquidators await decision on land sales
The future remains uncertain for the former assets of Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, which was placed in liquidation in December 2018. The latest report by liquidator Grant Thornton states the…
Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill passes
A Government led by the National Party will repeal the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill, which was passed by Parliament this week. Nicola Grigg, the party’s Land Information spokesperson, has…
Russ Rimmington ousted as Waikato Regional Council chair
Barry Quayle will chair the Waikato Regional Council after a majority of councillors backed the removal of Russ Rimmington from the top spot. An extraordinary meeting of council was called…
Recycling ramps up for Teatseal treatments
As the drying-off period for dairy cows approaches, a recycling initiative headed up by animal health company Zoetis will be…
Powering up the growth curve
At 220kw the installation at Oakley’s Premium Fresh Vegetables post-harvest site in Southbridge is one of the largest in the South Island. Oakley’s worked with CPS Solar to implement the…
Putting water on the map
Losing nutrients before they can be utilised on-farm is costly to a business and can have an adverse impact on water quality. But to reduce losses, we need to understand…
Researcher digs up magic compounds in NZ produce
Plant and Food Research scientist Dr Odette Shaw admits she lacks green thumbs when it comes to growing the key subjects of her work, fruit and vegetables. However, what she…
AgResearch embraces Mātauranga Māori with new research group
Crown Research Institute AgResearch has launched a new Māori Research and Partnerships Group to help incorporate Mātauranga Māori into its…
Call centre gearing up for Moving Day
Moving Day is approaching fast and Ospri’s recently-appointed support and customer service manager Adam Wright hopes a support centre restructure will help make recording herd movements easier for farmers. Moving…
Thriving in any situation
The need to reduce bobby calf numbers has prompted many dairy farmers to look at alternative beef breeds that will give them a point of difference from finishers that use…
Taking off the blinkers
How did you get into farming? I was brought up on-farm. We’ve been here since the early 1950s and are third-generation farmers. I ran around the house playing rugby as…
No lessons in shaming and bullying farmers
Somewhere, beneath the hyperbole, there had to be a human. Usually, in all disagreements and misunderstandings there are two factors…
A Californian thistle in my side
Steve Wyn-Harris has been struggling to keep Californian thistle in-check on his farm and hopes to have finally found the remedy. Photo: Wikimedia Commons “NATIONAL frontiers have been more of…
A dog’s journey: my road to recovery
Ditch here. I know I usually only write one column at the end of the year, but I’ve had a terrible time and just need to share. It all started…
Fonterra’s new capital structure gets closer
The Government has been wrestling for many months as to how to respond to Fonterra’s proposed new capital structure, which its farmer members voted for overwhelmingly. The Ministry of Primary…
