March 2008

New product brings similar
grass growth with half the urea

Rural supply company Donaghys has launched an innovative breakthrough biotechnology product, which in trials has resulted in nearly equivalent pasture growth with half the level of urea application.

"The Donaghys LessN System is a nitrogen-enhancer which improves the nutrient uptake ability of clover-based pasture ... "It promises to provide farmers with a more sustainable solution for maintaining productivity while reducing the level of nitrogen fertiliser application and its related environmental effects."

NZ meat industry cannot
afford a Mexican Stand-Off
Murmurs of animosity and past rivalries between the co-operatives have Natural Producers Chairman Murray Rohloff concerned that the Mega-Merger negotiations are heading toward a Mexican Stand-Off.

Milking trial reveals plenty
on deer lactation

Researchers from the Agriculture and Life Sciences Division at Lincoln University, lead by Dr Graham Barrell, carried out a trial of machine milking deer twice-daily last summer.

Once hinds got into the pattern of regular milking they produced about 700 ml per day, but this increased to about 900 ml per day by the end of the three weeks.

This work is part of a series of studies on the biology of lactating deer.

Don't waste time with bad debt
Bad debt can quickly turn a successful small business into a bankruptcy statistic. Yet according to Veda Advantage, New Zealand's largest credit reporting agency, few small business owners understand how easy it is to credit check to screen out risky customers or clients.

It's a dog's life - sometimes
In another life would you want to come back as a dog? If the answer is yes you might want a proviso in your contract that stipulates you don't start your new life in China - unless you're hoping for a short stay!

Robotic ant shows
huge on-farm potential
It looks like an oversized ant but is a four-legged robot on special wheels. With the wheels, that are still being developed, the diligent "ant" can feed pigs, shepherd animals and mow grass.

Drought to cost farmers about $1.24 billion
The drought currently dogging many parts of rural New Zealand is forecast to cost farmers around $1.24 billion this financial year, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton said today.

Biological agriculture the answer to many problems
Rising oil prices, increased global warming, greenhouse emissions, carbon sequestration, rising fears over viral epidemics and food safety: all issues that can be addressed effectively while at the same time increasing farm profitability.

Marketmaker bypasses supermarkets in US
As farmers in New Zealand gripe about the strength of the UK supermarkets and their lack of bargaining power, farmers in Michigan have been given a direct-to-consumer option.

Time to think about nitrate leaching
With droughts affecting many parts of the country, the thought of nitrate leaching is probably the furthest thing on the mind of farmers right now; however, once the rain arrives and soil moisture levels are restored, nitrate leaching will soon become a problem.

Diesel exhaust fumes ugly and dangerous
If the smell of diesel exhaust isn't enough to make you avoid getting a lungful, new research now shows that even a short exposure to the fumes can affect your brain.

All about NZ Fast Forward
New Zealand Fast Forward is a government-industry investment collaboration that responds to emerging threats and opportunities facing New Zealand's largest sector.

Red meat study leads to
US research programme
Research into how New Zealand red meat farmers are attempting to increase profitability by marketing their own product has led to new Lincoln University graduate Ross Bowmar being offered the opportunity to participate in a global livestock research programme in the USA.

Legumes (such as clover) can help
reduce fertiliser spend
The high cost of fertilizer has caused many farmers to take a second look at how they spend their fertilizer dollar.

Research a boon for broccoli growers
Growers of broccoli would have to be rubbing their hands together at the moment. Researchers are making all sorts of claims about the vegetable, most of which would encourage people to eat a little more of the "green delight."

BP warns Biofuel Bill
will boost fuel price
BP New Zealand today warned the Local Government and Environment Select Committee that the current Biofuel Bill could result in a price increase on petrol and diesel of at least seven cents per litre at the pump.

Wool price rises about 2 percent
Prices at yesterday's wool sale rose at levels that correspond to the drop in the New Zealand dollar over the past week.

Small open economies face challenges: Bollard
The past decade has highlighted challenges that small open economies like New Zealand face in trying to run monetary policy in a connected world.

Black elected to Meat & Wool NZ

Riverton farmer and former Meat Industry Action Group member Leon Black has been elected on to the board of Meat and Wool NZ.

Mr Black's election to the board will be the icing on the cake for MIAG who are certainly on a roll in terms of gaining strong representation within the meat industry.

Economic outlook has deteriorated: Alan Bollard
"The outlook for economic activity has deteriorated somewhat since we reviewed the OCR in January," according to Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said.

Woman wins farm manager award
Twenty-five-year-old Charlotte Greaves has been crowned the 2008 Northland Farm Manager of the Year, taking home prizes worth $5900 at an awards ceremony in the Bay of Islands earlier this week.

Conference to examine the future
of livestock farming in NZ
Trans-Tasman partners, New Zealand's AgResearch and Australia's CSIRO Livestock Industries are holding a major industry and scientific conference later this year to examine the commercial future for high value food and fibre products from the farm.

Lots to learn in a cowshed
You can learn a lot in a cowshed, especially if it has a resident teacher. In Britain a farmer's wife has set up a school in a derelict cow shed.

Spotlight on wool at Lincoln
"New Zealand farmers produce good quality wool but there is still room for considerable improvement before our entire wool clip will receive the highest prices internationally," said Dr Theopoline Itenge-Mwneza of Lincoln University.

Scottish farmers also looking at lamb marketing
As New Zealand sheep farmers wait to see what will happen with Alliance Group's concept for the future of the meat industry other farmers around the world are also trying to iron out a few of the same problems.

Old tractor driver causes crash on UK highway
Late last week a man described as a blind pensioner driving a tractor was involved in a crash on the A9 in the UK. The 77-year-old struck problems when he parked his tractor and trailer and trailer across the central reservation of the dual carriageway.

Field day to focus on handling runoff
Farmers looking for practical ways of controlling runoff after heavy rain will find answers and help for at a special problem-solving field day being held on Wednesday March 19th.

Will an industry merger save the meat industry?
Lamb farmers are pinning hopes on an industry merger. But are they founded? Driven by drought, depressed prices and despair, hundreds of South Island sheep farmers have expressed in recent days near-unanimous support for a restructuring of their industry.

PPCS repositions itself in meat industry
- announces Silver Fern Farms brand

While the proposed Mega-Merger has been the main talk in the New Zealand meat industry in recent times... it is not the only thing happening.

PPCS yesterday announced yesterday the company's plans to reposition itself.

Reese Hart says much for meat industry
to consider on mega merger
At the PPCS AGM in Duendin yesterday, outgoing Chairman Reese Hart made some interesting comments on the subject of the proposed Alliance Group mega merger in his address to shareholders.

New chairman for PPCS
PPCS Director Eoin Garden was appointed Chairman of PPCS Limited effective yesterday, and Richard Somerville continues as Deputy Chairman.