The term ‘solar farm’ may be about to take on a new meaning in New Zealand, with a proposal to fill 20.5 hectares of farmland with panels, and continue livestock grazing and arable growing underneath. Lodestone Energy Ltd (LEL) has applied to the Far North District Council and Northland Regional Council to establish a 39.4 […]
Agri Business
Economic Week – April 9
by Nick Clark, Manager General Policy Commodity prices March upwards The monthly ANZ World Commodity Price Index lifted 6.1% in March to reach a record high. The strength in the overall index was driven primarily by a sharp lift in dairy prices, with the dairy sub-index up 12.7% to its highest level in seven years. […]
Research on extracting protein from green leafy crops underway
The Government is partnering with Canterbury’s Leaft Foods on a $20 million research and development programme that could put New Zealand on the map as a leading leaf protein concentrate producer. Through its Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund, the Ministry for Primary Industries is contributing $8 million to the five-year programme to develop technology […]
Feds proud to back NZ Dairy Story
Sip that fresh glass of New Zealand milk, cut a wedge of our cheese, and know the farmers behind it are world leaders in animal welfare and climate change. And unlike producers in many other nations, they do it without direct, free-trade distorting subsidies. Federated Farmers is proud to endorse the messages in The New […]
Strong will to lift wool returns
A Covid-era shift towards working from home, the rise of ‘Zoom’ towns in the USA and growing consciousness worldwide of the environmental credentials of products are all trends that the Strong Wool Action Group sees as potential opportunities. SWAG CEO Andy Caughey told the Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Council late last month that the group’s aim is to identify ways to be a disruptor in product categories in […]
Kiwi farm equipment specialist takes on new heights
You might say, assuming a tolerance for puns, that to ask a company that specialises in making farm animal handling equipment to come up with something for giraffes was a tall order. But Farmquip took it in their stride. When Wellington Zoo started planning an upgrade of the habitat that is home to aunt and […]
Better, faster, smarter crop variety data for Australia’s grain growers
Australian grain growers are set to get better crop variety recommendations faster through a major Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) international collaborative investment. The $5.39 million five-year INVITA (Innovations in Variety Testing in Australia) investment will deliver improved predictors of variety performance, quicker access to trial data for growers, better monitoring of trial quality […]
Flexi-wage: what employers, job-seekers and self-employed should know
Interested in hiring someone? The Ministry of Social Development may be able to help through its recently expanded Flexi-wage employment programme. MSD is New Zealand’s largest employment service, with a nationwide network connecting job seekers and businesses. The Flexi-wage programme is just one of the ways MSD helps job seekers get a job, by working with employers […]
Get your entries in for the Wheat Awards 2021
How do your wheat crops look this year? Average, good, great? United Wheatgrowers, Federated Farmers and New Zealand Grain and Seed Trade Association now invite entries from growers in the annual wheat awards. Crops harvested in 2021 are eligible for entry in the following classes: Premium milling wheat, milling wheat, gristing wheat, feed wheat, and […]
Hotter, drier, CRISPR: editing for climate change
Gene editing technology will play a vital role in climate-proofing future crops to protect global food supplies, according to scientists at The University of Queensland. Biotechnologist Dr Karen Massel from UQ’s Centre for Crop Science has published a review of gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 to safeguard food security in farming systems under stress from extreme and variable climate conditions. […]