The animal health industry should be applauded for its contribution to New Zealand farms, vets, animals, and people. An inaugural report on its value by KPMG and Agcarm underscores an underappreciated industry that’s punching above its weight. The ‘Assessing the value of the Animal Health Industry to New Zealand’ report showcases a small industry, employing […]
Agri Tech
Machine learning aids insights into cows’ sleep
Just like humans, our dairy cows need their sleep; but AgResearch scientists have had to get innovative with new technologies to better understand the quality of shut-eye the animals are getting. Research into the sleep of cows is seen by researchers as one way of assessing their welfare, which is important to farmers and to […]
AWDT, Know your Mindset. Grow your Influence
When the pressure is on, sometimes it’s best to just pause and re-focus on what’s really important to your family, farm and community. New from @AWDT, Know your Mindset. Grow your Influence is a short, personal development programme for both women and men – designed to help you respond to change with positive, meaningful action. […]
Test your smart farming idea with Rural Professionals Fund help
The Rural Professionals Fund, established in 2020 by the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, is now accepting applications for a second round of funding to support projects that could benefit farming communities. This is a unique research fund, specifically designed for farmers and farm advisors, to enable them to rapidly test smart ideas […]
NZ falling behind on alternative protein opportunities
Emerging proteins may be a disruptor for our current farmers and growers but they’re also a major opportunity, Food HQ chief executive Abby Thompson says. She’s the co-author, with Food HQ’s business development manager Amos Palfreyman, of the report Emerging Proteins in Aotearoa New Zealand: What will it take for the sector to thrive?, launched […]
Huge solar farm leaves room for livestock
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]