Coast & Country News - November 2025

Vision of loveliness with a wet nose

“Why call her ‘Pig’,”

I asked The Hat down at the pigpen.

“Umm ” he muttered, as if it needed pondering

“Because she IS a pig. And it’s a pigsty, not a pigpen ” “But pig is the species within the genus Sus,” I reasoned “And commonly known as Sus domesticus, or domestic pig ” The Hat gave me a withering stare He didn’t need some wiseass city kid lecturing him in Latin

“And where’s the emotional attachment?” I wondered aloud

“The closeness and caring?”

“There is none, ” said a cold, detached, unfeeling man of the soil

“And,” he added, “…if it oinks, is pink and bristly, and rolls in

mud, then likely it’s a pig. So ‘Pig’ – Okay?”

At 14, this was my first encounter with a real live pig

Arnold Ziffel from the TV’s ‘Green Acres’ was as close as I had ever been beforehand.

I liked Arnold so Pig and I bonded immediately

She would squeal and snort when she spotted me and run up for me to scratch her ears

‘Pig’ became ‘Melanie.’ My Melanie. I adored those small brown eyes and shiny, wet, turned up nose.

She busied about, snuffling and slobbering And I loved to hate it when I sneaked my finger through the netting, and she sucked it Delightfully disgusting!

One day I found The Hat by my pigpen, his pigsty, and he was filing a sharp point on some

Number 8 wire. Metal on metal. Grate, screech, grate, screech Ominous!

“What’s that for?” “You’ll see. ” Melanie was staring from afar There was a sense of foreboding. Didn’t look good Didn’t sound good Didn’t feel good

Then The Hat’s grappling with Melanie – got her in a wrestling hold, the Octopus Clamp He’s about to turn Melanie into a pork skewer

She doesn’t want to be a pork skewer She’s in a frenzy, screaming and thrashing about.

The Hat jabs the wire through the septum on Melanie’s snout Her anxiety becomes pain Her protests ramp up several decibels. I’m hurting for her The Hat twists the wire into a knotted loop, snips off the loose ends and releases Melanie.

“Animal management, ” explains the Hat. “Stop her rooting around.”

What? Stop my Melanie from doing something that’s instinctive, that she loves doing.

Melanie’s standing back with a fixed stare She looks sad, and pathetic with her wire nose ring She’s hurting and above all else, betrayed

“Why did you let that happen?” she’s saying to me.

“Where were you when I needed you? Traitor! Judas!”

I understand Melanie. I’m sorry I will carry the guilt.

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Farmers welcome drop in methane targets

Farmers have welcomed the Government’s new “science-based” biogenic methane targets for 2050.

It’s dropped the reduction target for biogenic methane from 24 to 47% below 2017 levels by 2050, to 14 to 24% – saying it reflects the findings of the independent Methane Science Review released in 2024.

Agriculture and Trade and Investment Minister

Todd McClay says the Government has worked closely with industry and accepted a range of advice to determine a “practical target”.

“We’ve accepted a range of advice and worked closely with industry to agree a practical target that protects food production whilst substantially reducing New Zealand’s farm emissions.”

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the new targets are backed by science and had landed in a “solid” place.

He says the targets set under the previous government felt “political[ly] and ideologically driven”

“I think what’s important to understand is just how far off the last lot of targets were, ” he says.

“So, 24 to 47% was going to put well over 20% of sheep and beef farms out of business, 6 or 7% of dairy farms. It was literally going to destroy rural communities.”

Wayne also welcomes confirmation there will be no tax on agricultural emissions like methane

“This is a major step forward and will be a huge relief for farming families who have had the threat of a massive tax hanging over our heads threatening the viability of our businesses.

“A methane tax would have achieved the opposite of its intent – forcing the closure of Kiwi farms, driving production to less efficient countries, and increasing global emissions.”

However, Wayne says the changes don’t mean farmers are being let off the hook – farmers were already working hard to reduce their methane emissions and had made huge improvements in the last decade.

A dairy farmer himself, he says he’s faced huge

pressure from processors to improve

However, last week Nestlé announced it was withdrawing from an international partnership aimed at reducing dairy emissions.

Wayne says this is more a reflection of the cost-ofliving pressures facing consumers.

He says a growing range of technologies to better calculate and reduce emissions on farm would only help farmers further improve

Beef and lamb

Beef and Lamb chairperson Kate Acland welcomes the new targets which she feels better reflected the science, but says it will still be a stretch for the agriculture sector to achieve

“The previous targets were arbitrarily based on ranges used in an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that explicitly stated those ranges should not be used to set national targets.

“The revised targets better reflect the science around the different warming impact of short- and long-lived gases. Methane should only be asked to do what is expected of other gases, which is to achieve no additional warming.”

Kate says New Zealand’s red meat is already among the most climate-efficient in the world.

“While our sector has made significant progress on reducing warming emissions, the revised targets, particularly the upper end of the range, will still be very challenging This is by no means letting agriculture off the hook ”

It’s important to avoid stock number reductions seen in recent years, which Kate says is being driven by afforestation caused by New Zealand’s ETS settings

She says it’s important to work towards reducing methane by investing in efficiencies on-farm, genetic improvements and tools and technologies that could help farmers

Kate says tax on agricultural methane emissions being ruled out is especially welcome news for the sector

“Emissions from our sector are already coming down – the threat of a price was draining confidence from the rural sector and was just not justified ”

Disappointment

Victoria University of Wellington Professor James Renwick says the government ’ s decision is “disappointing” as it represents a “major step backwards in ambition and in climate action”, but he’s not surprised

“The climate is currently changing rapidly and we need to be doing all we can to slow the warming and avoid catastrophic impacts from extremes and from tipping points crossed “Yes, carbon dioxide emission reductions are the number one target, and we must get to zero as soon as possible.”

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Gianna Schwanecke/RNZ

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FarmingfortomorrowwithASB:Thethird-gen Waikatodairyfarmerwhowelcomeschange

Farming has always been about adapting; to the weather, the markets, and to the land itself For Waikato dairy farmer Sam Torrens, adaptability is a philosophy passed down through previous generations who actively questioned the way things were done

“I grew up respecting the way my grandfather and father did things,” said Sam “But you’ve also got to be willing to ask: is there a smarter way? Can we do better by the land and the animals and keep the business strong?”

Today, the Torrens family runs 580 cows on 200 hectares near Te Aroha, with Sam and his brother Nick farming in equity partnership with their parents His role leans toward people management, herd

genetics, and environmental management, while Nick handles the milk quality, maintenance,health and safety

“It’s a good balance,” said Sam “Everyone has their strengths Mum does the books and dad is still heavily involved, too”

In fact, it was Sam’s father Ross who set an example by challenging common practices like blanket fertilising

“Dad worked with an independent agronomist to figure out the right amount of minerals and fertiliser needed to maintain healthy pasture production while also reducing impact on the environment,”

Sam explained “At the time it was different, but it was the right call”

It’s an approach Sam and Nick have continued,whetherit’striallingneweffluent systems, exploring renewable energy, or looking at ways to align with consumer expectations around sustainability

“We’re surrounded by rivers here, and you want to know you’re doing the right thing by the environment as well as the cows You only have to look out the window to see the results It makes you feel good, but it’s also what the market wants,” said Sam “My parents were progressive for their time and my brother and I are adding onto that”

The challenge is making those ideas feasible and that’s where ASB comes in

“We got a Rural Environmental Compliance Loan about five years ago to construct a weeping wall system for effluent so that we were fully compliant with regional council regulations We started thinking about solar panels in February this year Environmentally, it ticked all the boxes”

Eighty panels were installed in August, and within days, afternoon milking was completely off grid

“It was a very slight habit tweak to do more work during sunlight hours; boiling water to wash the plant and vats and making sure the irrigator is running during the day,” he explained

From an annual power bill of almost $19K, the estimated savings in the first year is $9,260 The payback time is five and a half years on panels that are guaranteed for 10 years Alongside cost savings, the farm’s carbon footprint will reduce by 170 tonnes CO2e

“I haven’t got my first power bill yet, but I’m actually looking forward to it,” said Sam Since 2022, ASB has provided $21 billion in cumulative sustainability funding, with a goal of reaching $6 5 billion by 2030 In addition, ASB has products such as the Business Sustainability Loan and Smart Solar Loan which support customers with their

sustainability journey For farmers, that can cover a variety of investments from solar panels and effluent upgrades to precision technology and energy-saving equipment

“The Torrens are a cool family unit who’ve always been open to doing things differently,” said ASB senior rural manager, Matt Thomas “With solar, they’ve done a great job of researching options and finding a cost-effective system from a list of accredited suppliers”

The ASB Smart Solar Loan offers fiveyear zero percent fixed interest on up to $150,000 for solar and battery systems, while other products cater to sustainability, succession, or diversifying an asset

“At the end of the day, we all want the same thing,” said Matt “A strong, sustainable farming sector that can weather the ups and downs”

Central Plateau farmers call for action on feral pig and forestry threat

Pigs and pines are providing Central Plateau farmers with huge headaches

Rotorua-Taupō Federated Farmers’ Meat and Wool chair Ruby Mulinder says the wild pig population has exploded in the region.

Mobs of up to 50 have been seen on her 142ha property near Lake Taupō, which she owns with husband Sean Nixon, with a local helicopter pilot reporting seeing groups of 100 regularly

Ruby says the pigs turn over soil –kill pastures and leave exposed soil vulnerable to run off and nutrient leaching.

“Large feral pig populations are an environmental disaster around freshwater bodies,” she says.

Ruby says the pigs are coming primarily from forestry blocks and Department of Conservation (DoC) land in the area.

Running breeding ewes, she is also concerned that the pigs can prey on lambs

Control is in the hands of the private landowner at present, but Ruby believes a “Taupō catchment strategy ” is needed involving Waikato Regional Council, DoC, forestry owners, farmers and Federated Farmers.

This issue will be commonplace throughout the country as large-scale conversions to forestry create breeding grounds for pests, she says.

“Blanket afforestation has also become a predator to the [sheep and beef] sector ”

Legislation introduced by the Government last month limits how much farmland is converted to exotic forest and registered in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

However, Ruby believes this is too little too late.

Damage done

“The damage is done Quality breeding land has already gone ” She says landowners were swayed by ETS incentives which created an “artificially inflated market”

Those converting to full farm forestry have “sold out ” and effectively limited farm ownership and growth opportunities for the next generation

“Some of our best and most keen farmers can ’ t get their foot in the door,”

says Ruby “It’s a pretty scary picture in 20-to-30 years ’ time ”

She says the last two years have seen a huge amount of land go into trees

“As a sector, we risk losing our critical mass, which in future could see it reach breaking point ”

“Farmers get squeezed before anyone else It’s ironic, as they are the most vital part of the equation ”

Flexibility

Ruby is thankful her and Sean run a “flexible operation” – predominantly sheep, for meat and milk, plus a small herd of breedin beef cattle.

A mix of activities on their relatively small holding has been vital in sustaining the operation, along with the couple’s off-farm dairy professional careers

With Ruby being a farm consultant and Sean a dairy processing design engineer, they set up Agri Concepts in 2018.

In 2024, Ruby was named Federated Farmers’ Meat and Wool Advocate of the Year

In their fifth season on the edge of Lake Taupō, Ruby a Sean milk 1000 sheep in a 30-aside shed

If returns hold, Ruby says there are huge opportunities the sheep-milking sector

“Leaving the lambs on the ewe to rear and running a l cost system has lots of potential compared to the high-c artificial rearing systems. ”

Ruby says they are still recovering from devastating drought last summer which “toasted” the farm and put pressure on their finances.

d nd in lowcost

Ruby’s work takes her as far afield as the Chatham Islands – her mother used to nurse there – where she is now leading a freshwater project with local sheep and beef farmers.

She grew up on a drystock farm in central Hawke’s Bay which her father managed

Obtaining an agricultural science degree, Ruby worked for Landcorp for five years supporting dairy farm conversions, before she and Sean moved to the United Kingdom

She found employment as a senior farm business manager overseeing 170 farmer supply contracts for cheddar cheesemakers in Devon, while Sean played rugby and worked for Tetra Pak

On their return to New Zealand, Ruby spent four years as a consultant with FarmWise.

Provincial chair

She has been involved with Rotorua-Taupō Federated Farmers for three years, taking on the provincial meat and wool chair role and sitting on the national executive for the last two years

“Input costs [buying in feed] went through the roof ” Spring rain has helped rebuild the water table, but a cold August was tough on the flock, she says “ ambing busy” uby says 25-30% of the lambs e kept for replacements in the milking shed, with the balance sent directly to the freezing works or sold to other farmers to fatten before processing

“We didn’t want to see lambs as a byproduct of the operation. We always wanted our business to value the lambs as well as milk.”

She says they would never able to afford a large enough ystock block to be profitable, so needed something highly productive on a small holding.

They are in just their first season also running breeding cattle, aiming to build from 20 to 50 cows in the near future

Heifers are kept for breeding stock, with “prime beef” heading to the dining table

How a decade in NZ farming

In 2015, Jas Singh Mander left his family’s dairy farm in the Punjab region of Northern India on a stifling 46-degree day He travelled to a freezing Rotorua, which was to be his home while he studied farming in New Zealand at

the Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

Ten years on, the 35-year-old is now a farm manager for the Pāmu Farms, Endeavour Dairy Unit, Wairākei Estate Dairy Complex, and won the 2025 Central Plateau New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) Dairy Manager of the Year He also took home the Fonterra

Serious machinery for serious work.

Dairy Management Merit Award and the De Laval Pasture and Feed Management Merit Award. Jas describes the awards as an amazing experience which has taught him so much

Hard work and sacrifices

“The hand-milked cows lived in sheds with a small outside area We grew crops like maize, sugar cane, wheat and rice In winter our cows ate maize silage and clover, during summer we cut and chopped fresh green crops daily for them,” says Jas

In India, Jas was a fourth generation dairy farmer from an area with 550-plus years of farming history since the era of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Their 15-hectare farm supported 25 milking cows The large high production Friesians produced 50 litres each a day across three milkings, and buffalo were milked twice

After learning English during 2014, Jas was initially looking at Australia to study farming, but after some internet searches he decided “New Zealand had a better climate and looked beautiful”.

He came over, leaving his future wife Preeti in India. It was three years before he could afford to go back, marry her and bring her to New Zealand

During those three years Jas worked hard at his 1 5 year course of Applied Technology Dairy Farming, which covers Levels 2 to 5

“I learned how to speak English like a Kiwi while I was there ”

Farming in New Zealand

After completing the course successfully, he moved onto a work visa and worked as a trainee on a production system 5, 1600-cow farm.

“I was very nervous as to how that many cows were milked and managed. I started with calf

led to award-winning success

rearing and relief milking but soon became more confident and began to ask lots of questions. I learned a lot about milk quality”

Jas’s second position was assistant herd manager on a production system 2, 1200-cow farm where he learned pasture management, animal health, feed plans, c ropping, and the financial side of production. This knowledge gained him a 2IC position on a 700-cow farm in Tokoroa.

“I stayed there for four years, and it was a great opportunity The contract milker Geert Dings had a passion for training people in the industry It was a really good set-up, well planned and prioritising animal health, effluent management and the environment.”

He completed his Primary ITO Level 3 and 4, Milk Quality Stages 1 and 2.

Career-driven Jas applied unsuccessfully for a farm manager position but was offered a 2IC position at Pāmu Farms with a 1700-cow Endeavour Dairy Unit in March 2022.

Three months in, the farm manager position became available, and Jas was offered the role, receiving support from Sam Bunny and Chris Robinson.

Jas is currently doing Level 5 Production Management.

Farm management

“By 2025, we are a high-input, system 5, 2000-cow farm on 835ha (800 effective). There are nine fulltime staff, and we are winter milking with autumn calving ”

After increasing the herd by 300 cows to 2000, Jas is now looking to increase the cow ’ s BW/PW, remembering the high production big Friesians he hand-milked in India.

“This farm is flat with 15% rolling Our Kiwi cross-Friesian content is currently F7 to F8, but the land can cope with F11 cows of up to 520 kilogrammes live weight”

Jas aims to increase individual cow production of 385kg/ms in the 2025/2026 season to 400 kg/ms in the 2026/2027 season. The overall milk solid target is 750,000 kg/ms.

“To support the winter milking system and 13% re-grassing each year, we grow 47ha of kale, 24ha of maize, 100ha of oats and 500 tonne/ DM grass silage for winter feed.

“For dry cows over summer, 24ha of turnips are grown. The farm’s annual grass growth produces 9 tonne/DM per ha.”

Bought in supplements include 1400 tonne/DM custom mix grain,

650 tonne/DM lucerne, 500 tonne/DM ma silage and 300 tonne/DM grass silage. Jas has improved cow comfort and reduced lameness by applying stock rock on the race

The underpass, which was prone to flooding has been concreted, diverting water to the 9 8 million litre effluent pond which irrigates 220 of the farm

“My biggest goal next season is to concrete our silage site and channel any leaching into the effluent pond.”

McCaw Homestead opens its doors to visitors

A pioneer family home in rural Waikato is the centrepiece of a museum complex

Dating back to 1902, the McCaw Homestead was once the headquarters of the 56,000-acre (22,700ha) Matamata Estate

Since November 1978, the building has formed the nucleus of Firth Tower Museum on the outskirts of Matamata

Manager Vicky Kelly says significant changes were made to the McCaw Homestead after it was first bought in 1972 jointly by the former Matamata Borough and Matamata County councils.

This included a complete re-build of the kitchen, bedrooms and lounge, with a flat inside decommissioned

The front rooms of the house, plus the laundry, have been furnished in the style of the late 1880s when the McCaws began their residence

residents in and around the area

Previously “staff only”, the kitchen has been opened for public view, with more usable display space

Vicky says the laundry is “hands-on” rather than a display

Some items have also been brought over from the adjacent Firth Tower, which has been closed since 2022 pending a structural assessment

The Matamata Estate was established by Josiah Clifton Firth in 1865, and he built a country villa in 1879.

Vicky says the rooms in the homestead are representative of what it might have been in the late 19th Century

“It is in keeping with that era ”

Partnership

With local government reorganisation in 1989, Matamata-Piako District Council took over ownership of the property, with Matamata Historic Society creating displays in the McCaw Homestead

The society had accumulated material over the years, chiefly through donations by

During his tenure, prior to the development of Matamata, a virtual village, including a school, church, equipment shed and apiary occupied what is now the museum site

In 1895, the Assets Realisation Board took control of the Matamata Estate, appointing John McCaw as manager

McCaw and his family moved into Firth’s homestead, which subsequently burnt down in June 1902 after an accidental fire

He immediately set about clearing the site and constructing a new house said to have cost £450, which may have been completed within a few months

The new dwelling was built in an almost identical position to the previous structure but was slightly detached from the concrete tower from which Firth Tower Museum gets its name

Ballot farms

Shortly after the building’s construction, the estate was divided into 117 farms allocated by ballot in 1904

John McCaw was himself exempted from the ballot process, being allocated the homestead farm of nearly 400ha by the government based on his “superior knowledge of farm economics and management ”

In the first season after the ballot, he was producing 12 cans of milk per day from 100 cows, while the average supplier produced only two cans from smaller herds

The McCaws occupied the farm until 1917, having made a few alterations to the building, including the creation of an office in a partly enclosed verandah, which was extended towards the rear of the house

John McCaw retired to Hamilton and died on April 10, 1930

Following the departure of the McCaw family, the Tower Rd farm was bought by

a group of merchants from Wellington and elsewhere, after which the building was occupied by various tenants

Subdivision

The land was further subdivided before being bought by A W Fowke in 1941, when the farm consisted of just under 100ha

An additional 6000m2 of land behind the McCaw Homestead was donated by the Fowke family in 1985 to add to the museum site. As the museum developed, the town jail was moved there, while the old Matamata Methodist Church still hosts weddings Vicky says groups can book to visit the museum and learn how lifestyles have developed since the mid-1800s through interactive displays or take part in facilitated activities The museum also hosts displays for limited time periods and other special events

Next up is Christmas at Firth Tower on December 6 at 6 30pm Steve Edwards

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Access to reliable, clean water is one of the most pressing challenges for farmers and lifestyle block owners

From bore water with high iron and manganese to runoff and effluent reuse, water quality directly affects stock health, productivity, and compliance.

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Right: Water before and after filtration

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Waikato Councileyes fewer RMAbreaches

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Those who breach the Resource Management Act for offences like polluting waterways will no longer be able to use insurance to pay their fines, due to changes under the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill that came into law last month.

Offenders would face harsher penalties too with the maximum penalty for individuals rising from $300,000 to $1 million, and for businesses, the $600,000 maximum rose to an eye-watering $10m

Rural insurers like FMG have advised farmers of the change.

The Council’s regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch believes the changes will be effective in targeting the more serious offenders, but it would take time

“I think that over time it has to make a difference, in respect of people will have to realise that they just can ’ t run that risk of breaching the RMA because the repercussions are so big, and there’s no insurance companies to bail them out in respect to paying fines ”

He says anyone working in the environment should take extra care and not cut any corners, due to the more severe penalties

“The scope for penalty has just absolutely ballooned

“We’d certainly like everyone out there to take as much care as they can, because the repercussions are so enormous. ”

From spore to supplement

Growing New Zealand’s Lion’s Mane mushrooms

In a quiet warehouse on the outskirts of Raglan, lines of tall shelving units are filled with inoculated substrate bags, all at different stages of sprouting delicate, pale, coral-like fronds

It is here that the mysterious Hericium Novae-Zealandiae, a native New Zealand fungus, is being cultivated.

Also known as Pekepeke-Kiore, it’s a close relative to Lion’s Mane, (Hericium Erinaceus) – the world’s most researched mushroom for brain health It’s recognised for its medicinal properties and support of focus, memory and nerve growth – a food for the brain

Food for thought

Seasoned mushroom grower, Sean Mills already has an established mushroom business with his wife Emily Eldin, supplying gourmet mushroom grow bags for people to grow at home

“I’ve always been interested in Lion’s Mane and the extensive research demonstrating of how it can support brain function and health, but I wasn ’ t satisfied with what I saw in the rest of the market, and I wasn ’ t willing to compromise on quality with imported powders,” says Sean New Zealand bio-security laws do not allow the import of live Asian Lion’s Mane cultures, only the dried, powdered product

“Powders from countries with different regulations may contain contaminants like heavy metals, pesticide residues and microbes which may negatively affect the efficacy of the end supplement ” Sean didn’t want to import another country ’ s mushrooms when Aotearoa has its own incredible fungi ecosystem He began research of Pekepeke-

Kiore in 2020 with a goal to cultivate the cleanest ‘brain food’ supplement locally “During 2021, I managed to grow a consistent, repeatable crop that we sold to restaurants Then as our volumes increased I started to dry the excess, and I took some daily in coffee as a supplement I noticed the brain-boosting benefits immediately”

Mynd is born

Fast-forward to 2023 and Mynd was born from a breakthrough in Sean’s research An independent bioactive compound test by Callaghan Innovation indicated that Mynd’s New Zealand Lion’s Mane mushroom extract was the first of its kind to contain both Erinacines and Hericenones, the bioactives accredited to the cognitive health benefits of the international variety

“We were aware that nerve growth stimulating Erinacines in Lion’s Mane mushrooms are most present in the mycelium not the fruiting body

“We developed a cultivation technique that allows us to harvest pure mycelia Combining the mycelia and mushroom fruiting bodies results in an extract rich in bioactive compounds Our heat extraction process ensures bioavailability and retains a wide spectrum of beneficial compounds ”

Mynd is a collaboration between Sean, Emily, Dana Gray and Fraser McConnell and is the result of four years dedicated to growing and studying NZ Lion’s Mane Sean and Emily and a team carry out the science and production Dana and Fraser oversee product, design and marketing

The mushroom merry-go-round

The New Zealand Lion’s Mane growth cycle starts in the lab and Sean maintains the cultures

“To get a weekly crop of 400kg of fresh mushrooms, the cycle begins four months prior with me starting

“...I took some daily in coffee as a supplement. I noticed the brain-boosting benefits immediately”

the first stage in the lab It’s a very full on with no downtime but we have a talented team supporting us ”

The main grow room is well insulated to regulate temperature, and a forced air flow regulates humidity Records of the temperature and humidity ensure optimal grow conditions, replicating a similar climate to that of a native forest

Around two to five percent of fruiting bags get contaminated by competing bacteria in the early stages of the process and they are removed from the grow room

Following harvest, the fruiting body and mycelium undergo a controlled, heat-extraction process that breaks

down the cell walls (chitin), improving the bioavailability of key bioactive compounds Independent third-party testing for contaminants by Hill Laboratories ensures product purity

“We have all the factory equipment onsite to create a high-quality NZ Lion’s Mane supplement ”

The team at Mynd stand behind mushroom farming’s sustainability, requiring less land, water, and energy than many conventional crops.

Sean is proud they are the first mushroom farm in NZ dedicated to brain health and are the 1% that grow their own in a market full of imported powders.

Put nutrients back after your harvest t

When it comes to managing soil fertility on your property, a guiding principle states that you should put back the nutrients that you take away

Silage, baleage, and hay, which are either stored for use later in the season or sold off the farm, are part of the ‘take away ’ side of this equation since the nutrients to grow these crops have been taken up from the soil

Even if the silage and hay remains on the farm, it’s unlikely that it will be fed out onto the same paddocks from which it was harvested. So harvested paddocks can suffer reduced soil fertility if the removed nutrients are not replaced.

There is an even greater need for

if the same paddocks are used to make second or third-cut silage or hay The same applies for paddocks that are harvested every year such as those on sheep and beef farms where there may be no other paddocks flat enough.

One indication that the soil in harvested paddocks isn’t as fertile as it should be is the presence of weeds

Soil fertility

Weeds indicate low soil fertility because they are typically much better at growing in poorer soils than cultivated pasture plants like ryegrass

In a freshly harvested paddock where the soil fertility has dropped, the pasture regrowth isn’t as fast as it should be. So, the soil is left exposed, allowing

and establish.

Weeds that you might find in these situations are ‘flatleaf’ weeds such as dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) and broadleaf plantain (Plantago major)

Applying a post-harvest dressing is sound practice to avoid such less productive, weedy pastures

But which nutrients should you apply?

The nutrients most needed are likely to be potassium/potash (K), phosphorus/phosphate (P), sulphur (S), and magnesium (Mg) A small amount of nitrogen (N) will also be beneficial to stimulate pasture regrowth and quickly cover bare soil

Potash needed the most

Of the nutrients just listed, we

in the greatest quantity due to the relatively large amounts removed in the harvested pasture

For example, although grass might only contain 1.5% K in June, by harvest time in October and November, the levels will have risen to 4.5%. The result is that for every tonne of silage or baleage harvested, around 40-50kg of K have been removed from the soil. That’s a lot of potassium!

Interestingly, the plants don’t actually need all this K for optimum growth, and the excess they absorb is widely known as a ‘luxury uptake’. While luxury uptakes can occur with other nutrients, it’s a particular problem with K since the excesses absorbed create shortages for post-harvest regrowth or any following crop

Luxury uptakes of K are also a problem because they suppress plant absorption of nutrients such as sodium and magnesium This

To avoid getting to the ‘weedypasture ’ stage, apply a post-harvest dressing Of course, the exact nutrients and quantities needed will depend on how heavy the crop was. As always, to be really sure that you are replacing what has been taken away, a soil and herbage test is sound practice. ‘Flat-leaf’

contributes to the metabolic problems we see in livestock such as ‘ grass staggers ’ in spring

While the regrowth of ryegrass is affected by low K levels, clover suffers too Unfortunately, although K is essential for strong clover growth, clover isn’t great at absorbing it This trait is particularly unhelpful for post-harvest clover which needs to recover from being shaded by ryegrass for several weeks So a shortage of available K in the soil at this time can compromise clover growth and reduce its nitrogen-fixing capacity

Avoid weedy pasture

Study investigates run-off effects on marine sponges

New research investigating whether nitrogen fertiliser run-off affects marine sponges suggests these animals have a high tolerance to nitrogen, but some species may be better able to cope than others

The study, led by researchers at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, looked at the potential effects of nitrogen run-off on three sponge species found along Wellington’s coast and four species from Lough Hyne in Ireland, a

m marine reserve in County Cork

“Elevated levels of nitrogen flowing from rivers into coastal waters can adversely affect marine species In both Aotearoa New Zealand and Ireland, sources of this nitrogen include agricultural run-off from animal urine and fertiliser applied to farmland,” says Gabriela Wood, the study’s lead author and a PhD candidate at Te Herenga Waka

To test how the sponges might respond to this run-off, the seven species were exposed to seawater with different concentrations of nitrogen. The highest concentrations used in lab tests were set at levels that

c could be expected after large rainfall events

Results suggest most of the sponges were able to tolerate short-term increases in nitrogen, with survival rates above 95%

However, one species from Ireland, the Cliona celata, showed evidence of adverse effects at the highest nitrogen concentrations used

“The Cliona celata showed visible changes in colour and significant changes in respiration rates, both indicators of stress. Two other species from Lough Hyne also showed changes in respiration rates, ” says Gabriela Although survival rates

RoboticLabboosts farm soiltesting

ARL’s new purpose-built soil testing laboratory in Rolleston, using robots and 50% bigger, will increase New Zealand’s capacity for soil and plant testing at a time of growing demand from the agriculture sector

The new facility replaces ARL’s previous site in Hawke’s Bay, which was destroyed during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. After operating from a temporary site in Hastings for two years, ARL’s owner Ravensdown decided to relocate it to Canterbury, closer to key research partners and core farming communities

The Rolleston lab is 50% larger than the previous site and includes automated robotics and five custom-built machines developed by ARL’s team. These improvements are expected to double the lab’s soil testing capacity over the next five years.

“This new lab positions us to meet the growing demands of modern farming,” says ARL general manager Suzan Horst.

“Accurate, timely data is essential It allows farmers to apply nutrients only where needed, which is good for the environment and increases crop production and pasture growth.”

Supporting recovery

Following the loss of its Hawke’s Bay laboratory, ARL took the opportunity to re-establish in the heart of the South Island’s farming region. Seven staff relocated from the original team, helping preserve expertise while building a foundation for future growth.

The lab employs 30 people from diverse backgrounds, with over 50 tertiary qualifications across the team, including five PhDs. It currently processes around 80,000 samples per year, mostly soil. The new lab is capable of doubling that in soil samples alone and expands testing capacity for plant, crops, and feed samples

ARL conducts more than 500,000 tests annually across 50 different test types. Most demand focuses on elements such as phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, and magnesium, essential to efficient fertiliser use and soil health.

ARL independently tests and has direct APIs with many organisations. Including Hawkeye Pro, Ravensdown’s digital mapping and nutrient management platform

These tools turn results from the lab into applicable tools farmers can use to effectively manage their farms.

Ravensdown

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remained high during the lab tests, outside the lab the sponges ’ survival could be hampered by secondary effects on the marine environment from increases in nitrogen concentrations

“Increasing nitrogen levels can lead to higher incidences of plankton blooms We know these blooms can result in significant reductions in sponge communities,” says Professor James Bell, a marine biologist at Te Herenga Waka and co-author of the study

More research was needed to track

the long-term effects of nitrogen run-off on marine sponges and to investigate how other sponge species may be coping, he said

“There are more than 9,000 marine sponges worldwide but, despite their ecological importance, there’s a lack of research to show how they are responding to nitrogen run-off.”

Results of the study are published in the ‹Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology’

A Hauraki Plains legacy - Productive and proven

A significant farming holding of 241.85 hectares (more or less) in the heart of the Hauraki Plains, this property combines scale, infrastructure, and production with the lifestyle benefits of its central location.

Currently operating as a dairy unit, the farm is fully set up with approximately 146 paddocks, flat contour, and fertile clay soils It supports a herd of around 600 cows with recent production exceeding 207,000kgMS Water is supplied via council reticulation and on-farm systems, while effluent management includes a substantial lined storage pond with irrigator coverage across 50 hectares

Farm infrastructure is extensive, including a 43-aside herringbone cowshed with meal and molasses feeding, multiple hay sheds, a 450sqm workshop and calf facilities, and three wintering barns Further outbuildings include machinery sheds and staff accommodation, supporting a smooth farming operation

Residential improvements provide flexibility, with several dwellings across the property ranging from family homes to smaller accommodation, all supplied by council water and septic systems These homes offer practical options for staff, extended family, or rental income

Positioned near Ngātea and within easy reach of Hamilton, Auckland, and the Coromandel, the property sits in a region long recognised for its strong dairy base, community connections, and growing tourism profile

This is a substantial farm offering scale, infrastructure, and location – a holding capable of underpinning long-term production with scope for the next stage of ownership

241ha 3 1 1

Asking Price $10,900,000 + GST (if any)

View by appointment

Karl Davis 0508 83 83 83

karl davis@bayleys co nz

Sam Aislabie 027 429 5410

sam aislabie@bayleys co nz

SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 bayleys co nz/2630156

Primary sector calls for action on farm pests

A blueprint to ensure farmers, growers and veterinarians can access the tools they need to fight pests and diseases has been launched as New Zealand’s primary sector faces ongoing regulatory delays

Developed by Animal and Plant Health New Zealand, the “Blueprint for Rapid Change” recommends

practical steps the Government and regulatory agencies can take to streamline approvals for agricultural and horticultural products

The blueprint comes seven months after the Ministry for Regulation’s review of the regulatory approval process It includes options discussed with regulators since December 2023

While legislative reform to the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Acts is under way, APHANZ’s blueprint identifies three operational levers that can be pulled immediately by regulators

make timely, risk-based decisions

“Every delay adds stress, cost and risk to our farmers and growers who are trying to do the right thing – grow healthy food, protect the environment and meet rising standards We need to move from promises to progress ”

Farmers and growers are urging the Govt to do more.

These include a specialist taskforce to clear applications that matter most for farmers and growers – new active ingredients and new label uses – and greater use of international harmonisation and trusted regulator data to streamline approvals

actives and new label uses is needed by farmers and growers so they can rotate products to manage resistance, improve environmental outcomes and phase out older chemistry

She says without regulatory efficiency and certainty, NZ risks losing its competitive edge

The sector is also seeking meaningful engagement to co-design workable, risk-based solutions

“This isn’t about asking for shortcuts,” says APHANZ chief executive Dr Liz Shackleton

“It’s about asking regulators to use the tools they already have to

Despite Cabinet greenlighting reform and ministers setting targets, access to new products remains stalled In the queue, applicants report no meaningful change to the process

“One recent approval for a new active ingredient has moved apple growers one step closer to the first blackspot tool in 18 years – but more are needed.

“A broad toolkit with new

“We are not alone in this – we are actively working with wider sector partners

“This is a united front, and together we ’ re pushing for a system that delivers the innovation our sector needs ” Liz says APHANZ welcomes the Govt’s commitment to change and the ministers’ targets for regulator performance, but industry needs tangible results now

Whiteclover, an essentialsurvivalitem

Most farmers I work with remain cautious about their fertiliser spend this season

Budgeting for the current season involves educated guess work, and further out the more difficult that becomes It’s a real challenge for an industry where decisions made now have impacts years in advance, and it’s not possible to stop production while we wait for better conditions or more certainty

The only alternative is nitrogen from another source and nitrogen fixed by clover is the solution available to all pastoral farmers

An article published in 2003 titled ‘White clover in top 20 essential survival items’ opens with the sentence, “If there is one thing New Zealand couldn’t do without, it would have to be white clover”.

Geopolitical shifts mean market returns can be volatile, and climatic variability adds a further element of uncertainty

Essentials

Ensuring the important things remain in place is essential with soil fertility high on the priority list Phosphorus and nitrogen are the two nutrients most money is spent on Low cadmium rock suitable for superphosphate manufacture is increasingly difficult to source and that is reflected in its steady lift in price over time

With less natural gas available the price of urea is also affected and lowering inputs negatively impacts pasture growth unless there is an alternative

“…white clover-based pastures underpin most of New Zealand’s milk, meat and wool production in a quiet and unassuming way ” It was estimated then (2003) that white clover contributed $3 billion annually to the New Zealand economy In today’s currency that is likely to be more than $10billion

White gold

At that time AgResearch led the world in understanding the genetic composition of this “white gold” and $20m annually of clover seed was exported In short, there remains the knowledge and ability to maximise the advantages of increasing the amount of clover in our grazed pastures.

...continued

Spring challenges and changging times

This spring has been a tough one on the farm

The cold, wet winter just doesn’t seem to want to let go, and ground temperatures at our Paengaroa yard have been sitting around two degrees lower on average compared to this time last year

Despite that dry summer we all remember, we ’ ve already had 1124mm of rain up to mid-October – one of the higher totals we ’ ve seen in the past 15 years

Pasture growth has struggled, maize plantings were delayed and farmers have had to buy in more grass silage than usual to replenish stocks

Of course, when everyone ’ s looking for silage, that’s exactly when we don’t have as much

Most other suppliers I know of are already sold out, with

very little left to see us through the summer if things turn dry again

However, we still have some bales and are still taking orders for maize silage, so give me a call for a quote

Smart collars

Out on the road recently, two things really caught my eye The first was the number of farms getting ready to fit wearable smart collars on their cows

I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it’s clear this technology is becoming part of everyday farming life I’ve talked it over with my brotherin-law, who works for one of the big collar companies, and it’s now during mating where some of the biggest financial benefits of the technology lie

The collars help with heat detection, improving those allimportant six-week in-calf rates

Clover in a well manged sward can supply enough nitrogen to sustain yields of 18 tonne of dry matter per year Currently intensive dairy pastures seldom exceed 15 tonne DM/ha.

Animal performance significantly lifts when there is a 20% clover content in the sward due to the increased digestibility of clover relative to grasses.

This is particularly the situation from early November onwards when grasses, regardless of management, develop a seed head.

Clover contains usually twice the calcium of grasses, the reason that lambs fatten most quickly on clover dominant pastures When combined with the extra energy in the form of soluble sugars accompanied b not crude, protein performance gains are further enhanced.

Pasture

Yes, they’re an investment, but when the payout ’ s strong and the returns stack up, it’s hard to argue against them Before long, I reckon it’ll be unusual not to see them on farm

The second thing, which is more specific to the Bay of Plenty, is the continued development of pastoral land into kiwifruit orchards The large white crop protection covers have a significant visual impact on the landscape

Returns and rates

With strong kiwifruit returns and lower interest rates, it’s no wonder more land is being converted. I can only dream of having a slice of the kiwifruit action myself

And speaking of rates, the Reserve Bank made a bold move on October 8, cutting the OCR by 50 basis points The rural economy is ticking along nicely, but our urban neighbours are still doing it tough and are the ones that really need the loosening of m d m c d

monetary policy It feels like each day I read about more businesses closing their doors Another 25-point cut is tipped for November, and it’ll be interesting to see how much further lending and mortgage rates fall Will the banks come out with a sub 4% rate?

has a stolon system, white flowers with many florets, three leaflets, and no hairs.

Lactating animals grazing clover dense pasture lose less weight in early lactation and gain condition more rapidly throughout the remainder of the season.

The objection to managing pastures to maximise clover performance is typically that clover plants are subject to damage by pests, usually flea and weevil Although pests are always present genuinely healthy plants are minimally affected. way to ensure that pest essure is minimised is to lift soil calcium levels and soil pH above that required for grasses. Functional Fertiliser developed CalciZest over twenty years ago to promote clover growth in pasture. It contains calcium in the form of lime to lift immediate plant availability. Soft carbons inoculated with selected range of beneficial fungi cteria ensure that the uptake of nutrient is rapid, and when applied prior to December a significant increase in clover performance can be expected throughout the remainder of the season.

For more information call Peter on 027 495 0041 or 0800 843 809.

ROTORUA A & P SHOW: 2025

We’re delighted to announce our 117th annual A&P Show, happening this December! Save the date Saturday, 6th December 2025 for a family-friendly event everyone will enjoy This day promises something for all You can watch or participate in competitions such as Shearing, Wool Handling, Axemen, Equestrian, Dairy Goat and Cattle sections, plus Western Riding activity fills the entire day

Kids aged 15 and under have access to free entertainment, making it a must for families Enjoy horse and pony rides, petting zoo, bouncy castles, a Ferris wheel, big slide, face painting, pirate ship adventures, and a roving balloonist the fun never stops! Animal lovers

can meet Greyhounds searching for homes and friendly donkeys from the Donkey Sanctuary, as well a selection of Alpacas will be on display, with chances to learn about caring for these delightful animals

Live music from the Rotorua Symphonic Band adds to the festive atmosphere

For those with a competitive streak, the King and Queen of the Mountain race invites signups on the day, while children can tackle shorter course races these events are thrilling to join or spectate Budding artists can take part in a colouring competition; images are available on our website, so get creative and bring your artwork along for a chance to win!

Browse a wide selection of trade and food stalls and share in a memorable day packed with activities. The Strongman contest is back, sure to draw a crowd as athletes test their limits Dog owners are encouraged to bring their pets for the Dog Parade, a free event where you can compete and show off your furry companions and their best tricks a chance to win spot prizes and ribbons for places 1st–6th

Visit www rotoruashow co nz for competition details or to enter Tickets are sold at the gate; adult admission is $20, with free entry for children 15 and under. Free parking and EFTPOS are available on site

117th ANNUAL SHOW

• Equestrian Events

• Western Riding

• Shearing & Wool Handling

• Dairy Cattle Events

• Dairy Goat Events

• Alpaca display

• Axeman Compeition

• King/Queen of the Mountain Race

• Sparky the Fire Engine

• Food Stalls & Trade Stands.

• Horse & Pony Rides

• Rotorua Symphonic Band

• Strong Man Event

• Vintage Tractors

• Dog Parade

Council buys 266ha farm to cut lake pollution

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has purchased a 266 hectare Rotorua farm and will convert it from dairy farming to improve water quality in nearby Lake Rotorua.

The property, which includes 60ha of native bush, sits within the Waiteti Stream sub-catchment, an area of cultural significance and recreational value that has experienced declining water quality in recent years, the council said in a statement.

The total purchase price for the property was $7.6 million, plus GST

The land purchase is part of the council’s long-term goal of achieving a sustainable nitrogen load of 435 tonnes per year into Lake Rotorua by 2032.

This goal was adopted through the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme in 2015

This purchase was made under the newly adopted Lake Rotorua Catchment Land Acquisition Strategy, which enabled the regional council to acquire or invest in land to support nitrogen reduction targets.

The council says the strategy builds on the existing Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme, “which has already delivered significant nitrogen reductions through voluntary land use changes”.

this is a long-term investment in the health of Lake Rotorua.

“We’ve made strong progress through incentives, regulation and engineering solutions, but we know that reaching our nitrogen targets will require every tool available.

“This land purchase is a strategic investment that allows us to directly reduce nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua while supporting broader environmental and community outcomes. ”

The property currently contributes more than six tonnes of nitrogen annually to Lake Rotorua.

By retiring the land from dairy farming and restoring parts of the property to native vegetation, the council said it expected to reduce nitrogen loss by about five tonnes per year.

The land use change would also ease pressure on the wider catchment, making it more viable for other farmers to continue operating within their nitrogen allocations

“By reducing nitrogen loss from this property, we ’ re helping other farmers stay within their limits without further regulation ”

The land has been purchased, but no decisions have been made about its future use

Embark on a six-day High Country adventure

NZ Adventures is now taking bookings for its February 2026 High Country Heritage Tour – a 4WD journey through the South Island’s eastern alpine foothills.

From Blenheim to Cardrona, this 1250 km route offers stunning landscapes, station hospitality, and a taste of true Kiwi heritage

“The tour includes a wide range of high-country stations and conservation estate tracks along a 1250km route through overnights in Hanmer Springs, Methven, Fairlie, Omarama, Cromwell before reaching the finish at the iconic Cardrona Hotel near Wanaka,” say owner-operators Robbie and Connie Crickett “Accommodation provided is hotel and for the most part evening meals and breakfasts are in restaurants onsite or close by Lunches are a mixture of station catered or picnic.”

In the context of a 4WD trip Robbie and Connie say the tracks are easily covered by competent drivers in suitable four-wheel drive vehicles (low range transmission) and all terrain (AT) tyres in good condition.

They say the High Country Heritage is a great introduction to the South Island and to the NZ Adventures range of tours

“The sheer size of the island especially compared to expectations along with the friendliness of the people along the way are the most often voiced comments of tour participants.”

For more information, see NZ Adventures’ advert on this page

Funding for the acquisition came from several sources, including $2 million from the Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme, jointly funded by the Ministry for the Environment and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, $1 35 million from the regional council’s existing capital works budget for the Rotorua Catchment, and $4 2 million to be financed through new debt, with interest funded by general rates

Spaces

for the High Country Heritage 6 Day Tour in February 2026

Feed out rollovers prompt s safety t alert

fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand

There is a pattern and while many of these incidents have been ‘ near misses’, there have also been injuries sustained Any rollover has the potential to result in serious injuries or a fatality

A common cause of rollovers is that the quad bike being used is not weighted to tow the loaded weight of the calf feed trailer A thousand litres of milk weighs 1000kg plus the weight of the trailer.

Other common causes include a sudden change of direction by the driver, driving on uneven or slippery ground or steep grades, inexperienced drivers, driver inattention or distraction

The Safety Alerts are real-life documented incidents and key lessons which have been provided by farmers, condensed into one-page handouts that managers can download and print off the Farm without Harm website and use in safety discussions with their teams

This alert can be used by farmers to discuss where to best feed calves so they can be accessed safely and the importance of reconsidering the access if necessary so you can drive in and out safely

Baffles in tanks will also reduce sloshing, which can cause instability

Where possible, consider towing the feeder trailer with a larger vehicle, such as a ute However, if you must use a quad bike, it is important to:

• Know the loaded weight of the trailer and

I regularly am contacted by people with severe osteoarthritis, usually in knees, hips and hands.

The question is whether anything other than pain relief or surgery can help In most cases nutritional therapy can help I have a client with severe knee osteoarthritis He gets noticeable relief enabling him to continue his physical lifestyle that was becoming increasingly difficult

anti-inflammatory diet will increase chances of results Before we commence, we need to ensure compatibility of higher dose supplements with prescription medicines, especially blood thinners

never exceed the towing capacity set out by the quad bike manufacturer

• Reduce the load if conditions change or are uneven, slippery or it is steep terrain

• Ensure drivers are adequately trained for the task and know when to stop if conditions are unsafe

• Make sure drivers always have a reliable way to call for help

• Consider installing a crush protection device (CPD) or other rollover safety system

Chondroitin sulphate can make a significant difference to joint function. The main benefits come from supporting healthy cartilage secreting cells (chondrocytes) and reducing joint inflammation.

Severe osteoarthritis is characterised by significant deterioration of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of bones. This usually results in bones rubbing directly against each other This leads to pain, swelling, stiffness, and a reduction in joint mobility People can often feel a grating sensation as the joint moves.

Severe osteoarthritis requires a wider range of supplements at higher doses Changing to an

The key supplements we need are, in order of importance, Chondroitin, Curcumin (from turmeric), Omega 3 Fish oil and Glucosamine. If medications, age and circumstances allow, we start with a very intensive period usually for 12 weeks. This involves daily doses of Chondroitin 1600mg, 100% water soluble (pepper-free) Curcumin 1200mg, EPA from fish oils 1000mg and Glucosamine 1600mg. This involves 3 different supplements

I have seen excellent results from this approach The benefits can be anything from, like my client, noticeable improvements in comfort and mobility through to people cancelling planned surgery

There are only a relatively small group who have no benefits. The key is to work to a personalised plan with regular reviews.

John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@ abundant.co.nz Join his newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz

DairyNZ tips to cut feed losses and boost milk yield

Dairy farmers’ pickled pasture –silage – depends on good inputs, DairyNZ says. The industry-good body says to produce high-quality grass silage, both the quality of the original pasture and the fermentation process are crucial.

Good-quality pasture silage can be a valuable source of energy and protein for milking cows; however, poor-quality pasture may only be suitable for dry cows or non-pregnant cattle, DairyNZ senior farm systems specialist Ron Pellow says “It’s impossible to produce high-quality silage from low-quality feed, no matter how good the fermentation is

“Ensuring optimal dry matter content, rapid wilting, proper compaction, and effective sealing will help retain the nutrients and feeding value of the silage,” Ron says

“To prevent spoilage, especially in warm weather, it’s also essential to feed out silage quickly once exposed to air

“Both the quality of the ensiled (stored) pasture and the quality of the fermentation must be considered, whether buying silage or choosing when to feed it ”

Ron says when pasture is ensiled, its sugars are converted into lactic acid by bacteria

“It is the lactic acid which prevents further respiration of the plant material, allowing it to potentially be preserved for months, or even years

“With well-preserved and sealed silage, losses in feeding value during fermentation and storage will be small, and the final silage will be only slightly lower in feeding value than the original pasture ” Ron says losses occur as sugars and protein in the grass is broken down by enzymes, and bacteria

“This process starts as soon as the grass is cut ” He says losses decrease quality as well as quantity, because it is the highly digestible components which are most rapidly broken down

Dry matter

“Losses depend on the dry matter (DM) of the pasture The optimum DM for silage is 30-35% because total DM loss is minimised ”

Wherever possible, cut in the afternoon if aiming for 24-hour wilting, or in the morning if ensiling within the same day Cutting after 1-2 days’ sunny weather will generally result in good sugar levels in the pasture, even when cut in the morning

Aim for rapid wilting and harvesting within 24 hours,

DM to minimise losses of soluble sugars and soluble protein.

Compact the silage well, adjusting cut length where possible In a stack or pit, use the heaviest wheeled vehicle available Tractor wheels should not sink into the pile of pasture any further than the depth of rubber

For baled silage, make sure that a high-density baler is used

Seal the stack completely with a weighted, airtight cover Wash old polythene before use to avoid contamination with the wrong bacteria

Ron says once the silage is sealed, nothing can be done to further enhance the fermentation process Poor fermentation, however, (such as air in the stack) leads to major losses of protein quality

“Silage begins to break down once exposed to air and will begin to heat up as micro-organisms turn the remaining sugars and protein into heat and energy

“Therefore, when feeding out, aim for as little time as possible between exposing the silage to air, and the cow eating it ”

Limit losses

There are several ways to limit losses from silage while feeding out:

• Remove at least 20cm off the whole stack face each day, so silage at the face is not exposed to air for a more than one day

• Cut silage off the face, rather than pulling it off This keeps a smooth surface at the stack face, which reduces air penetration into the stack

• Leave the stack face open on dry days to avoid heat build-up under the polythene

• Do not feed out more than 1 day in advance, especially in summer

• Cows will be able to eat more of the silage they are offered if it is fed out on dry paddocks or feed out areas, along fence lines, or in feed bins or troughs

Ron says to make the best use of well-preserved silage, made from high quality grass, it’s also important to know how much there is , and how much is being fed each day

While many contractors now offer estimates of

of their own silage crop:

• Weigh a silage wagon when it is empty, and when it is fully loaded, across a weigh bridge The difference in the two weights is the fresh weight of the silage in the wagon

• Count the total number of wagon loads which have gone into the stack

• Multiply the total number of loads by the estimated weight of grass in a

wagon load to get an estimated fresh weight of the silage you have made

• Estimate the DM% of the silage, or take a sample for DM analysis, and use this to estimate the total kgDM which have been harvested

• Divide the total DM, by the hectares harvested, to get an estimated yield in kgDM/ha

Flower-power pollen partnerships

A crisp spring morning in the Bay of Plenty reveals more than just picturesque rows of flowering avocado trees. As the first rays of sunlight cut across the evergreen shelterbelt, bees emerge from their hives to begin the delicate work of pollination. Beneath this seemingly simple scene lies the incredibly intricate process of avocado pollination and highlights the value of good partnerships.

A tale of two flowers

Unlike kiwifruit, avocado flowers aren ’ t simply male or female; each flower is perfect and has both male and female reproductive anatomy but opens

in distinct female and male phases. To add to the complexity, these female and male phases don’t occur at the same time or even on the same day – evolutionarily, they don’t want to self-pollinate!

Type A avocado varieties, like Hass (the mainstay of New Zealand’s avocado industry), open as female in the morning and then as male the following afternoon. Type B avocado varieties, like Bacon or Zutano, do the opposite –male in the morning, female in the afternoon. Therein is the partnership! By being planted together,

pollen from a Type B variety helps to fertilise our beloved Type A Hass

Simple

Bees and the weather

That begs the question, how is the pollen transferred?

Enter our trusty pollination partners: bees When these little teammates forage in the fleeting male flowers, the pollen sticks to the tiny hairs on their bodies, and they transfer it to the female flowers

Like us, both bees and flowers like good weather A warm, dry spell during flowering can make all the difference between a

bumper harvest and a lean one. It’s a stark reminder that even in an age of technology, some of the most critical work in horticulture still depends on things as natural as warm days and a bee’s flight path

put in, and growers provide water and even plant “bee-friendly” flowers to keep our pollination partners around and at their best.

At Trevelyan’s, we host regular Avocado Discussion Groups to bring growers and technical experts together These meetings facilitate knowledge sharing and collectively grow our industry’s ideas.

Many growers bring hives into their orchards just as flowering kicks off, spacing them carefully to maximise coverage, and placing them where they’ll catch the early sunlight to warm up and get the bees going – remember, we need active hives in the morning! As with all good partnerships, you get back what you

Like pollination, growing is a complex process – but the right partnerships make it easier

-Co-authored by Dr Jonathan Cutting and Joel Kavenga

BillWebb’s fruitfulmission

At 77, Bill Webb is proving that age is no barrier to making a difference – especially when it comes to avocados.

A dedicated volunteer with Good Neighbour, Webb leads the charity’s fruit picking team, rescuing backyard produce that might otherwise go to waste

Recently, his team harvested more than 7500kg of avocados in just 10 days following a major storm. The massive haul was distributed to food banks across the North Island, ensuring thousands of families had access to fresh, nutritious kai.

Webb’s journey began in 2015, shortly after retiring from a 40-year corporate career Swapping spreadsheets for sunshine, he joined Good Neighbour’s food rescue efforts and quickly found purpose in the orchard rows.

Today, he coordinates a team of 20 volunteers who pick up to 30 tonnes of fruit annually including citrus, feijoas, and of course, avocados. But for Webb, the rewards go beyond the produce.

“Some of our volunteers live alone, so the social side is just as important,” he says.

As Tauranga marks International Older Persons Day, Webb’s story is a reminder that giving back can be as nourishing as the fruit itself

To volunteer or seek support, visit www.volunteeringservices.org.nz or call 07 987 0920

Avocado fightback: Turning setbacks into gains

Despite recent challenges, the avocado sector is working hard to improve outcomes

NZ Avocado CEO Brad Siebert says spring storms devastated some Bay of Plenty crops, while the export arm of the industry is facing strong competition from overseas ’ suppliers.

However, Brad is confident going forward and, with the 2025-2026 export season in full swing, says NZ Avocado is working to capitalise on opportunities across numerous markets.

“While competition from other origins remains strong, the sector is focused on elevating the global profile of Avocados from New Zealand,”

not been without its challenges.

“Global supply dynamics have required exporters to carefully target volumes and their timing into key markets.

New markets

“While existing markets across Asia remain well serviced, there are also new and emerging markets this season in North America

Over recent months this has included a united presence from exporters at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong and broader representation from across the horticulture sector at World Food India in New Delhi.

Asia Fruit Logistica is the most prominent fruit industry gathering in Asia which this year featured exhibitors from 41 countries, including 25 national pavilions.

Brad says this event provided an ideal platform to champion the supply into Asian markets, where the industry also launched its new industry-wide FernMark certification.

“At World Food India, our involvement aimed not only to raise the profile of the New Zealand avocado sector and understand opportunities in this emerging market, but also to actively engage with New Zealand and Indian officials.

“With trade negotiations progressing, our presence was a deliberate step to demonstrate commitment and ensure the sector is positioned as a proactive, trusted partner in growing the bilateral trade relationship ”

The four-day global food and agribusiness event in New Delhi attracted around 1700 exhibitors, 500 international buyers and participants from 100 nations.

Brad says the 2025-2026 season has

“Growing volumes will flow to Canada, with the 15% tariff into the US, while not ideal, is aligned with tariffs that other origins like Peru are facing which we seasonally compete with.”

Brad says the major export volumes for the current season outside North America include Australia, Korea, Hong Kong and China with a steady volume to Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and Singapore.

Domestically, growers in the Western Bay of Plenty were hit by a significant wind event in September, officially classified by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as a “localised adverse event”.

Brad says this classification enables agencies such as Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development, and regional and local councils to consider support provisions for affected growers.

The Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand’s major growing regions for commercial avocados, producing half of the country ’ s total crop

Brad says the wider community and sector mobilised quickly, with coordination from the MPI and HortNZ and the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust focusing on grower wellbeing and community support.

Due to the financial impacts to growers, the Fruit Growers Charitable Trust also stepped up with an offer of support to fund professional consulting and advice to growers.

In a strong demonstration of collaboration, Brad says the NZ Food Network, in partnership with the NZ Avocado Growers Association, helped rescue windfall fruit – collecting more than 100 field bins (over 43,000kg)

and distributing them through 39 food hubs, feeding thousands of families in need.

Industry impact

He says there will be an impact on the industry’s export volumes coming out of the Bay of Plenty

“While this is still to be quantified and will likely be in excess of 500,000 trays, there are individual growers hit hardest by the wind event that have lost over 80% of their fruit

“These growers are now looking for both financial and on-orchard strategies to plan ahead and maintain tree health and productivity for next season. ”

Brad says tree health will be in focus, as beyond mature fruit drop, leaf and emerging flower damage will have longer-term, multi-season impacts.

Looking ahead, he says the trading environment remains dynamic, with global volumes competing for market share.

“Market development work offshore and domestically – where around 40% of the harvest is consumed – will

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Brad is under no illusions about the year ahead for the avocado sector “Our best chance of success lies in an engaged and informed grower base ”

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WorkSafe flags vehicle and machinery risks

A WorkSafe assessment of the horticulture sector has found that while most are meeting health and safety responsibilities, there is still work to do

“Overall, our inspectors have been really impressed with what they’ve seen across the country but there are a few key areas for improvement,” says WorkSafe area manager Carl Baker

Through August and September, WorkSafe inspectors visited more than 460 horticulture businesses to help the industry meet its health and safety responsibilities.

Carl says assessments in every region across the country focused on horticulture, viticulture, and rural contracting sectors. The visits are part of WorkSafe’s priority focus on agriculture, which was New Zealand’s deadliest industry in 2024.

Fourteen workers were killed on farms last year – 40% of all reported fatalities in the workplacemaking the sector the leading cause of workplace deaths in New Zealand

Carl says WorkSafe inspectors have focused on high-risk areas such as vehicles and heavy

machinery, and hazardous substances

“Vehicle crashes and workers caught or trapped in machinery are some of the most common ways people get injured or killed.

“Like for all assessments, where health and safety risks are identified, enforcement activity may be required, but the inspector will work with the business to assist and support them to meet their health and safety responsibilities ”

Carl says vehicle maintenance, in particular tractors, is “ not quite up to scratch”

“These can cause serious harm so it’s important that they’re regularly maintained by a qualified expert. ”

He says another area of concern is power take-off (PTO) shaft safety

family farms.

“As children grow older, they’ll be able to undertake more complex tasks with supervision and training, such as driving a tractor ”

Family confidence

These changes will give confidence to farming families that their children can continue to be involved with the family business, says Brooke

“Other machinery must be properly maintained, and PTO shafts must be guarded. We’ve seen recent incidents involving unguarded PTOs that led to serious injuries, including amputations.”

Hazardous substances

Carl says businesses also need to manage pesticides, fertilisers, and other hazardous substances safely This includes keeping a complete inventory and ensuring correct storage and use.

“Almost 75% of all assessments have included our inspectors sharing guidance and resources to help businesses meet their responsibilities

In August, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced targeted consultation with farmers and the wider agriculture sector to ensure health and safety regulations reflect the realities of farm life.

“I’m consulting with rural Kiwis in the agriculture sector on changes that will ensure health and safety requirements are workable and practical,” says Brooke.

“Farmers know their farms and the risks that come with farming life better than anyone.

“They’ve told me the law needs to recognise that the farm is often both their workplace and their home.

“That includes making space for children to safely learn and contribute to farm life in ways that are safe and age-appropriate ” One proposed change is to amend the General Risk Regulations to make it clear that young people can safely take part in light chores on

“Farmers and other businesses coming on to the farm need to know what health and safety duties they are each responsible for and how they can best work together to manage the risks

“For example, if a fencing contractor is working on a farm, both the contractor and the farmer will need to manage risks relating to their work, like moving vehicles or the use of agricultural sprays.

Federated Farmers has welcomed the moves.

“This is all about making sure health and safety rules are practical, common sense, and easy to understand – and Federated Farmers absolutely welcome that conversation,” says national president Wayne Langford.

He says the current health and safety rules for farmers have gone way too far and are unnecessarily confusing for smaller family-owned farming operations.

“We’re talking about small mum and dad type businesses who might only employ one or two staff members They’re certainly not big corporates with a health and safety manager on staff

“They’re hands-on farmers who actually spend their days farming rather than sitting in an office. That’s why it’s so important these rules are practical and easy to understand.”

He says confusion about health and safety obligations has meant some farmers no longer allow children on the farm like they would have in the past, for fear of falling foul of the law

“There’s something very special about growing up on a farm and having that classic rural childhood many farmers enjoyed themselves,”

Wayne says

“That’s the childhood I had, and my own kids have had something similar, but I think we ’ re at risk of losing that kind of upbringing if we don’t get these rules right ”

The road to retirement is full of adventures

When you were born into a trucking family, spent your childhood drawing trucks, qualified as a mechanical conversion engineer, and then owned your own trucking company for 51 years, it seems reasonable that a “few” of the trucks find their way into your own private collection.

Alf Williamson is no exception and has a shed of various trucks that have found their way to being saved for future generations to admire. He has trucks ranging from the 1960s to more recently, and a very large collection of restored truck engines.

Alf his father Stan bought an owner operator company together in 1974, moving to Putaruru as it expanded in 1976.

One truck that will always have a place in his heart is a 1992 Foden S106 that was imported new from the UK.

“It came with a Cummins engine, but they were trouble when they reached 700,000km,” says Alf “I 2000

Caterpillar 3406E 14 8litre engine, which has 6-cylinders and produces 455hp, and I’ve never had an issue with it since ”

The engine is coupled to 15-speed Road Ranger gearbox and a Rockwell differential Alf says it’s done 1 6 million kilometres now and neither the gearbox nor the diff have needed an overhaul

hand-painted sign-writing.”

Alf and his wife Kath, who luckily for him shares his love of trucks, regularly take the Foden touring together It’s been across to the South Island and completed the classic South Island Long Lap tour with other like-minded truckers and their trucks.

“People enjoy seeing all the trucks and it causes quite a stir when they all come into town. ”

The truck body is about 6.5 metres long, with 10 wheels, eight at the back and two at the front and a tare weight of 8300kg.

When carrying logs it is a 44-tonnes rated truck, but when being used to transport heavy machinery, it is rated for 65 tonnes.

Alf used his engineering skills to manufacture logging trailers that were lighter, allowing more load to be carted.

“I retired the truck in 2021 and because it’s quite unique and there are very few left in New Zealand, I decided to restore it. We did everything authentically, even down h

In 2025, the Foden won the truck of the show at Morrinsville Motorama. Between tours it sits pampered in the shed with the rest of Alf’s collection.

Zespri upbeat as Asia markets navigate touggh season

Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has been busy on the global front

The Mount Maunganui-based business, which sells to more than 50 countries around the world, was represented at the recent Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong

Asia Fruit Logistica is the most prominent fruit industry gathering in Asia which this year featured exhibitors from 41 countries, including 25

national pavilions

Zespri board chair Nathan Flowerday attended, along with director Sally Gardiner, CEO Jason Te Brake, CFO

Vicki McColl, and Zespri’s president

Greater China - Michael Jiang and president Asia Pacific - Ichiro Anzai

Jason says the event gave Zespri the opportunity to discuss things like market trends, consumer demand and growth opportunities, with more than 1500 people visiting the Zespri stand

over the three days

Several meetings took place with partners and distributors to review season progress and the outlook for the next few months, he says

“In contrast to last year ’ s event, which focused on growth and opportunity in the region, this year had a more reflective tone, centred on working through challenges together to achieve the best possible out l i f th shift in mood across many of our Asia markets.

“The conversations with our key partners were that despite some tough economic headwinds, there’s strong confidence in the Zespri brand, and they’re dedicated to working collaboratively to deliver the best value for our growers in what’s proving to be a more challenging season ”

Zespri also had record sales during China’s important mid-autumn festival period

Strong response

While it’s been a more challenging year for our China market overall, we ’ ve seen a huge up-tick in recent sales ”

Jason also recently spent time in Europe, meeting with customers and checking in on how New Zealand kiwifruit is performing

Jason says its team in the market set a goal to have 140,000 people sample Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit through the activations by the end of the British summer Events took place at major train stations in Birmingham, Stratford and Manchester during peak commuter hours, bringing the Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit experience directly to thousands of consumers, driving awareness

“The team on the ground has done an outstanding job of working with our customers to drive run rates and we ’ re poised to finish the season strongly,” says Jason.

“It’s nice to see the team there feeling very buoyed by the performance in recent weeks, having faced some challenges but responding strongly

Sampling also took place in London, as well as at events such as the Royal Horticultural Society Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show and Goodwood Food Festival

There were also in-store sampling activations at retailers Tesco and Sainsbury’s, resulting in a strong year-on-year sales uplift.

Global supply

Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme will get under way once the New Zealand sales season is complete

“Our Europe market continues to perform very well with weekly record sales for this market,” he says

“We still have ambitious targets to close out the season earlier than last year, especially on Green, and we are seeing early signs of increased competition from locally grown, non-Zespri kiwifruit but I’m confident that we’ll close the season positively

“With more than 159 million trays sold – close to 80% of our crop – it’s a credit to the work across the supply chain, especially in a season shaped by global economic and trade pressures. ”

Given the record size of this year ’ s crop, he says the season should give growers huge confidence in the demand outlook and the opportunity in market

UK sampling

In the United Kingdom, Zespri has been bringing the taste of SunGold Kiwifruit directly to shoppers and consumers through a variety of “sampling activities”

Official estimates show that total Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit volumes grown in the Northern Hemisphere are forecast to grow by 22.3% cent this year, compared to 2024, supported by an 11 2% expansion of production areas and generally favourable weather conditions

Procurement of Zespri Green Kiwifruit is also projected to reach seven million trays, reflecting a “stable yet positive” trend, with a six per cent increase over the 2024 season ”

“Clearance to harvest follows the same model as New Zealand, with independent laboratories conducting sampling and analysis,” says Jason “With the expansion of production, Zespri is working to add further laboratories for residue testing and harvest clearance to maintain speed and consistency”

Zespri International Ltd is the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit, managing 30% of the global volume

There are about 2800 kiwifruit growers and 3200 registered orchards in New Zealand, with around 14,500 hectares of kiwifruit in production

Almost 80% of New Zealand-grown kiwifruit comes from the Bay of Plenty

Kiwi tech cuts fruit thinning time by 35%

A new precision horticulture tool that guides fruit thinning workers with more accuracy has the potential to reduce unnecessary fruit losses and save New Zealand orchardists thousands of dollars in labour costs

Developed by Fruition Hawke’s Bay, the homegrown Tagga solution combines Green Atlas orchard scanning with a GPS-guided line marking machine to map and precisely mark which sections of an orchard need thinning to improve fruit quality and yield.

“The feedback we were getting from orchardists was ‘ your fruit density scans are great, but how do I make sure the 15 backpackers I’ve hired understand them and carry out my thinning instructions accurately?’” says precision horticulture manager Alex Hoek

The start

This birthed the idea of Tagga – a way of taking a grower ’ s instructions and physically laying them out in the orchard to remove the risk of less experienced workers thinning fruit in the wrong areas

“The process involves digitally mapping an orchard using the Green Atlas Cartographer and then downloading that data to our Tagga line marking unit.

“The Tagga unit is then towed around the orchard by an ATV, automatically spraying the ground as it passes over it to clearly and precisely mark areas where scan data shows thinning is needed ”

Trials conducted on a kiwifruit orchard in the 2024/2025 season showed significant labour savings and much more targeted crop removal

Two comparable 1ha blocks were used for the trial, with Tagga line markings used to guide fruit thinners on one block, and traditional thinning instructions based on a scanner-generated fruit

density heatmap used as guidance on the other block

On the block where Tagga was used, labour time for fruit thinning was 35% less – a saving of 44 hours – when compared to the control block

The Tagga block also experienced significantly less thinning of fruit in bays that were already below target, leading to around 60,000 fewer fruit being removed when compared to the control block.

“When we consider the value of gold kiwifruit, saving just 1000 good pieces of fruit from being thinned pays for the Tagga application. Add to this labour savings and potential fruit quality gains, and it’s clear this can be a powerful tool for growers, ” says Alex.

On-call service

This year, Tagga will be available as an on-call service for apple and kiwifruit growers in both Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty

Fruition Hawke’s Bay is considering other service models that could allow orchardists to operate the units themselves in future

“Precision horticulture is making waves internationally because of its potential to help orchardists tailor their approach to different parts of their orchard, whether for nutrient treatment or deciding which specific vines or trees need spraying

“The way we have used the technology for Tagga is the first time anywhere, to our knowledge, that precision horticulture technology has been used to physically spray the ground to guide horticulture workers ”

Orchard scanning

Alex says they are hoping to build on the Green Atlas orchard scanning services it offered by developing even more precision horticulture tools to maximise grower efficiency and productivity

“In the exact same way we are painting lines at

the base of select trees, we could instead be spreading fertiliser, root pruning, or spraying plant growth regulators.

“As these technologies become more available to growers, the value that can be derived from Green Atlas scan data will only get greater ”

Former editor joins Dairy Industry Awards team

A long-time rural reporter from the Bay of Plenty has slotted into the role of promoting the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards

Sheryl Haitana, who has 20 years ’ experience in the media – including a stint as editor of the Coast & Country News, was recently appointed national communications manager for the DIA.

Growing up on a family farm at Pirongia, near Te Awamutu, Sheryl says she developed a “niche knowledge” of the primary sector – especially dairy farming – which she transferred to journalism She worked at the former Dairyman publication before taking the helm at Coast & Country News from 2009 to 2011.

Then followed 14 years at the NZ Dairy Exporter magazine, including most recently as editor

For the past six years, Sheryl has lived on a lifestyle block near Matatā in the Bay of Plenty with her husband Ian and their two daughters – River, 5, and Wairaka, 3

The couple run sheep, beef and horses on the property

Having written about the

Dairy Industry Awards and its associated events for a number of years, Sheryl says her new communications role presents a “ very exciting opportunity”.

With entries opening last month, she says a tried-and-true formula has been retained for the 2026 awards programme.

New awards

This will see a continuation of two new awards introduced at this year ’ s edition – First Farm and Alumni of the Year – plus the ongoing Responsible Dairying Award.

Steve and Amy Gillies took out the 2025 Alumini of the Year Award, while fellow Waikato representatives Cameron and Margaret Bierre were equal winners of the First Farm Award, along with Reece and Natasha Cox from Central Plateau.

In the 2026 edition, the Fonterra and ASB First Farm Award will again be presented to three winners, who will receive up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% for three years.

Sheryl says the First Farm Award provides financial and strategic support to help the best in the industry successfully launch into

farm ownership

It is open to farmers who have previously entered the Share Farmer of the Year category and are planning to buy their first farm within two years.

The Alumni of the Year Award is also up for grabs again, which is a collaboration between ASB and NZDIA to reward NZDIA alumni who have made significant contributions to the programme and the industry

The winner will also receive up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% for three years.

Entrants must be former NZDIA award participants who may have progressed to farm ownership or have more than 50% equity in a farm business

Established major categories include Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year

Thomas and Fiona Langford from Putaruru took out the Share Farmer title at this year ’ s national Dairy Industry Awards

Alumni value

Bay of Plenty representative Thomas Lundman was runner-up in the Dairy Manager section and Waikato’s Alex Diprose third in

the Dairy Trainee competition.

DIA general manager Robin Congdon says the awards are another great reason to encourage young dairy farmers to enter the Dairy Trainee, Dairy Manager and Share Farmer categories as the opportunities and the value as an alumni member continues to give back in the future.

“We are launching into our 37th year with vigour to drive and showcase best practice across the dairy sector

“The awards are an essential vehicle to shine a light on the positive sustainability stories in the dairy sector, as well as showcasing pathway opportunities for future generations into farm

succession,” he says Robin says together with the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award, the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is recognising leading farmers in the dairy sector, playing a key role to showcase excellence, identify role models and best practice, lifting the overall standard in the dairy sector

“The prize package continues to heat up across all categories with LIC adding an impressive GeneMark Genomics prize this year for the national winner of the LIC Animal Wellbeing Recording and Productivity Award.”

The awards cover 11 regions across the country