Why spring’s been less of a challenge for some December 2014

As one farmer client stated “this spring has been a challenge”, and he’s referring specifically to pasture growth over the last three months. In the cooler areas of the Bay of Plenty, and the pattern by most accounts has been similar country wide, there’s been a few...

Enjoying family gatherings, October 2014

A report of Dairy NZ’s recent annual meeting quoted Dairy NZ director Alister Body as saying that he was apprehensive about going to social gatherings knowing someone might “have a go” about dairy farming. Chief executive Tim Mackle was also quoted as saying that the...

What old cars and urea have in common, July 2014

My love of cars and enjoyment of driving stems from the exquisite sense of freedom achieved as a result of purchasing my own vehicle as a teenager.   Summers of picking up hay provided sufficient money for the restrictions of push bikes and unreliable bus services to...

When less produces more. May 2014

It’s not run-off into waterways from pastoral land that’s the greatest concern it’s what’s coming out the bottom into aquifers that’s the major contaminator and the quickest and most effective way to stop that is to cease tipping it in the top. Nitrogen constitutes...

Securing the future, April 2014

Beneath every long term successful business is a foundation, something that regardless of the inevitable ups and downs ensures not only survival but prosperity. Underpinning the dairy industry is the steadily increasing demand for protein in the form of milk, cheese,...

Sorting spring starts now Feb 2014

What’s happening, or not happening right now on farms, is a result of actions taken over the last 6 months, therefore what occurs in spring is influenced by management over the next three months. Some properties have little pasture cover, while others have sufficient...