Wain – a farm wagon or cart; a usually large and heavy vehicle for farm use.
Hat tip: Valerie Davies
Wain – a farm wagon or cart; a usually large and heavy vehicle for farm use.
Hat tip: Valerie Davies
If there is any secret to this life I live, this is it: the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can. & there is nothing more to it than that. – Nothing More © 2014 Brian Andreas – posted with permission.
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Election muddies water issues – Neal Wallace:
Freshwater management faces significant reform regardless of who wins September’s general election.
The Labour and Green Parties would campaign on policies tightening the granting of resource consents for activities such as dairying.
Labour also promised to charge “a resource rental for large water take for irrigation at a fair and affordable price”.
Also in the wings, Environment Minister Nick Smith said a technical paper on options for allocating and pricing water was due in December and would have to be addressed by the incoming government. . .
Champion kiwi lamb could be world’s healthiest and tastiest – Dave Gooselink:
A bid to produce the world’s healthiest red meat is proving a hit for a group of South Island high country farmers.
Their unique Te Mana lamb was launched onto the market this winter, to be served up at top restaurants both here and in Hong Kong.
Life on the farm’s been a lot tougher in recent years for the country’s sheep, as the growth of dairying pushes them higher into the hills.
Geneticist Aimee Charteris has spent the past decade on a project to create a new breed of sheep. . .
Geneticist ‘stoked’ to be finalist – Nicole Sharp:
Julia Aspinall is an animal-breeding specialist.
Passionate about her work and the sheep industry, this year she was nominated for the Beef and Lamb New Zealand Significant Contribution to the New Zealand Sheep Industry Award for the first time.
She was announced as a finalist earlier this month, alongside retired Havelock North Romney breeder Tony Parker and Parnassus Perendale breeder Tim Anderson.
“I was pretty stoked [to find out I was a finalist,]” she said.
“I’m passionate about doing what I’m doing.”
Originally from Mt Aspiring Station in Wanaka, Ms Aspinall has always had a love of the sheep industry. . .
Confidence, new skills and impetus result from course – Sally Rae:
When Balfour farmer Jonny Elder signed up for the Rabobank farm managers programme last year, the timing was perfect.
Designed for emerging farmers, the programme focused on the development of business management skills, with an emphasis on strategic planning, leadership and self-awareness.
Mr Elder and his wife, Michelle, farm a 460ha sheep and beef property in Northern Southland, where they run ewes, fatten lambs and trade a mix of beef calves and Friesian bulls.
When he went on the course, the couple had just finished their first year farming on their own account — having previously farmed with Mr Elder’s father and brother — and they were ready to put into action their own ideas and visions. . .
Pest fence broken – Annette Scott:
The biosecurity system is creaking and won’t be sustainable in five years, Ministry for Primary Industries readiness and response director Geoff Gwyn says.
Biosecurity had some big challenges that needed to be addressed collectively, he told farmers at the Federated Farmers arable industry conference.
“To put it bluntly, our system is creaking.
“Biosecurity is working but the model that is there is not sustainable for five years’ time.
“Leave it to the Crown solely and it ain’t going to work. We have got to do it together,” Gwyn said.
And while tourism was great for the country it created greater risk. . .
Time farming moved on from low cost to added value – Jacqueline Rowarth:
Fieldays at Mystery Creek in mid-June showcased New Zealand innovation, interaction and, in some cases, simply imagination.
When the imagination was backed with evidence, facts and data, it transformed to a goal.
That was the case for the KPMG Agribusiness Agenda released on the first day of the Fieldays.
Titled ‘A Recipe for Action’, the 2017 Agenda said “NZ’s future is as an artisan, niche producer of premium quality, safe and sustainable food and beverages, fibre and timber products”. . .
Future: threat or opportunity – Annette Scott:
The food industry is one of the fastest changing in the world so producing food to feed it will no longer be business as usual, technology futurist Rosie Bosworth says.
The Future Advantage consultant and communicator told more than 200 farmers at Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s FarmSmart event in Christchurch that while not much had changed in the way food had been produced for the past 10,000 years, it was changing now.
Technology and science were creating change beyond business as usual.
“We are amidst an era of exponential change with new business models evolving, accelerating and converging at breakneck speeds.” . .
Franco Ledger to stand in Southland – Jonny Turner:
Southern harness racing breeders will have free access to the bloodlines of one of the area’s most recent pacing stars next breeding season.
Two-time Southland horse of the year Franco Ledger, by Falcon Seelster, will stand his first season at stud at Macca Lodge in northern Southland this spring, with a zero service fee.
The horse’s former trainer, Hamish Hunter, and co-owners the What Ever Syndicate, were keen to give the horse an opportunity at stud, so they persuaded Macca Lodge to take the horse, proprietor Brent McIntyre said. . .
A media release from the FMG Young Farmer contest:
For the first time in its 49-year history, an Otago farmer is the FMG Young Farmer of the Year with Milton sheep and beef farmer, Nigel Woodhead, convincingly winning the prestigious title after three days of gruelling competition.
The 28-year-old was overwhelmed and emotional after 3 days of intense competition.
“I watched FMG Young Farmer of the Year when I was a child, so to win it, is a childhood dream that I think will take a long time to sink in,” Woodhead said.
A popular winner, Nigel graduated from University with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science before working at Midlands Seed in Ashburton for five years, prior to heading home to the family farm.
The win is particularly relevant in the Woodhead household as Nigel grew up in a family that watched the Contest every year with his Dad competing at a young age.
For Nigel it is the realisation of a dream.
“My wife Leanne and I worked really hard and to win this is incredible!”
Contest Chairman and former Grand Finalist Dean Rabbidge said he was thrilled to see an Otago Southland farmer take the title home.
“History has been made tonight in a proud farming province and we couldn’t be happier.”
NZ Young Farmers CEO Terry Copeland said Nigel was the epitome and pinnacle of what future leaders in the Agri-sector need to be.
“The FMG Young Farmer of the Year continues to showcase the brilliant young leadership our organisation strives to develop. Nigel is an inspiring future leader who showcases the exceptional leaders we strive to develop.”
RESULTS:
FMG Young Farmer of the Year:
First Nigel Woodhead, Otago Southland
Second, Hamish Best, East Coast
Third, Andrew Wiffen, Tasman
AGMARDT Agri-business Challenge winner: Hamish Best
Massey University Agri-Growth Challenge: Lisa Kendall
Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge : Nigel Woodhead
Hynds Agri-sport Challenge: Arjan van’t Klooster
Meridian Energy Agri-knowledge Quiz and Speech challenge: Hamish Best
How the FMG Young Farmer of the Year works:
400 contestants competed in 22 District Contest and Skills Day nation-wide.
56 contestants compete in seven regional finals from Northern, Waikato-Bay of Plenty, Taranaki-Manawatu, East Coast, Tasman, Aorangi, Otago-Southland from February to April.
The seven winners of the regional final will now compete at the Grand Final in the Manawatu this week.
In 49 years only four females have ever made the Grand Final:
Denise Brown who placed Seventh in 1981
Louise Collingwood who was Placed Third and Runner Up in 2001 and 2003
Katherine Tucker placed Seventh in 2012
Lisa Kendall in 2017.
Update:
He’s not the first Otago winner, but he’s the first from the province in more than 20 years.
Sunday’s soapbox is yours to use as you will – within the bounds of decency and absence of defamation. You’re welcome to look back or forward, discuss issues of the moment, to pontificate, ponder or point us to something of interest, to educate, elucidate or entertain, amuse, bemuse or simply muse, but not abuse.
#1 rule in arguments: if you’re losing, start correcting their grammar.