Farmers hit with low prices, rising costs – Hamis MacLean & Mark John :
Drought-stricken farmers are facing a long winter and a “double-whammy” as rising costs and low product prices are compounded by this year’s dry conditions.
The coalition government is expanding its medium-scale adverse classification to cover Canterbury and Otago after it was declared in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough last Thursday.
Rural communities minister Mark Patterson said the declaration released some funding for the Otago Rural Support Trust to support farmers through what were some “pretty tough times”.
The trust will receive $20,000 to organise community events that will offer management advice to farmers as well as one on one consultations with experts. . .
Maize grain growers facing ‘perfect storm’ – Gerald Piddock :
Grain and seed traders are warning North Island maize grain growers to prepare for a “perfect storm” this autumn as oversupply issues, few storage options and falling prices hit the industry.
Feilding-based grain trader Bruce Gibson of Gibson Grain said it is the result of several interwoven factors.
There is a substantial amount of grain carried over from the 2023 harvest, resulting in storage issues for this season’s crop.
The low payout at the start of the season led to dairy farmers halting their spending, with many choosing home-grown feeds over grain or imported feed. . .
Staying active to lessen pain on the journey to recovery – Alice Scott :
After a near-tragic farm accident in his early 20s, East Otago farmer and engineer Matt Hutchinson is grateful his stubborn attitude meant he didn’t listen to the advice of a top orthopaedic surgeon. He tells Alice Scott about his journey to recovery and doing things now that he never dreamed would have been possible.
It was the late 1990s, a drizzly, wet day on slippery East Otago hill country. Digger and dozer operator Matt Hutchinson was heading back to the yard after he and boss Geoff Scurr had taken a look at the site of their next contracting job.
Climbing back up a steep grassy slope, the truck lost traction as it reached the top.
“We started sliding backwards and then the truck went sideways and was heading down a ridge towards a steep drop-off. I just remember reaching for the door handle and trying to bail out as fast as I could,” Mr Hutchinson said. . .
Differing benefits for differing sectors – Sudesh Kissun :
New Zealand’s free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union comes into force on May 1, offering differing benefits for different sectors.
The earlier than expected entry into force means tariff savings of $43 million for kiwifruit exporters, and $3 million for onion exporters this season.
The FTA will bring tariff savings of $100m per year on New Zealand exports to the EU from day one. NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) executive director Stephen Jacobi notes that achieving the agreement was difficult.
“It offers differing benefits for different sectors”, says Jacobi. . .
Sheep dosing promises methane cut – Richard Rennie :
New Zealand farmers are not alone in facing the challenge of striving for value while mitigating their environmental footprint. Senior reporter Richard Rennie is in Australia to find out how our neighbours are approaching the issues of gene technology, carbon farming and sustainability.
Water dosing, pellets and feed additives are all options Australian researchers are considering when exploring ways to deliver methane mitigators to sheep.
Dr Julius van der Werf, head of animal genetics and production at the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales, is co-ordinating four research groups across Australia.
In Armidale they are trialling combinations of methane mitigators fed at varying frequencies and quantities to sheep. . .
Goat farmer hopes genetic breeding program will improve Australian Angora fleece quality – Andrew Chounding :
An academic-turned-farmer in Western Australia who stopped a flock of Angora goats from going to the slaughterhouse hopes to increase the sustainability of the animals through genetic breeding.
The goats, which originated in Turkey and are bred en masse in New Zealand, South Africa and the United States, produce the yarn needed to make mohair, a fabric prized by the fashion house of Europe.
After taking the goats in 2021, Gina Wood launched a selective coupling program she says will make the breed more productive and ethical to farm.
“What we’re trying to achieve with our genetic program is that as the animal ages, its micron [measurement of fibre] doesn’t blow out, it will stay stable,” Dr Wood said. . .
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