Awards help farmers put spotlight on environmental progress:
It’s never been more important for farmers to showcase to fellow New Zealanders the work they’re doing to lighten their environmental footprint, Federated Farmers says.
“We’re in the middle of a national debate on the best regulatory settings to help drive improved water quality in our rivers and lakes. Some of the talk might drive an impression that we’re in some sort of downward environmental spiral, when the truth is many farmers up and down the nation are putting in huge amounts of sustainability and biodiversity enhancement work,” Feds environment spokesperson Chris Allen says.
Deadlines for the 2019 Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Horizons, Wellington and Waikato have already passed, but it’s not too late for farmers in eight other regions around New Zealand. . .
Shearing costs eat wool cheques – Alan WIlliams:
A fourth straight year of poor strong-wool prices lies ahead for sheep farmers.
After the increase in shearing charges in 2018-19 Beef+Lamb has estimated that combined with continuing abnormally low strong-wool prices that in the North Island, where nearly all the wool clip is crossbred, shearing costs take up 90% of farm wool receipts.
Until the start of the downturn four years ago shearing costs typically accounted for just 45% of wool returns. . . .
Fewer cows produce more milk – Neal Wallace:
An emerging approach to dairying might let farmers obey environment rules while maintaining or growing milk production.
The farm system change project has found farmers can run fewer but higher-performing cows while maintaining or growing milk supply.
It is done by accurately managing costs, feed quality and quantity to maintain cow condition, which results in a more efficient farm and conversion of feed by cows. . .
Seaweed feed could reduce cattle greenhouse gases :
The Cawthron Institute will receive $100,000 from the Government, to help it turn a native red seaweed into a greenhouse gas-busting cattle feed supplement.
The money comes from the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund and was announced by the Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister during a visit to the Nelson-based research institute today. . .
Chicken virus can be eradicated MPI says – Maja Burry:
The Ministry for Primary Industries believes its is possible to eradicate a chicken virus that was recently detected here.
Last month MPI reported routine industry testing at two Otago egg farms owned by Mainland Poultry had identified the likely presence of Infectious Bursal Disease type one.
The virus can affect the immune system of young chickens but doesn’t pose any risk to human health. . .
https://twitter.com/Woolmark/status/1185073022148890624
‘Hyperactive’ 80-yr-old vet Jakob Malmo retires to run two dairy farms – Marion MacDonald:
Jakob Malmo says he’s too old to be lying in the mud delivering a calf so Gippsland’s legendary dairy vet has retired at 80 – to run two large dairy farms with his new wife, Jean.
Admitting others have described him as ‘hyperactive’, Dr Malmo is not one to sit still.
The achievements across his 58-year veterinary career are so many, it’s hard to know where to start but the man himself was most proud of the Melbourne University Rural Veterinary Unit he and Professor Doug Blood established in Maffra. . .
Posted by homepaddock 
Homepaddock 