The importance of robust programmes to control most pests and plant diseases is well understood — but rats could be the chink in our armour.

That’s the view of Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, UPL NZ Regional Manager for the upper North Island.

He says effective rodent control isn’t just about putting out bait — it also requires a plan.

A powerful, lightweight electric tractor designed by a New Zealand agtech start up may help kiwifruit growers reduce orchard emissions, a recent Zespri trial has found.

Further field trials and product optimisation are now underway as Ballance Agri-Nutrients enters final stages of testing a fertiliser breakthrough developed to reduce parasite larvae on pasture.

The technology has the potential to target all pasture based ruminant larval species, addressing an issue costing the sector millions of dollars, Ballance says.

Weighing his heifer replacements regularly is as much a labour of love as it has been a valuable eye opener for Ashburton dairy farmer Andrew Whyte.

He and partner Leigh run a980-cow dairy unit, and rear 220-250 heifer replacements each year.

Imagine applying blended fertiliser to your high value arable crops only to find one key element wasn’t landing where it was supposed to be but instead was potentially compromising yield or quality.

Researchers based in Canterbury say this is exactly what happened when they tested the distribution and spreading patterns of 25 different mixes of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

A new service from agtech innovator Aimer Farming could help farmers boost profits by up to $400 per hectare through better pasture management, the company says.

The Ministry for the Environment’s announcement of a regulated product stewardship scheme for agricultural plastics marks a defining moment for sustainability in New Zealand’s rural sector.

Gallagher and FarmIQ are simplifying data management for farmers with the launch of a powerful new integration that will help them harness the power of having all their data in one place. 
And that’s exactly what manager Bayden Andersen wants as he works to ramp up productivity, cashflow and economic farm surplus (EFS) for Canning Estate. 
Five years of intensification have laid the groundwork for every hectare to grow more kilograms of liveweight and meat. 

Ravensdown’s venture arm, Agnition, has launched a new online sales platform giving Kiwis more choice in how they purchase fertiliser and other agricultural products.

Farmers from across the country have jumped on board a unique programme designed to help them eliminate one of their most expensive and persistent weeds. 

Plasback continues to lead the charge in New Zealand’s agricultural recycling space, achieving a record-breaking milestone in 2024 with 6800 tonnes of farm plastics collected and diverted from burying or burning practices.

Words: Neil Waddingham, Bayer New Zealand  

Ryegrass is on the attack and time isn’t on our side. 

Seed supplier plays it cool

A big new facility in Hamilton is helping put premium grass seed on-farm faster this autumn, and in peak condition for sowing. 

Manawatu-based H&T Agronomics has teamed up with a Californian ag tech company to launch a new microbial seed treatment here this season. 

If you don’t plan before autumn sowing, things can go downhill fast.

Farmlands recently purchased the Winton feed mill site, demonstrating the co-op’s commitment to the Southland region and to becoming the number-one farmer-owned supplier of quality nutrition for New Zealand farmers.  

Wild oats can have a very significant impact on cereal grain yields. But so too can a common seed and grazing crop on many arable farms, namely ryegrass.

New grass bred for yield and animal health is helping one sheep and beef farm wean more lambs off mum in the drought-prone hills of southern Hawke’s Bay. 

High insect pest pressure in spring-sown pastures and crops means close surveillance is even more important than normal as summer advances.

Novel chemistry from one of New Zealand’s leading crop protection specialists was in strong demand during the spring spray-out and early establishment phases, with high populations of springtails, army worm and cut worm reported.

Corteva marketing manager Glen Surgenor says a mild winter in many areas may be part of the reason.

Almost 3000 insects, spiders and mites have been found in native planting at a Pukekohe demonstration vegetable farm, designed to provide food and habitat to maintain beneficial species populations over winter.