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.

Around the world, soils under managed grasslands hold a lot of carbon, up to 22 per cent of all land-based carbon stocks.

How the land is managed affects whether these soils gain, lose, or keep their carbon – and historically, much carbon has been lost as natural ecosystems have been converted into grassland.

Land management to maximise soil carbon stocks in grasslands could help New Zealand’s overall greenhouse gas balance.

Failed technology project comes at high cost

OSPRI has apologised to levy-payers for the cost of its failed major technology upgrade and says it will now focus on rebuilding a national animal identification and tracing (NAIT) programme that in future will be able to integrate with its other systems.

This follows what those who own the organisation describe as significant issues with the intended MyOSPRI upgrade; a $16.6 million dollar write-off, resignation of chair Paul Reynolds and the appointment of three new OSPRI directors.

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.

Over a century ago, at FMG’s inception, the idea of being safe online would have been a vastly foreign concept.

Imagine this. You’re woken from sleep on a Sunday night to be told your well-established agri supply business is literally in flames.

In coming weeks, the primary sector expects the outcomes from the vitally important agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review.

In stables, floats or trucks, it’s important to control moisture – this is where flies and disease breed.

Equest Plus Tape horse wormer, containing the active ingredient moxidectin, is a widely used anthelmintic for controlling internal parasites in horses.

Headstart, containing 50 grams per litre flumetsulam with inbuilt adjuvant technology, has established itself as a key tool for early weed control in pasture.

Nufarm has achieved Toitu carbonreduce certification, demonstrating its commitment to measuring, managing, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The team behind novel yet simple technology that reads plant moisture status directly from the stem of permanent crops like grapevines, kiwifruit and apple trees has beaten an impressive line up of finalists to win the 2024 Innovation in Irrigation Award.

It could be the perfect storm. Diminishing margins and rising costs, combined with forecast higher temperatures meaning increased insect pressure on crops.

Syngenta attended the Foundation for Arable Research CROPS event at Chertsey late last year, as a platinum sponsor of this flagship industry event.

Risks posed by chlorpyrifos to humans and the environment now outweigh its benefits, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says.

Nufarm has recently appointed Celese Smit and Justin France as technical specialists, based in southern Waikato and Hawke’s Bay respectively.

A sales co-ordinator for a large, busy wholesale plant nursery in North Canterbury has been named 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year, with second place going to botanic garden curator and third to an arborist.

The Zanda McDonald Award, Australasia’s premier accolade for emerging agricultural leaders, has revealed its highly anticipated 2025 shortlist.