The Government has two options on the table for consultation – regulation, or continuation of voluntary schemes.

Included in its definition of farm plastic waste are plastic bale wrap; silage sheet; small plastic bags like those used for seed, feed, and supplements; bulk woven polypropylene bags used for inputs such as fertiliser, minerals and feed; and ag chemicals sold in plastic containers and drums of 1000 litres or less.

The goal of calf rearing is to produce a healthy calf that can grow at the required rate solely on a diet of grass as soon as possible.

Grass is cheaper than milk or meal and having a calf that can be weaned sooner reduces labour inputs, all making the rearing process less time consuming and more cost effective. Weaning calves sooner is all about developing the calf’s rumen.

“We are ecstatic about this government policy. It’s this type of work that could really shift the dial for the entire NZ wool industry.”

From July 1, new procurement requirements will see construction of Government-owned buildings that cost $9 million and more, and refurbishments of $100,000 and more, using woollen fibre.

“These are big projects, big budgets, and lots of homegrown NZ wool being used instead of harmful, toxic, micro-plastic emitting synthetics,” Biggs says.

Hugh McDonald has been appointed executive vice president and CEO for Oceania for DLF Group.

He assumes the new role this month, taking over from John McKenzie.

McDonald has been with PGG Wrightson Seeds, part of the DLF Group, for 11 years, most recently serving as general manager for supply chain in the region.

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.

WorkSafe’s 2024 Strategy has highlighted the ag sector as one of the high-risk industries that it will focus on.

And in February this year ACC announced it was investing more than $11m over five years to implement Safer Farms’ Farm Without Harm strategy to reduce injuries and fatalities in the ag sector.

Strategic use of sexed cross-bred semen and beef semen, as well as low birthweight Hereford bulls, helped Dairy Trust Taranaki drop the number of bobby calves on one of its farms from 20 per cent to just five per cent last season.

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.

Taupo-based dairy company Miraka has begun searching for a new CEO following Karl Gradon’s recent departure for personal and family reasons.

In the interim, chief operating officer Richard Harding has assumed leadership as acting CEO, to ensure a smooth transition, the company says.

Marlborough’s first inland port has officially opened, marking a significant milestone in regional trade and transport infrastructure.

Operated by QuayConnect, Port Nelson’s logistics division, the facility is strategically located in Riverlands to support the growing freight demands of the region, reducing transport costs, supporting economic growth and streamlining supply chains.

A new committee for Young Radicles has been established, operated by and for members aged 35 years and younger, and an associate councillor position on the organisation’s executive has been created for members in the same age group.

Dr Scott Champion has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Foundation for Arable Research, effective 1 July.

FAR board chair Steven Bierema says his skills are well matched to the developing needs of New Zealand’s arable industry and its growers.

Afimilk has appointed Waikato-based Justin Miller as its new general manager for New Zealand and Australia.

“The cow monitoring collar market has seen significant growth in recent years,” he says.

Penny Ranger from Waotu and Shamus Young from Tapanui are FMG’s agricultural scholarship winners for 2025.

The coveted Zanda McDonald Award has named its 2025 winners, recognising two exceptional young leaders from the trans-Tasman primary sector.

Australian Jack O’Connor and New Zealander Maegen Blom have taken out the top honours, marking a significant milestone for the award.

Words: Zoetis   

Autumn is a critical time to address parasite control in cattle. 
From spring through to autumn, young stock with low or no immunity are mass producers of parasite eggs which become infective larval stages, reaching a peak on pastures in autumn and early winter. 
Even if young stock do not graze on the dairy platform, there will still be better survival and likely higher numbers of parasites in autumn. 

A strategic partner and Ravensdown customer for more than a decade, Dairy Holdings utilises the full suite of Ravensdown’s offerings to support consistent improvements in on-farm performance.
Colin Glass, Dairy Holdings CEO, says a key to farming smarter is having an absolute view of all production inputs.
“Over the past five years alone, we have taken 6600 soil samples across Dairy Holding farms to be tested and analysed
by Ravensdown.

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.