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.

One of New Zealand’s largest lingerie designers is expanding its virtual bra fitting model to remedy poor access to specialised advice faced by rural women on both sides of the Tasman.

Experts say wearing a correctly fitted bra is essential for maintaining good posture and preventing back and shoulder pain, particularly for those in active work roles.

Monitoring dairy herd replacements from birth has just got easier with the launch of SenseHub Youngstock. MSD Animal Health says.

Youngstock is the latest extension from SenseHub Dairy, the company’s market-leading technology used by hundreds of Kiwi dairy farmers to monitor cow health and mating management.

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.

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.