News

Cows can go down at or around calving due to complex interactions of the individual cow’s metabolism and minerals. Milk fever (hypocalcaemia) This occurs at calving or the first 48 hours after. It usually happens with older, well-conditioned cows with a low blood calcium. In the early stages, cows...

Blanket use of long-acting drenches on sheep farms can hasten the development of drench resistance. Here are some considerations to help protect the effectiveness of these products. Primer drenching This is administering an effective drench which removes the resident susceptible worm population at...

With the current outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis (M.bovis) occurring in many districts throughout the country, an increased awareness of the impact of this disease and the potential changes required in calf rearing systems is important. M.bovis is a disease in cattle only, caused by a particular...

MaxCare is a new range of milk replacers available exclusively in New Zealand through PGG Wrightson. The MaxCare formulations have been developed in consultation with some of Australia’s leading ruminant nutritionists to build a strong foundation for healthy growth and for the first time, are...

For the past three years Dairy Farmer, Stephen Pope has used SealesWinslow dairy pellets to meet the nutritional needs of his herd year-round, achieving 480 kgMS per cow. There has been a definite increase in production, a decrease in empty rates and 500 kgMS is in sight. Stephen farms in Central...

Nelson/Marlborough Exceptional autumn weather at the top of the South Island meant farms were presented for sale in extremely good condition, while stock prices across the board continued to increase the desirability of pastoral property. However, demand exceeds the supply of listed Nelson and...

Northland Northland’s autumn rural property market was unremarkable. Although listings are readily available, including some excellent farms, purchasers and their financiers are reluctant to meet vendor price expectations. A 36.5 hectare Kaipara property growing kumara sold in April for $43,000 per...

PGG Wrightson and Promax bring to you New Zealand’s safest and smartest hopper bins. Currently it’s time for soil testing and then soon, growers around the country will apply the required nutrients to their orchards, vineyards and blocks. Last year’s changes to health and safety standards need to be...

With a relatively warm autumn, greenhouse thrips have been persistent this season, and may still be residing in some blocks. Likewise, six-spotted mite (SSM) will over-winter in most orchards, particularly in warmer areas, so reducing populations before spring arrives is a good idea. Maintain a...

When Kelley Hamilton, viticulturist and vineyard manager for Misha’s Vineyard in the Bendigo sub-region of Central Otago, needed a solution for persistent red fescue under their grape vines, she enlisted the assistance of her Fruitfed Supplies Technical Horticulture Representative Brent Anderson...

Subdued autumn and quiet winter foreshadow busy spring for rural property. Demand for rural property always balances several variables. How these weigh up determines what momentum the market will generate at any given time. Activity in the autumn market has been strong, right through into late May...

We're now well into bull selling season, lamb schedules are continuing to rise and the Karaka Autumn All Age Sale saw some great results. Read on to find our more of what's been happening around the country. South Island Bull sales have started strongly in Southland and Otago, with good clearances...

When it comes to weed control in lucerne, there’s really only one option says Central Otago Farmer, Barry Smith. And that’s to spray Gramoxone® 250 during winter months when the crop is dormant. Lucerne is a highly nutritious feed which supports excellent stock growth rates in spring and summer. It...

Having the ability to utilise dairy effluent as a source of nutrients for pasture growth effectively utilises on-farm resources. Dairy farm effluent is mainly comprised of dung, urine, udder wash water, milking plant wash water and milk spillages. It contains valuable nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus...

Centramax is a productivity tool for situations where an internal parasite challenge or mineral deficiencies of selenium and cobalt are limiting animal performance. Centramax is an intra-ruminal bolus containing 11 tablets, each with the anthelmintics abamectin and albendazole, mineralised with...

First-time users of Gusto V-Whey powder, Dairy Farmers, Bryan and Diana Te Awa were impressed with how easily it mixed, how the calves took to it and how calves quickly gained condition following a rough start last season. Diana was pleasantly surprised by the performance of Gusto V-Whey for three...

Image: Pathogens such as downy mildew require careful management of crop protection products to avoid the development of resistance [Photo credit: Howard F. Schwartz, Bugwood.org] Resistance management is a factor in crop protection that cannot be ignored. The overuse or misuse of a chemical control...

With three years of use in local apple and pear orchards throughout New Zealand’s major growing regions, Drape Net® is showing benefits to growers’ returns. The black Drape Net has a 25% shading factor due to the black impregnated polymer pigment, reducing the impact of sunlight on the apple skin...