Soil matterswith Peter Burton Functional Fertiliser Ltd There’s a school of thought seemingly prevalent among the science and farming communities in New Zealand that although changes are required to soil fertility systems in order to stem...... Read More

Beneath the surfacewith David Lawof Forward Farming Although I reside in Hamilton City where my “total effective graze-able area” is controlled by a push mower, my mind is never far from the memories of gumboots, raincoats and mud. I...... Read More

Brent TrailManaging DirectorSurveying Services Ltd “I should have looked at the proposed subdivision rules when they were notified by council. If only I had realised the significance of the changes.” I don’t know how many times...... Read More

Financewith Don Fraser Fraser Farm Finance We see people with such complicated lives and complicated businesses and you wonder how they cope. In fact, many don’t. They often get completely overrun with everything, which can lead to ill health,...... Read More

Bill WebbFeed SolutionsOutlook Landcorp’s decision to stop using Palm Kernel Expeller may signal a return to a more pasture-based farming – the way it used to be in this country. Landcorp is not only New Zealand’s biggest farming...... Read More

Robin BoomAgronomic Advisory Services It’s that time of year for me – taking samples for maize-growing clients, including several who have award-winning crops in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region. Maize is one hungry plant for nutrients...... Read More

Soil matterswith Peter Burton Eco-logic Soil Improvement Ltd My article last month, started with, ‘the European Union has just refused to grant Monsanto a new license for Glyphosate’. On June 29 in the United Kingdom’s ‘The...... Read More

Todd TalksBy Todd Muller I recently spoke to an audience about the Primary Growth Partnership and was struck by the overwhelmingly positive effect this is having on our primary industries. The PGP aims to boost productivity, value and profitability...... Read More

Brett PetersenKiwi Fertiliser and Golden Bay Dolomite Sometimes farmers apply large dollops of lime, whether the soil needs it or not. They may repeat the exercise in about five years’ time. Liming is no different to applying fertiliser....... Read More

Beneath the surfacewith David Lawof Forward Farming Everyone has seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa, either in photographs, or from travelling though Italy. From the time Bonnano Pianso began its construction in 1173, it took a full 200 years to complete. The...... Read More

Brent TrailManaging DirectorSurveying Services Ltd In this day and age, with information abounding online as well as down at the local cafe and bar, it’s hard to know what to believe. I’ve recently been told a few interesting tales....... Read More

Stock Sensewith Paul McKeeRavensdown Technical Manager Every year some five to 10 per cent of New Zealand’s dairy cows will fail to adequately maintain their calcium levels within the 24-48 hours after calving. This crucial period can see...... Read More

Mike ChapmanNZKGI Chief Executive Horticulture is enjoying a period of growth. Kiwifruit, apples, avocados, cherries and onions are just some of our growth products. The advantage with horticultural exports is they also earn a premium price in...... Read More

Vet’s VisionPhil RennieTauranga Vets With calving in full swing it will soon be time to think about next season’s reproductive targets and getting those same cows back in-calf. For the New Zealand dairy industry, the national ‘in-calf’...... Read More

Bill WebbFeed SolutionsOutlook The unseasonably warm and wet autumn and winter have provided the unexpected bonus of grass, which just keeps growing. In fact, the pasture hasn’t stopped growing for seven months. Farms I visited in early-July...... Read More

Financewith Don Fraser Fraser Farm Finance The acidity-alkalinity balance has a major impact on all facets of animal, soils and human life. Without getting too scientific here it seems to have a lot to do with negatively charged ions – acid...... Read More

Brent TrailManaging DirectorSurveying Services Ltd What a difference a month can make. Last month I reported the Thames Coromandel District Council had announced the decisions version of its new District Plan. This month many of those decisions,...... Read More

Soil matterswith Peter Burton of Functional Fertiliser Ltd The European Union has just refused to grant Monsanto a new licence for glyphosate. Whichever side of the debate you’re on, it signals the start of a fundamental change in agriculture...... Read More

Beneath the surfacewith David Lawof Forward Farming ”The earth is flat. How do I know? Because everyone around here believes it.” Three-hundred years ago, a statement like that wouldn’t have raised a single eyebrow. Back then,...... Read More