Blogs

A ‘discard’ season in future years

Outlook with Bill Webb Bill Webb Feed Solutions  We are now in the peak of the season with calving almost done and lambing well underway. In a normal year, this demand would be offset with good grass production, but not...... Read More

The effects of fertiliser pricing

Fert Options with Robin Boom Agronomic Advisory Services  For many maize and kiwifruit growers, the high cost of fertilisers last year will have made a huge dent in any profit as they are both nutrient hungry crops. With...... Read More

Clover, ultimate animal tucker

Carbon Positive Farming with Peter Burton Functional Fertiliser Ltd  The primary reason clover is included in permanent pasture mixes is its ability to fix nitrogen, an essential growth element. Permanent pasture seed mixes...... Read More

Whey affected dairy farms

Better soils with Brett Petersen Kiwi Fertiliser & Golden Bay Dolomite   Over the years, Kiwi Fertiliser has encountered many cases of paddocks fertilised with whey from the dairy factories causing problems for soils, plants,...... Read More

A host of golden daffodils

There’s a patch of wild daffodils beneath the spreading oaks on a berm near my gaff in Tauranga. Unremarkable, but kind of special to me. They’re my own Punxsutawney Phil – the Pennsylvania groundhog. If he leaves his burrow at Gobbler’s...... Read More

Loving avos is true love

Avocados are like the ghastly, irritating girl at primary school. The one you learned to love as an adult and ended up marrying and living happily ever after with. That girl became the one thing you “avo” wanted. You couldn’t live...... Read More

Fieldays arrived, El Nino on the way

Outlook with Bill Webb Bill Webb Feed Solutions   If you think the last year has been wet, you’re not wrong. In the year June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023, we recorded 4951mm of rain at the farm in Ohauiti. Put into...... Read More

How self-induced is the dairy squeeze?

Carbon Positive Farming with Peter Burton Functional Fertiliser Ltd Prices of dairy products remain volatile and difficult to predict, interest rates have risen and may yet go higher, compliance costs keep climbing, and staffing...... Read More

Are you taking a supplement? – Part 1

                                                         ...... Read More

Thank you for all you do for our nation

Todd Talks with Todd Muller National MP   Life is bloody tough for farmers right now. While our export prices have been solid, the costs imposed on the home front have been shocking. Continually growing farm input costs...... Read More

So, where can I subdivide?

Your land surveyed with Brent Trail Surveying Services Ltd  Recently we have seen Central Government wield the stick in terms of urban subdivision. For the first time ever, we have seen Government step over local authorities...... Read More

Carbon Sequestration versus Nitrogen Applications

Better soils with Brett Petersen Kiwi Fertiliser & Golden Bay Dolomite   The government is calling for a reduction of the national dairy herd to reduce nitrogen and phosphate pollution of our water tables and waterways. At...... Read More

Everyone has a role in biosecurity

Rural Women New Zealand Alex Eagles-Tully   As the threat of foot-and-mouth disease looms like an impending storm, the importance of educating lifestyle block owners in New Zealand about their responsibilities has perhaps...... Read More

Increased fertiliser efficiency is essential

Carbon Positive Farming with Peter Burton Functional Fertiliser Ltd   The price of all imported high analysis fertiliser has escalated, and in the case of urea (nitrogen) and DAP, a crop starter fertiliser containing nitrogen...... Read More

The rise and rise of farm input costs

Outlook with Bill Webb Bill Webb Feed Solutions   It’s been a stormy month in August, both from a weather and an economic perspective. Everyone will be well aware of the weather and the damage it’s caused but...... Read More

Base saturation is just part of the equation

Carbon Positive Farming with Peter Burton Functional Fertiliser Ltd The Base Saturation data on a typical New Zealand soil test is valuable but at best it’s only one component and not essential. Maximum pasture or crop...... Read More

Are you ready to step up? (Part 2)

Better soils with Brett Petersen Kiwi Fertiliser & Golden Bay Dolomite Soil can make available some of the nutrients required, substituting for applied fertiliser. To provide top performance a soil should be composed of 45 per...... Read More




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