Blogs

Big changes for Darling Group

Avocado Advice with Erica Faber Just Avocados  Autumn of 2022 brings changes to the Darling Group business. Firstly, there is a change in the look of the leadership team with Jacob Darling filling the newly created chief...... Read More

Watching the avocados grow

Tony’s Take on avos with Tony Bradley Aongatete Avocados Ltd I feel it’s that time of the year to consider putting my feet and relaxing while the days get shorter into the month. If we don’t take the time for...... Read More

Learning from the best

Carbon Positive Farming with Peter Burton Functional Fertiliser Ltd The late Emeritus Professor Tom (T.W.) Walker of Lincoln University wrote in Dolomite, A first class source of magnesium, “it makes good sense to me to...... Read More

Feed gets tricky

Outlook with Bill Webb Bill Webb Feed Solutions  Rainfall has been patchy around the North Island but we have had some good drops of rain to keep us going in the Western Bay of Plenty. From May 1-20 we had 66.6mm at our...... Read More

Not feeling your best? (Part 1)

Abundant living with John Arts Abundant Health One of the most rewarding things I do is to hear stories from clients.   I have an older client who was healthy but had low energy and felt flat despite no medical reasons. I...... Read More

Fertiliser supply issues unfolding

Fert Options with Robin Boom Agronomic Advisory Services We are beginning to see an interesting phase in the supply of standard fertiliser products. Back in December Ravensdown promised it would hold the price of superphosphate...... Read More

May events

May 7 Crop Swap, 9.30am-10.30am, 45 Beach Rd, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2337. May 7 Home Worm Composting Workshop, 1-3pm, Community Centre, Waihi Beach, $50. WBOP District residents only. See tinyurl.com/5e32yucx May 7 Full Monty Gardening Workshop, 9.30am-3pm,...... Read More

Soil health key to pest control

Better soils with Brett Petersen Kiwi Fertiliser & Golden Bay Dolomite  The primary means of control of any pest or disease must be the good health of the soil the plants or animals you are growing. The chain of progression...... Read More

Lifestyle sections moving further out

Your land surveyed with Brent Trail Surveying Services Ltd It is rather ironic that as the price of fuel increases, people seeking a rural spot to bring up their families are being forced further and further out from the main...... Read More

Unknowns abound for new season

Avocado Advice with Erica Faber Just Avocados  Zeafruit CEO Glen Dunseath gives us some insight into the local market for avocados, across both the current and upcoming seasons.  With a couple of months to run in the...... Read More

Why it’s OK to say no to urea

Carbon Positive Farming with Peter Burton Functional Fertiliser Ltd During the 1990’s when dairy payouts were escalating and there was an abundance of flat land suitable for conversion - primarily in Canterbury - the key...... Read More

Stepping over fear

Finance with Don Fraser Fraser Farm Finance   At the risk of repeating myself, fear is one of the dominant ‘feelings’ that most people have.  For myself, I am known as ‘Fearless Fraser’ because...... Read More

Red alert over winter feed

Outlook with Bill Webb Bill Webb Feed Solutions  This coming year is going to be very interesting for farmers with high costs and supply issues impacting winter feed. We have had enough problems with Covid-19 affecting...... Read More

Looking out for each other

Tony’s Take on avos with Tony Bradley Aongatete Avocados Ltd  It’s tough times at present. We’re seeing increased costs on most fronts and combined with lower returns it is tough times out there in the...... Read More

The immune system (Part 2)

Abundant living with John Arts Abundant Health Let’s say a virus has penetrated your non-specific immune defenses (see last edition) and starts to infect cells. Sitting, waiting for such attack is your specific immune system...... Read More

Market development in Asia a long game

Having decided to leave the marketing collaboration AVANZA in 2015, seven years later we are seeing the benefits of backing ourselves to deliver on a specific and unique strategy as we pay a first pool OGR of over $10 per tray. It will be remembered...... Read More

Winning the war for nature

Rural Women New Zealand Alex Eagles-Tully  The magnificent Kaimai Mamaku ranges form a backdrop for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions. Unless marvelling at spectacular red skies as the sun sets behind the peaks from the...... Read More

The miracle of your immune system (Part 1)

Abundant living with John Arts Abundant Health There are two main parts to your immune system: the non-specific (innate) and specific (adaptive) immune responses. Non-specific immunity These include barriers like your skin,...... Read More

Reduce nitrogen and increase profit

Better soils with Brett Petersen Kiwi Fertiliser & Golden Bay Dolomite To get free nitrogen from the air where there are 74,000 tonnes above every hectare, the soil must have correct calcium and magnesium; available phosphate...... Read More




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