Local Country Life

‘Wrong’ call made on levies

DairyNZ board chair Tracy Brown says the organisation got it wrong when it asked farmers to chose one of two levy rises. Asking farmers whether they wished to maintain current science and research, at between…

Winners from Te Awamutu

Zac van Dorsten, 27, manages Tony and Louise Collingwood’s 455-cow 165ha farm at Scown Road, Ōtorohanga and is the daiy manager of the year. Van Dorsten, who is from Te Awamutu and attended Hamilton Boys’…

Following the kiwi

Last week, councillor Mich’eal Downard, chair Pamela Storey and I were guests at Maungatautari, watching the annual kiwi translocation. Up until now I’ve been a bit dubious about the Maungatautari pest-free project. However, over time…

High … and dry

Rotomate sheep and beef farmer Mat Sherriff says pond levels have dropped about one metre on his farm. When you can see the mountains it’s going to rain, when you can’t see the mountains, it’s…

Drying out: the ‘usual’ summer

Soil moisture levels are now plummeting as a dry February starts to bite. The Waikato and South Auckland Primary Industry Adverse Event Cluster core group convened on February 11 to collectively review conditions and intel…

Farmers wait for plan change ruling

Farmers have only weeks to wait to learn the extent of a Waikato Regional Council water quality plan change on their operations. As they wait for the final version of Plan Change One to fall…

The benefits of shading

A shaded ‘natural’ stream will have an average water temperature of around 16°C but open, slow flowing waterways may have temperatures peaking at around 30°C in summer months. Research has shown that one kilometre of…

New rules for kiwifruit

Waipā District Council looks set to make some radical changes to its District Plan to accommodate the burgeoning kiwifruit and horticulture industry. Proposed changes include reducing road and internal boundary setbacks for protective structures over…

Paying for public transport

Waikato Regional Council recently confirmed its proposed Annual Plan budget. Thanks to a lot of good work by our chief executive and his staff, careful consideration by councillors and following a series of workshops with…

Future proofing the farm

“That eel has been here longer than I have,” says Judge Valley Dairies farmer John Hayward. “That’s exciting,” Hayward told the audience he welcomed onto his Judge Rd, Roto-o-Rangi, farm near Te Awamutu for a…

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