Totara Valley - Renewable Energy

In the early 2000s a group of farmers and researchers got together near Woodville to investigate the potential to generate enough electricity, from local renewable...

Aorere Catchment - Whats happening on the Land?

Work to mitigate impacts of land based activities on water quality

Dalrymples at Waitatapia Station

Waitatapia Station is a large scale arable and drystock farm run by two brothers, Hew and Roger Dalrymple. Between them they are using the best...

Sustainability programme extends from soil to glass

Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) is an industry initiated programme, managed by New Zealand Winegrowers.

The aim is to ensure the longevity of the industry through...

Integrated Catchment Management Research

Research aimed at better understanding the impact of different land uses on the ecological health of the Motueka River catchment

Jacksons

The Jacksons were farmers in southern Wairarapa on a smaller property until 2000 when they purchased the Nelson property which has now become Birchwood Terraces....

Disposal of hazardous farm wastes

Farmers are generally not aware of the dangers to people and the environment of the wastes generated on farm. Farm dumps are often still used...

Schnappdragon Village Distillery

There is more than a passing connection between honey mead and lovers. Mead is one of the worlds oldest fermented beverages, and in some cultures...

Open Country Cheese

Open Country Cheese was formed by primary sector entrepreneur and former cabinet minister Wyatt Creech and a number of other investors when the dairy industry...

Irrigation low-cost ways of improving the efficiency of water use

Historically, water management has been in the hands of catchment boards and regional councils but now the irrigators and the water users are taking more...

Waikato Sharemilker of the Year, emphasis on environment and effluent treatment system.

The condition of Waikato streams is a cause for concern. Around 80% of them don't meet bathing water standards because of bacteria and algal growth...

The Economics of Once-a-day Milking

Around 3% of dairy farmers (about 350) are currently milking once-a-day (OAD) throughout the year (not just at the tail end of the season as...

Talbot Forest Cheese

The quaint South Canterbury township of Geraldine has become a gastronomic paradise for foodies from all over New Zealand.

In among its burgeoning tantalising foods lies...

Root Restriction in Cherry Trees

Root restriction, or bonsai in Japan, was developed over 1000 years ago in Japan. It enabled the enjoyment of the shape and form of trees...

Eric and Maxine Watson

Life blood is often used to describe the sometimes precarious need for water to feed the farming industries in Canterbury. From large corporate dairy producers...

Fonterras organic dairying programme

There are strong signals from developed markets of a demand for organic milk products from New Zealand, already perceived as clean and green.

In 2004, Fonterra...

South Canterbury Textiles

In January, 2006 South Canterbury Textiles was about to close spelling the end of nearly 100 years of textile manufacturing on the site and the...

AB Annand Seed Services Ltd

There are two classes of vegetable seed production; hybrid and open-pollinated.

Potential returns from growing hybrid vegetable seed crops are high at $20-$30/kg but so are...

Anderson Partnership, South Canterbury monitor farmers

Awarima and Meldreth are farmed in conjunction by brothers Greg and Mike Anderson and their wives, Sandra and Danni. This arrangement was begun in 2002.

Awarima...

Dogs for Ferret Control

Ferrets can be vectors for bovine TB. Scavenging carcasses infects them, so they are good indicators of the presence of TB in the general wildlife...

Koura in Central Otago

Since 1989 Peter Diver has been experimenting with growing the South Island fresh water crayfish (koura). By trial and error he and wife Francie have...

Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary and Education Centre

New Zealands dryland environments are located in the rain-shadow area east of the main mountain ranges, and contain some of the least protected and most...

Gibson family at Malvern Downs, Tarras, Central Otago

Malvern Downs is 853ha of mainly flat farm land at Tarras, Central Otago. It is not typical of high country farms, because it is much...

Futurespread an innovative system for topdressing and sowing pasture

Kiwi ingenuity has resulted in a system for spreading fine particle fertilisers, lime and seed accurately onto land in a 30 to 40m wide swath,...

Tenure Review achieves win-win at Bendigo Station

Tenure review affects about 20% of the total land area of the South Island (2.4 million hectares), enabling 304 lessees to freehold part of the...

Phoenix Tail Mushrooms

Aiman Samy has been growing Phoenix tail mushrooms, also called Oyster mushrooms, for about three years.

Originally from Asia, it is actually the third most popular...

Getting a new lease on farm life

In 1996 Chris and Hanne Hardy were keen to get into a farming business. After getting a degree in agricultural economics Chris had worked for...

Rocky Mountain Elk - Bright Future under Development

An injured ankle forced Grant and Beverleigh Muir to review dairy farming in Hari Hari on the West Coast. As it turns out Grants arthritic...

Wagyu Breeders Ltd

Vertical integration for breeding and exporting, finishing and marketing Wagyu beef, which has a higher degree of fat marbling or intramuscular fat, than other cattle...

Kimbal McHugo

Bio for

Kimbal McHugo

Account Manager, EECA

Kimbal is an account manager for large energy-using clients from Taupo northwards. His role involves assisting large businesses embrace energy efficiency...

Westland protein plant adds value to growing milk supply

In 2001, Westland Milk Products 335 dairy farmer shareholders voted unanimously to reject offers of a merger with industry giant Fonterra. Since then, the 60-year-old...

Matt and Emma Holden - MyoMAX

Matt and Emma Holden have 810ha effective, made up of 550ha Beechwood Hills owned, and 310ha Folgers Hill leased block. The home farm is described...

Climate and Water Resource Availability in Canterbury

NIWA collects data on river flows, rainfall etc throughout the country. In Canterbury it has been studying the effects of various weather events on ground...

Kotuku block

About five years ago Government assured Landcorp that the State Owned Enterprise and its assets were not about to be sold. A decision was made...

Controlling Neck Rot in Onions

Botrytis is a pain in the neck for onion growers. It causes progressive rotting of the neck of onions, which may take 3 4...

New Zealand truffle growing industry

The NZ truffle industry is poised for substantial growth, with over 100 truffires (truffle plantations) already established, from small lifestyler and hobby farms, to large...

Mastitis & Once-a-Day Milking

Dexcel has been doing research in Taranaki for last six years on OAD milking and comparing it with TAD milking. The first trial involved comparison...

Patoa Farms Ltd

The Sternes and the Ravns were experienced pig farmers who moved from central Canterbury to Hawarden eight years ago, believing that pig farming is best...

Riparian management and the success of the Clean Streams Accord in Taranaki

Taranakis 1965 dairy farms (used to be 2500 10 years ago), clustered around the base of Mt Taranaki (2500m asl), are bisected by more than...

Grazing of Wheat for Extra Profit

Sowing wheat in early autumn at higher than normal densities, and grazing it late August /early September before the seed head is at grazing height,...