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Better mating performance will help dairy farmers protect profitability

While the recent payout announcement is not the news dairy farmers were hoping, it’s an opportunity to review on farm performance with a specific focus on protecting your farm’s profitability. Arguably, the greatest immediate and medium-term opportunity will be to optimise peak production, while also honing herd fertility this coming mating. Being guided by industry best practice targets and adopting a considered nutritional approach for your entire herd will pay dividends througho...

Former vet and ad agency executive joins CRV as National Sales Manager

From being suited and booted in the glamorous world of advertising to wearing red bands and overalls in cow sheds across the Waikato, Julia Baynes’ new role is the perfect meeting of two worlds.Julia is CRV’s new National Sales Manager. A former advertising executive, she cut her teeth at global marketing agency Saatchi & Saatchi but just over a decade ago hung up her high heels to retrain as a large animal vet. For the past six years Julia has been working for Anexa Vets in Waikato.Now ...

“Not the season for high empty rates” - Getting cows in calf fundamental in wake of payout news

As dairy farmers look ahead to mating in the wake of a downgraded forecast payout, CRV Managing Director James Smallwood says getting cows in calf will be fundamental."It’s not the season for high empty rates," he says. "Lactation length will be more important than ever to make sure farmers maximize days in milk. Making sure cows are in good condition before mating to help nail 6-week in-calf rates will be crucial."In addition to accurate heat detection and putting up cows for AI at the right ...

A career in herd improvement takes flight for new CRV AB Services Manager

Emma Carne wanted to be an airline pilot, but a foray into dairy farming to fund her flying lessons instead launched her career in the dairy industry. More than 20 years later, she has joined CRV as the company’s new AB Services Manager.It was the year 2000 when the self-confessed former townie took a milking job on an Eltham dairy farm. Today, she’s still as passionate as ever about the industry.“I always thought I wanted to be a pilot. But with no dairy farming background at all I took a...

New ‘DIY’ compliance initiative empowers farmers, saves time and cuts costs

Perrin Ag is helping farmers get on top of regulation, making compliance easier and less costly by empowering them with the skills to assess their own farm compliance requirements at home.The firm’s Empowering Farmer Compliance Workshops will help farmers identify what they can do themselves, where they might need additional support and where to go for help.Thanks to funding from the Ministry for Primary Industry’s (MPI) Accelerator Fund, Perrin Ag is offering the workshops at a heavily subs...

More Otago & Canterbury dairy farmers DNA testing calves for better decision making

An increasing number of Otago and Canterbury dairy farmers are realising the value of DNA testing their calves to help them make better breeding decisions, according to local CRV sales consultant Deborah Adair-Dagg. Originally from Scotland, Deborah started with CRV in August last year but has been living in South Canterbury/Otago since 2018. Before arriving in New Zealand in 2004, Deborah earned her rural stripes on the family farm in Scotland. Farming both pigs and beef, she developed a s...

Fund raising and awareness raising go hand in hand

2023 seems to be the year that many organisations are raising funds. Many not-for-profits are doing it tough and now trying to make up for lower donations during the Covid period.  Some businesses have experienced a few tough years and are ready to get back to international markets yet require a capital injection to achieve their goals.No matter what the situation, many of you out there are looking to external sources for funding.  And that might mean you’re kicking off a donor ...

Starch and energy a priority for calving cows to complement potential farm feed shortcomings

While most dairy farmers are heading into Spring calving with lush grass cover, cows may need more starch and energy to compensate for pasture deficiencies this season.Unusually high rainfall and warmer temperatures across the country this Autumn have resulted in exceptional grass cover for many areas. However, SealesWinslow Nutrition and Quality Manager Paul Drew says pasture testing carried out by the company shows there could be nutritional deficits in pasture this season that need to be addr...

Dairy farmers urged to be vigilant for coccidiosis this calving

With calving almost underway, dairy farmers are being urged to be vigilant for coccidiosis by planning their calf feeding regimes and using nutrition to combat the potentially fatal disease.Coccidiosis can attack calves from four weeks old, causing scours and can result in death. The disease is prevalent throughout New Zealand, and thrives in warm moist conditions. It often surfaces during periods of stress, like moving or regrouping calves or when calves face reduced immunity.SealesWinslow Nutr...

Agrecovery partnership could save up to one million feed bags a year from landfill

More than one million calf feed bags each year could be saved from landfill as SealesWinslow becomes one of the first animal nutrition companies in New Zealand to join Agrecovery.From 01 July this year, farmers will be able to recycle SealesWinslow’s 20kg and 25kg feed bags through Agrecovery at no cost. If every bag was recycled, it would remove more than 1 million or 85 tonnes of calf feed bags going to landfill each season.The initiative is one way SealesWinslow is helping farmers reduce wa...

Farmers encouraged to prepare emergency kit for extreme weather events

As extreme weather events become more common across New Zealand, Gallagher is encouraging farmers to prepare emergency kits to help them protect their farm business when the unexpected happens.Gallagher Animal Management Territory Manager Ken McMiken says it’s timely for farmers to consider what portable gear they have on hand in case of an emergency and what crucial items might be missing.On the list are things like a generator, a solar energiser to power up electric fences, spare reels of fe...

HMC secures third win for PRINZ PR Consultancy of the Year 2023

Hamilton-based public relations agency, HMC, was named the winner of the PR Consultancy of the Year in the small-to-medium category at Friday’s Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) annual industry awards.The agency won the same award in 2018 and 2021.HMC provides strategic communications and digital public relations services to companies in a wide range of industries including agriculture, dairying, real estate, education and more.Director, Heather Claycomb, says, “I’m incredi...

CRV’s rigorous testing gives farmers peace of mind as M.Bovis resurfaces in Canterbury

As Mycoplasma Bovis resurfaces in Canterbury, CRV is reassuring dairy farmers it has rigorous production processes and health testing programmes in place within its supply chain. The company’s Operations Manager Andy Medley says, as a leader in bovine genetics, farmers put a lot of trust in CRV to help them protect the health and well-being of their animals. “It’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. That’s why we have strict quality assurance testing in place to make sure...

Dairy farmers encouraged to invest in livestock wisely as costs rise and cow numbers decline

As costs of production soar and cow numbers decline, more dairy farmers need to take advantage of the technologies available to identify the best animals to rear and mate and make sure they use their investments in livestock wisely. This is the message from CRV managing director James Smallwood following the release this month of 2021/22 New Zealand Dairy Statistics report.The report shows an increasing number of farmers are tapping into technology and information to help them breed healthi...

Taranaki & Whanganui farmers encouraged to use their technology to capitalise on a record Autumn

An unseasonal wet summer has set the Taranaki and Whanganui rural regions up for one of the best Autumns on record. However, local Gallagher Territory Manager Martin Weir says farmers are still feeling the pinch from rising inflation and on farm costs – an issue their on-farm technology could help tackle.“While the temptation is to sit back and make the most of the flush feed situation, using the technology they have already invested in to drive efficiencies can help farmers make the most of...

Driven to make life easier for New Zealand farmers

Paul Ansley is a manager with a purpose. As head of Gallagher’s customer support team, he gets out of bed each morning committed to making life easier for New Zealand farmers.  Paul is Operations Manager at Gallagher Animal Management New Zealand, where he leads a 12-strong team of Customer Technical Services and Customer Service experts. He came into the role in October 2022, after a year as Customer Services Manager.Through most of his career Paul has been involved in management or lead...

Inspiring young women to make their mark in agriculture

Laura McQuillan-Reese is blazing a trail for other young women to make their mark in agriculture and seize opportunities to take leadership roles in the industry.Laura joined Perrin Ag from Lincoln University in February 2022 through the firm’s Empower Graduate Advisor Development Programme.Since beginning her tertiary studies, she has learnt from and worked alongside an array of natural leaders. Despite the notion that agriculture may traditionally have been a male-dominated industry, Laura b...

From childhood passion to a lifetime labour of love

Trudy Laan considers her work with farmers an “immense privilege”.For more than two decades Trudy has worked as an agricultural consultant at Perrin Ag, specialising in dairying, corporate supervision, land use conversion and staff recruitment.Today she is a director of the firm and principal consultant and plays a leading role in mentoring the next generation of agribusiness professionals.It was a childhood spent on farm with her father that fuelled her love of cows and passion for farming....

Property market finds its floor; Hamilton house prices stabilising

After months of declining house prices, the Hamilton property market has “found its floor” according to a local property expert.Thanks to an equalising market, house prices are reaching a stable footing due to a combination of appropriate asking prices and buyers acting quickly, says Lodge Real Estate Managing Director Jeremy O’Rourke.“Sales figures are showing us that a sense of urgency has picked up in the market, and we’re no longer seeing the ‘wait and see’ attitude among buyer...

A passion for farming & its people

Gayle Newman was born in Dannevirke and spent her childhood holidays on the family farm. Safe to say agriculture is in her blood.As well as an in-depth knowledge and understanding of farming, Gayle has a natural way with people. A skill she put to good use during her time in the hospitality and tourism industry.Now as Perrin Ag’s finance and client services manager she is well known for fostering relationships centred around trust - a value that is a cornerstone of the firm’s way of working....

Pitching to media – get your timing right!

When a nationally significant event happens that threatens lives and livelihoods, it dominates the media. And rightly so! Every news outlet and media channel becomes saturated with stories about what happened, where, why and the people affected. And it can go on for weeks or even months.  This has been the case since Cyclone Gabrielle wreaked havoc across the North Island. As such, it has been challenging to get pick up for good news stories.  However, we have seen some appet...

When no publicity is good PR

A number of our ag sector clients have been stepping up in recent weeks and supporting rural communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.  Some of these companies and their teams have generously volunteered their time to help with the clean-up. Others have donated funds, essential supplies or services to organisations like the Rural Support Trust who can get it to those most in need.  These companies have a close professional, and often personal connection, with the rural commu...

Don’t let Google do your GA4 migration

If you're using Google Analytics to track your website's performance and you’ve logged in recently, you will have seen this message pop up: ...

HMC welcomes return of Nicola Lee as Senior Account Manager

Award-winning PR and communications agency HMC has appointed Nicola Lee as senior account manager, welcoming her back to the role after a few years away to raise her young family.Nicola has worked across several sectors providing strategic communications planning and advice, including education, fundraising, health, consumer, agriculture, science, energy, local government and stakeholder relations. Her key strengths include strategic planning and implementation, digital PR, project management, s...

Taranaki dairy farmer saves time and stress with app-controlled electric fence system

Ōpunake dairy farmer Angeleigh Young is saving hours of travel time and stress by controlling electric fences on her family’s farming operation with the tap of a button on her phone.Angeleigh manages a 160-hectare dairy farm owned by her mother-in law, Adrienne. She installed a Gallagher iSeries M6000i energizer to power up the property’s electric fences, which she uses alongside Gallagher’s Gateway to control the farm’s entire electric fence system. The Gateway enables Wi-Fi connection...