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Spring once again has delivered a variety of weather conditions with mixed periods of cooler and then warmer weather. We have had regular rainfalls plus one big rainfall with reasonably good weather in between.

The inclination of farmers to be “tidy Kiwis” by repeatedly spraying the vegetation along fence-lines is increasing the risk of herbicide resistance, says Foundation for Arable Research senior field researcher Charles Merfield.

Long before farm nutrient management came under scrutiny, one New Zealand pasture breeding company was routinely keeping all its up-and-coming ryegrass cultivars hungry for nitrogen.

For the next three months we are looking at the final sprays for finishing off our cereal and grass seed crops, getting our silos cleaned up before harvest, continuing our post emergence sprays on fodder beet, pre and post emergence sprays on forage brassicas and weed control in new pasture.

Right now, on dairy farms around the country, farmers are managing feed, animals, budgets, machinery, and weather. They’re having conversations with their bankers and insurers and finding time for their kids. That is just life for farming families, and everyone has to balance their own challenges.

While monoculture crops have become the norm, this wasn’t always the case.

Agrichemicals are a much-needed tool for farming, aiding in the growing and protection of food production. From manufacture to disposal of agrichemicals, there are many controls for the safety of people, property, and places.

The ‘holy grail’ is a ewe flock that lambs in good condition, that is well fed in the weeks leading up to lambing and lambs onto feed that enables maximum intake in the critical early weeks of lactation.

How planning and practice can save you time and money

The government is currently discussing several proposed relaxations on resource management rules. These changes include balancing the Te Mana o te Wai hierarchy with water needs, modifying freshwater farm plans, and reducing the requirement for consent for on-farm and orchard water storage.