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Rural Contractors NZ has launched a campaign on the risks of fatigue in their industry. CEO Andrew Olsen says, because they work seasonally, drive big machines and face weather and crop timing challenges, rural contractors need to manage fatigue risks.

After weaning, the focus has traditionally gone onto the lamb crop, but for ewes, the period between weaning and mating in Autumn is important for reproductive efficiency.

In irrigation management, it is interesting to consider the old adage that “You can’t manage what you don’t measure”. Or could that be, what you can only model?

The longer days and creeping warmth signal that it’s time to look ahead and plan for the summer months on farm. For some across the country, the climbing temperatures follow some extreme wet weather during spring, the impacts of which will still be felt while making summertime decisions.

Corteva Agriscience leverages global research and local knowledge of forage brassica production in New Zealand to offer a range of herbicides and insecticides that combat weeds and pests effectively.

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.