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The autumn period has produced a more consistent spell of warmer weather than we had for the entire summer period. There were a couple of light frosts with the soil temperature remaining up, although a cold period around the time of writing has noticeably stopped grass growth.

Winter is fast approaching and for the next 3 months our focus will be sown arable crops, barley grass control in pasture and weed control in lucerne.

Would you like to know how you can best influence your lambing percentages and achieve a higher twin ratio?

Catch crops, commonly referred to as cover crops are nothing new. Already used extensively in cropping, they are traditionally sown in autumn to provide feed over winter for stock, conserve nutrients and reduce weeds, runoff, and wind erosion.

The demand to reduce livestock methane emissions is not in some distant timeline. That is glaringly close for biological businesses that can take several years to adjust and respond to altered environmental expectations.

We are currently experiencing substantial increases in the price of fuel, for both bulk fuel delivered on farm and card fuel purchases at the pump.

Ruralco Chair Jessie Chan was recently appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Dairy and Agriculture.

Newly appointed Ruralco Director Andrew Barlass has spent the last few years returning to his roots, in more ways than one.

One Taranaki family has managed to step aside from the whirlwind impact of manuka honey goldrush, keeping firm to their values of sustainable, healthy hives and good relations with landowners.

A family legacy of forward-thinking coupled with careful planning, world-class breeding and a proud agricultural heritage, will ensure the McKerchar family’s Shrimpton’s Hill in Cave, South Canterbury, remains at the forefront for generations to come.