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Attractive paybacks from solar
Taranaki entrepreneur, Matt Luscombe, is building a national business installing cost-effective solar energy systems with a 4-5-year payback for farm and lifestyle block owners.
Lincoln University breaks new ground with solar farm
Ground-breaking research exploring growing high-value food crops and grapes under solar panels starts later this year at Lincoln University’s new 4ha Energy Farm in Canterbury.
Solar grows exponentially
Installation of solar electricity systems globally is doubling every three years. Lincoln University’s Dr Shannon Page says.
Fat depth sensor for live animals and carcasses
The success of livestock farming critically depends on careful feed management. Both over- and under-feeding animals leads to lower productivity and risks animal welfare, while affecting milk and meat eating quality. Despite being such a critical factor for New Zealand’s largest export industries, farmers and abattoirs are currently lacking the technology to efficiently and objectively assess fat depth in live animals or carcasses. This article introduces an emerging sensing technology which has the potential to fill that gap. Words Eva Anton.
Sky-high dairy cow prices
Cow prices have reached 10-year highs this season and while it’s great news for the balance sheets of some, it’s creating challenges for others. Words Anne Lee.
Functionality the key to diverse pastures
Diverse pasture mixes are often misunderstood and require a clear strategy to be beneficial says a Massey University professor at the 2026 Beef + Lamb NZ AgInnovation Conference. Words Rebecca Greaves.
Costs climbing
Farmers have a varied wish list when it comes to new conversions. Smart strategic planning and purchasing decisions are important to ensure the job gets completed within deadline and then stands the test of time. Words Anne Lee.
Setting up cows for success from birth
Intensive New Zealand-based studies have revealed just how much is riding on ensuring new born calves receive enough high-quality colostrum in their first few hours of life. Words Anne Lee.
Beef on the brink of a revolution
Hill-country beef farmers in New Zealand have long faced challenges such as steep terrain, limited pasture utilisation and declining profitability. But Natasha Cave found in her Kellogg’s report that wearable technology has beef on hill country on the brink of a revolution. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.
Treat Wearables as a Tool, Not a System
As virtual fencing and cattle wearables move from buzzwords to real tools being used across sheep and beef breeding and finishing operations on New Zealand farms, one message comes through clearly from Tom Chisholm of AgDesign: the technology is not a silver bullet. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.










