Public articles

Could solar farming be the next value-add option for New Zealand farmers? Agrivoltaics, which sees dual use of farmland between solar farming and traditional farming, is gaining traction as a viable way of diversifying income.
Hear what’s already happening in this space, including the Lincoln University energy farm project, how Lodestone Energy is partnering with farmers to expand their solar farm network, and listen to farmer Hamish Hills, who researched, financed and installed his own solar setup on his Golden Bay dairy farm.

Studies show that if you are kind to yourself you’re likely to do better in life. So why do we find it so hard to show ourselves self-compassion? Words Kathryn Wright.

A paddock in Mid Canterbury is providing a platform for the Foundation for Arable Research to offer a glimpse into the future of arable farming. Words Heather Chalmers.

Kiwis know a thing or two about persistence, toughness and high performance. It’s the same qualities you’ll find in our new Stampede CM142 diploid perennial ryegrass with the CM142 endophyte. 

Farmers looking to implement a value-add business onfarm might want to consider looking into agritourism - with options such as self-contained holiday homes, glamping, and sunflower fields just to name a few. What you might consider ordinary on your farm, might just be extraordinary to an overseas or domestic customer.
But where do you get started? And does it really bring in enough revenue to make it worth it? Hear from three experts in both the consultancy and agritourism space, covering where to start, what to consider, and what the rewards are.

Te Akau sheep and beef farmers Alastair and Ann Reeves were the Supreme Winners in this year’s Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Beef + Lamb New Zealand talk to them about their use of genetics to address animal health and environmental challenges, their farm system and community leadership. Photos Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

Tough times in New Zealand and globally have taken their toll on the luxury goods market, and New Zealand’s merino sector is no exception.
In this episode, we hear from those who know merino best, and how they’re planning to overcome challenges related to financial recession, and overseas regulations, that demand higher quality and processing accountability. We also look at how new technologies in the AI and genetics space could help enhance merino quality. Hear from NZ Merino CEO Angus Street, neXtgen Agri Co-Founder & Director Mark Ferguson, and Devold New Zealand General Manager Craig Smith.

Jemima Snook’s Kellogg Rural Leadership project report posed the question of how to generate value and improve sustainability from non-financial farm reporting. We share an insight into her findings.

Protecting our farm businesses for future generations is front of mind for many in the farming world, including when it comes to land use, and freshwater degradation.
Guests Lee Matheson and Tanira Kingi have both been part of Our Land And Water (Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai) research projects, and spoke at the symposium held in May, to discuss ways farmers already are and can continue to protect their greatest asset: the land. Whether this is getting involved in protecting your local catchment, or diversifying land use, the opportunities are out there.

The Whitiwhiti Ora: Land Use Opportunities research project brought farmers and researchers together in Canterbury’s Waimakariri catchment to assess potential farmland diversification use. Mixed arable operation, Taggart Farms, was one of three case studies, with options identified including carbon, edible fungi and hops. Words Rebecca Greaves.