Welcome to the fourth edition of Ground Effect

Download Ground Effect Edition 4, Autumn 2017

Our team has assembled some great insights and tips that can ultimately help NZ Inc, through boosting the performance of our agri-sector.

John Hellström, retiring Chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, kicks-off this edition by defining what is meant by a social licence to operate. It’s an important term for the agri-sector today and will only become more so into the future.

A great example of the practical implication of this can be found on page 26 where sheep farmers Matt and Lynley Wyeth keep their lambs’ welfare in the forefront of their minds.

We assembled a panel discussing the most important research issues of the next ten years. Our own agri-science leaders were joined by Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, who at the time was Professor of Agribusiness at the University of Waikato; Dr Keith Cameron, Professor of Soil Science at Lincoln University; and Dr Ian Yule, Professor of Precision Agriculture at Massey University.

Take a look at the video summary and discussion

Learn from the experiences of the Lincoln University Dairy Demonstration Farm on page 22, winners of the Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award at last year’s New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards on page 23, and the smart irrigation of Craige McKenzie on page 28.

We also catch-up with Athol New who is the current FMG Young Farmer of the Year. One of the best things about being a sponsor of this competition is seeing the new leaders coming through and hearing their perspectives on where they see the sector’s challenges.

Included in this issue

Scientific Round Table
Five science leaders tackling the big issues

Get the best out of your kale
Tips to grow a successful winter forage