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Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, has announced the success achieved with WaterForce, a leading provider of water management and irrigation solutions in New Zealand. Schneider Electric worked with WaterForce to develop a cloud-based Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) mobile control solution, built on Microsoft Azure and Azure IoT technologies, which enables farmers to operate irrigation pivots with greater agility, efficiency and sustainability. Agriculture accounts for nearly 70 percent of the world’s water consumption. As global food demand grows, water use is expected to rise – making efficient irrigation critical. With Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxureTM architecture, WaterForce developed a cloud-based IIoT solution so farmers can monitor and control irrigation pumps and pivots from their computer, tablet or smartphone. EcoStruxure is Schneider Electric’s IoT-enabled, open and interoperable system architecture and platform. It delivers Innovation At Every Level across connected products, edge control, and apps, analytics, and services, and enables scalable design and operation of connected systems for increased operational efficiency. “Every day I adjust my pivots and pumps for a variety of reasons – shifts in the wind, rain levels, crop requirements or local regulations,” said Craig Blackburn, Director Farm Manager of Blackhills Farm, “Now I can monitor and control my irrigation system easily from my mobile phone, saving me hours of time not spent driving around the farm. With information at my fingertips, my farm is more productive, water and energy costs are lower and crop yields higher.” Unique to this solution is its ability to work with a farm’s existing equipment, such as irrigation and pump controllers. This means no significant capital investment is required before seeing benefits. “Most farms are not built to handle large software installations,” said Ron McFetridge, Director of WaterForce. “Using a lightweight, cloud solution with mobile capabilities has been key to […]

This year’s top Holstein Friesian cow has been found in Te Awamutu. Okawa Tony Serenity EX2 took out the 2017 Valden Cow of the Year at the Holstein Friesian New Zealand (HFNZ) Awards evening, held in Cromwell recently. Serenity, owned by Tim and Jo Barclay of Okawa Ltd, and sired by Tahora Talent Tony-ET, beat out five other finalists to claim the title. “We’re very proud to win Valden Cow of the Year with Serenity,” says Tim. “It is common knowledge at home that she’s an exceptional cow, and for her achievements to be recognised on a national platform as the top performing Holstein Friesian cow in New Zealand is really something,” he says. The Valden Cow of the Year title is awarded to any cow that has completed at least four lactations and is deemed to have contributed, or have the potential to contribute, to the breed on a continual basis.  “We’re happy to have a cow such as Okawa Tony Serenity represent the Holstein Friesian breed,” says HFNZ General Manager Cherilyn Watson. “She crosses the pedigree and commercial line nicely, with great conformation, while earning her keep on-farm and being successful in the show ring.” Serenity’s classification score of EX2 shows she is very close to ideal conformation, and her lactation records speak for themselves. She’s also had embryo transfer (ET) work done. Coming from the well-known Tahora T family, Serenity is in her sixth lactation, with her best production to date completed as a four-year-old. In this she produced 10,650 litres, 361kg (3.45) protein and 363kg (3.4%) fat over 304 days. Her current PW sits at 244 and LW 244. Since her four-year-old lactation, Serenity has been consistently achieved over 700kg of milk solids, with her best year as an eight-year-old – 9,819 litres, 327kg (3.33%) protein […]

The future of agriculture rests on the next generation of leaders understanding interactions among species, Associate Professor Adrian Paterson, Head of Department Pest-management and Conservation at Lincoln University, says. The newly formed Department, set-up in part to align with the external Biosecurity 2025 and Predator-Free-NZ 2050 initiatives, is offering an undergraduate 300 level course in Agroecology next semester. Agroecology is where agriculture meets life science. It is about using ecological knowledge to add value and to future-proof agricultural production systems. Improving soil health, nutrient and pest management, diversification of grazing systems and integration of agroforestry are the main topics of study. The new course considers the contribution ecosystem services can provide towards a clean, green, productive and sustainable future. Associate Professor Paterson said the course allows Lincoln to showcase research areas and teaching skills that are central to the University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science. Students from across the University, including Bachelor of Agricultural Science and the Bachelor of Science, will benefit from the course. Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science Dean, Professor Grant Edwards, said Agroecology fits in well with Lincoln University aspirations to “feed the world, protect the future and live well”. Course examiner, Professor Nick Dickinson, said Agroecology explores the ideas, the science and technology, and the field evidence. “Our aim is to contribute new and workable options towards environmental improvement and a more sustainable agriculture”. Course contributor Professor Steve Wratten said there is a lot of global interest in the topic, with the amount of research in the area increasing over the last few decades, with nearly 8000 publications per year since 2010.    

Young Farmer 2017 winner Nigel Woodhead says his time at Lincoln University opened doors for him which contributed to his success. Nigel claimed the title in the Manawatu after three days of competition. He was awarded a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree in 2009 by Lincoln University. The 28-year-old Milton sheep and beef farmer said his study has had a huge influence on his career since. “I chose Lincoln because it has a great reputation and graduates I had spoken to told me of the huge amount of fun that was had while studying. “Banks and fertiliser companies, and other businesses were screaming out for agriculture graduates, so I knew I wouldn’t have any issues finding a good job at the end of my studies,” Nigel said. His degree opened the door for him to work for Midlands Seed in Ashburton, firstly as a research assistant and then as a field consultant. “It came about as one of my lecturers in a Plant Science class mentioned there was a good job going at Midlands working for one of his former pupils, so I applied and got the job. “It gave me a great background understanding of all things agriculture and has allowed me to be in a great position to learn and understand new ideas.” He singled out the field trips he did while studying at Lincoln as particularly rewarding. “It was great to get out of the classroom and talk to actual farmers about actual farms and what goes on.  There is so much to be learnt from the farmers that the trips were always a highlight and a great learning experience. “The quality of lecturers was great too. I was lucky to have been taught by the likes of Dr Warwick Scott and Roger McLenaghen – those sort […]

FAR’s Phil Rolston is officially a World Class New Zealander! Dr Rolston was one of six people from very different industries who were honoured at the 2017 World Class New Zealand Awards in Auckland. Judging panel chair Phil Veal said the awards showcased the very best of this country’s talent, and focused on how individual’s contributed to New Zealand’s global reputation, building global connections for New Zealand, and promoting the exchange of information, knowledge and skills. Phil’s citation referenced his scientific influence on the farming sector worldwide, from New Zealand to China. Phil has invested 42 years with DSIR Grasslands/AgResearch in forages and forage seed research and is currently employed by the Foundation for Arable Research. In 1996 he received China’s highest award to foreigners, the Friendship Medal, 1996. In 2005 he received the NZ Institute of Agriculture, and the Horticulture Technology Transfer Award. Phil was acknowledged as Researcher of the Year by the Foundation for Arable Research in 2008. He also received the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award, 2015. The other 2017 winners are: Parris Goebel –  Choreographer & Founder of ReQuest, The Royal Family and The Palace Dance Studio Ian Wright –  Engineer & Founder of Wright Speed Dr Privahini Bradoo – Scientist, CEO and Founder of BlueOak Robert Oliver –  Chef, Author, Restaurateur Sir Rob Fenwick KNZM KStJ The World Class New Zealand Awards are New Zealand’s most prestigious individual achievement awards, acknowledging the country’s top international talent. Established in 2003, the awards recognise world-leading Kiwis whose inspiring achievements are defining New Zealand’s image internationally. There are plenty of Awards celebrating success in New Zealand – the key point of difference for these Awards is the celebration of global success often from Kiwis who have achieved outstanding and, in many cases, world-changing success offshore.   

Hawke’s Bay exporters, growers and farmers who have worked hard to protect the region’s GM free status are happy the environment minister has backed down from controversial amendments to the RMA that would take away the regions’ right to make their own decisions on GMOs. Hawke’s Bay’s ability to establish a GM Free food producing zone under local plans has been shielded following last minute changes to the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill. An amendment negotiated by the Maori Party exempts GM crops from the scope of new ministerial powers overriding local decision-making. A further clause – introduced by the Government after public consultation on the Bill –  that would give the minister a second route to impose GM releases on the regions has been deleted. Pure Hawke’s Bay, lobby group representing Hawke’s Bay growers, exporters and farmers was fighting to have s360D deleted altogether. Pure Hawke’s Bay President, Bruno Chambers says the best outcome for the regions would have been the deletion of 360D. “While the exemption is not as wide as what Pure Hawke’s Bay has called for, it protects Hawke’s Bay’s right to decide on the GMOs most likely to come forward in the foreseebale future. “ The exemption agreed to by the Maori Party and the Government covers the growing of GM crops. Pure Hawke’s Bay understands that that exemption covers GM crops and any outdoor growing of GM crops, whether experimental or commercial. This was confirmed by Marama Fox, who sponsored the amendment, when she told Parliament: “The Maori Party supports these amendments on the understanding that, as negotiated with the Government, they preserve the regions’ ability under local plans to regulate all types of GM crops in their territories including forestry and grasses and any activities involving the growing of GM crops whether for commercial […]

In the picture: A BloomSky weather station on display at the Farming2020 event in South Waikato. Fonterra farmers will come together to trial innovative technology that will allow them to take insights from the weather and bring greater precision to New Zealand dairy farms. Fonterra is playing its part in fuelling the revolution of on-farm weather forecasting by working with MetService and BloomSky – a smart weather camera station that delivers hyperlocal weather information in real-time to any laptop, tablet or smartphone. More than 70 BloomSky weather stations will be installed by farmers across the country in the coming months. MetService will use observations from the devices to provide forecasting and greater seasonal insights through data analytics to all users of Agrigate – the online dashboard developed by Fonterra Farm Source and LIC to give farmers the data they need to make faster and smarter decisions. Fonterra farmer Kevin Argyle is trialling the solar-powered ‘SKY2’ device as well as the wireless add-on called ‘Storm’, and has seen first-hand how the BloomSky system measures temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, UV and barometric pressure to give him a detailed view of his farm’s climate. “It really personalises it and enables us to make optimal on-farm decisions,” says Argyle. “People often underestimate the variability within relatively small geographical areas. The other day we had 29 millimetres of rain and a few kilometres down the road they had five. That’s a big difference when you’re thinking about the best time to cultivate a paddock or move stock. “Weather is one of the more significant risks that impacts a farming operation so to have a real-time app that provides insights in terms of what has happened, what the current weather is and what it’s forecast to be for your property has huge potential […]

  New Zealand’s smart hive innovation company, Hivemind, is launching a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to help beekeepers check their hives remotely, and take proactive action to keep their bees safe and happy. The “Hive Strength Monitor with WiFi” campaign aims to develop and commercialise an affordable and accessible WiFi version of Hivemind’s flagship satellite-based Hive Strength Monitor for all beekeepers. It is targeted at responsible beekeepers, commercial pollinators, and honey lovers alike around the world who are committed to keeping all bee colonies happy and strong. Remote bee monitoring saves bees The benefit of the new Hive Strength Monitor with WiFi and Smartphone App is the ability for beekeepers to see from their mobile device that their bees are happy and busy doing what they should be doing – pollination and honey. The system comes with sensors and remote monitoring software that measures bee activity and hive conditions, and alerts beekeepers of changes in, humidity, temperature, and bee numbers. With the hives connected to their own WiFi network, beekeepers can open their Hivemind app to quickly assess the condition and wellbeing of their hives. Large-scale deployments can also install a WiFi hotspot to provide intensive hive monitoring at minimal monthly fees. “Our Hive Strength Monitor can also help beekeepers pick up any early signs of trouble and to act quickly to prevent or minimise both loss of their bees and potential spread of disease,” says Hivemind Director, Berwyn Hoyt. “Any sudden changes in activity or temperature could mean the bees are swarming, or dying off due to disease or hunger, or that the honey from the hives is being robbed by wasps. Hivemind data alerts can allow beekeepers to proactively assess the situation and mitigate any risk to their hives quickly.” After two years in development, the launch of […]