Latest Ruralco News

In 2022/23, FAR investigated the viability of sowing legumes into ryegrass re-growth to a) extend the value of the crop by providing high quality feed, and b) reduce the N fertiliser spend for the next year (nitrogen fertiliser costs frequently make up more than half of farm expenses).

As I write this update, Canterbury’s Port Hills are burning. With evacuations, monsoon buckets, helicopters, tired firefighters, it all feels very familiar after similar events in 2017. For some time, fire risk has been extreme in many areas throughout New Zealand. The silver lining to this has been excellent conditions for grain and seed harvest, with many arable growers keeping up with harvest without the stresses of regular rainfall events leading to tight harvest windows.

As the rural communities of New Zealand grapple with the challenges posed by extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns, the call for climate adaptation is growing louder.

Post-emergence nitrogen helps brassicas meet their yield potential. With a little help, kale, turnips, swedes and other brassica forage crops can provide high yields of quality feed.

There is a lot of pride that comes from working in a sector that has the most emissions efficient dairy farmers in the world.

There is something interesting happening in the back paddock at the Foundation for Arable Research’s Chertsey Arable Research Site.

Corteva™ Agriscience has farmers covered with a suite of post emergence forage brassica herbicides that provide a solution for all situations.

An innovative Canterbury pig farmer and committed industry leader has been recognised for his contribution to New Zealand’s pork sector with an Industry Lifetime Achievement award.

As Canterbury irrigators settle in for one of the longest irrigation seasons ever, prospects for electricity prices to fall are not looking promising.

For the next three months we are looking at the final sprays for finishing off our cereal and grass seed crops, getting our silos cleaned up before harvest, continuing our post emergence sprays on fodder beet, pre and post emergence sprays on forage brassicas and weed control in new pasture.