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FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U E N E R P
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Volume 27 I October 5th, 2020 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz • At about one-year-old, lambs start growing their adult teeth beginning with a pair of incisors which is often referred to as ‘cutting their teeth’. After this, they grow a pair of incisors every year until they have four pairs. 1 Go the AgriHQ market snapshot page 2 What was the North Island mutton price last week? 3 How is this tracking compared to year-ago levels?
• On October 1, processors begin to check lambs mouths. If the lamb has ‘cut its teeth’ then they will be classed as mutton which significantly reduces the value. Last week the average NI mutton schedule was $2.30/kg below lamb.
did you know?
STRETCH YOURSELF:
In your paper
Our Waterways
2 What do you think has been the main driver in the weight difference of lambs between this season and last season?
Samples from around NZ in the last 10 years show that our rivers are not fearing fantastically. The evidence shows that urban based waterways have the poorest water quality, with a large proportion of catchments dominated by pasture also under pressure. The samples with the best quality were gained from sites surrounded by native bush. Read the article “Waterway health under pressure” in this week's edition. We are currently hearing a lot of information regarding water regulations for farming but the reality is that it is going to take all Kiwi’s, including those in urban areas. How can we raise awareness of the need for better interventions to promote healthier waterways? Especially for those people that perhaps do not ever/or hardly ever see or experience a river for themselves? How do we show everyone that what we all do day to day has an impact on our waterways?
3 Looking at last year and the five-year average, what month would you expect the carcass weight to peak?
We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas, please send them through to agined@globalhq.co.nz
This graph shows the NZ average lamb carcass weight in kg. The amount of meat from an animal will be much different than the weight of that live animal. The carcass weight (CWT) refers to the weight after the wool/skin, internal organs, and often the head has been removed.
1 How is the average carcass weight tracking compared to last year?
HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE New Zealand horticulture is a significant player in the global market. New Zealand growers’ productivity and innovation is making a real difference to the rate of growth of this sector. Massey University plays a vital role in educating new people joining the industry by providing the only Horticultural Science degree in NZ. Second year horticulture students grow their own strawberry crop hydroponically using Nutrient Film technique (NFT). They learn the basic principles of the system, how to manage and manipulate different factors to gain maximum return from their crop, as well as dealing with frequently encountered problems. They then perform sensory evaluation of different cultivars.
“Monday has been my favourite day of the week this semester because I get to grow, learn and of course, eat these beautiful strawberries ! Nothing brings me more joy than walking into my Hort lab, smelling the beautiful produce and seeing the bright red colour” - Sre Gaythri is a 2nd year
2 Find and watch the OnFarm Story of Laura Douglas “You've gotta be like a windmill” and read the accompanying article “Passion for farming, women’s empowerment ”. 3 What was Laura's business before Covid-19 hit NZ shores? 4 Where in NZ is Laura based?
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 In addition to running Real Country Laura also ran short courses. What were these called and what did they involve ? 2 The Harpurs own Fairlight Station and a number of other local and international business interests, what are these? Why are they interested in investing in farm training? 3 How big is Fairlight Station? What stock is carried on the farm? 4 What is the Fairlight Foundation? What is their aim? Do you think that there is a need in NZ for more of these types of programs? If yes, what sorts of programs do you think would be of use? If no, why do you think that more of these types of training are not needed?
Share your AginEd photos on our Farmers Weekly facebook page • The average strawberry has 200 seeds • Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside which technically does not qualify them as a “berry” • Strawberries may be white, blue/purple, yellow/golden as well as red/pink • There are more than 600 varieties of strawberries in the world • Strawberries, as part of a 5-a-day fruit & vegetable program, can help reduce the risk of cancer & heart attacks
AgriCommerce student doing a minor in Horticultural science WANT TO LEARN THE SCIENCE BEHIND GROWING OUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES?
1 Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz
Check out the Bachelor of Horticultural Science www.massey.ac.nz/bhort, or find Massey Hort Society FB: www.facebook.com/masseyhortsociety or Twitter: twitter.com/MasseyHort
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