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FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U E N E R P
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Volume 30 I October 27th, 2020 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz This graph (left) shows the AgriHQ average South Island prime slaughter price.
1 The graph begins with October as this marks the beginning of a new season in New Zealand. What is the $/kg difference between this October and the same time last season?
1 Go the AgriHQ market snapshot page 2 What was the North Island steer price last week? 3 How is this tracking compared to year-ago levels?
STRETCH YOURSELF:
2 Values have been below the five-year average since the end of January when supply of prime cattle to the processors lifted above typical levels. Thinking back to February this year, what do you think was behind the high supply and consequently lower schedule prices? Hint: What were feed levels like for many regions in New Zealand?
What is ‘marbled meat’?
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WO S
c a n y ou u
nj u mb
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Hint: they all relate to growing and harvesting
e s e w or d s ?
REAP WHAT Y O
Cattle typically either carry their fat in a thick outer layer or marbled intramuscularly throughout their meat. Marbled beef is preferred for top quality steaks as the fat melts as it cooks, making the finished product more tender. Some breeds of cattle such as Wagyu are more likely to produce marble meat.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. HNSIAVTGRE
6. RINAG
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2. TLAPN
7. INGARORIIT
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3. MGEITNORIAN
8. STYCHE
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4. ESSDE
9. FDIEL
2 Find and watch the OnFarm Story of “Big discussions at the dinner table” and read the article “Kiwi’s quinoa dream now a reality”.
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3 Where do Jacqui and Dan Cottrell farm?
5. ORCPS
10. EDIYL
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1 Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz
4 What else do the Cottrells farm?
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 What made the Cottrells decide to try growing Quinoa? 2 How did they work out what the best type of Quinoa would be for their needs?
NEW ZEALAND SEED SECTOR
Photographs: aerial view of brassica crop; bee on onion flower
Did you know that New Zealand’s agricultural and horticultural sectors are based almost entirely on species of plants that are not naturally found in New Zealand? Plants like kiwifruit, apples and the plants our cows and sheep eat, such as ryegrass and clover, have been brought to New Zealand. These plants have been modified through breeding programmes to create plant varieties that are better suited to New Zealand’s farming systems. The need to develop varieties suitable for New Zealand farming conditions has led to a strong and vibrant New Zealand seed industry. This industry began by multiplying seed for sowing pastures. The industry now also produces seed for the vegetable crops such as the peas, beets and onions we eat. From meeting domestic needs the New Zealand seed sector has expanded to become a significant contributor to New Zealand’s agricultural and horticultural exports. New Zealand produces over half the world’s radish seed.
1 Find and read the Farmers Weekly article on succeeding into the future (https://farmersweekly.co.nz/section/ arable/view/succeeding-into-the-future) 2 What other vegetable seed crop does New Zealand supply over 50% of the world’s production. 3 What advantages does New Zealand have for seed production?
Linseed (left) and Castor bean
• Seeds have been used for millennia for purposes other than growing plants. Linseed (Linum usitatissimum) was used by ancient Egyptians for embalming.
3 What was it about their property that made Dan believe that it could suit Quinoa growth? 4 What have they found the main challenges to be in growing and harvesting Quinoa? 5 Jacqui and Dan have made changes to other aspects of their farming business, drawing on experiences learnt through growing and promoting their own products. What are these?
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• Seeds have been used to commit murder. In 1978 ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans (Ricinus communis) was used to murder Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov using a modified umbrella.
Want to learn more about the science behind seeds and their use in New Zealand agriculture and horticulture? Check out the Bachelor of Agricultural Science www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/programme-course/ programme.cfm?prog _ id=93425 and the Bachelor of Horticultural Science www.massey.ac.nz/massey/ learning/programme-course/programme.cfm?prog _ id=93578. Answers to word scramble:
1. Harvesting 2. Plant 3. Germination 4. Seeds 5. Crops 6. Grain 7. Irrigation 8. Scythe 9. Field 10. Yield