Educational resources for schools & students
Read, listen to, and watch what is happening in Aotearoa New Zealand’s food and fibre sector by scanning the QR codes or following the links. Answer the questions to complete the exercises.
What is Onside?
New Zealand agritech company Onside has been developing an app to simplify safety, operations, communications and on-farm biosecurity on rural properties.
bit.ly/about-Onside
Have a go:
1. What problem was Onside created to solve?
2. How can people’s movements be used to help modelling for biosecurity?
3. What is the arable sector striving to do with the data collected?
Stretch yourself:
4. Ben lists the things that contribute to the success of a start-up business. What are they?
5. Agritech is high value and scalable. What makes it easily scalable?
See more at getonside.com and agritechnz.org.nz
In the news
Why was Macca’s at Fieldays?
McDonald’s (Macca’s) was at Fieldays to give Kiwis an inside look at its food supply chain and to showcase what goes into their shopping basket. bit.ly/fieldays-maccas
Have a go:
1. How much does McDonald’s spend on local ingredients for NZ restaurants?
2. What is the value of NZ produce exported to other McDonald’s markets?
3. How many million kg of NZ cheese and beef was exported to McDonald’s markets in 2022?
Stretch yourself:
4. Why do you think eyebrows were raised when Macca’s was first seen at Fieldays?
5. How many different NZ-grown ingredients used at McDonald’s can you list?
How much feed is needed?
Animal feed demand and pasture supply are looked at in this Agricademy video. After watching the video, complete the online quiz to test your knowledge. bit.ly/break-feed
Have a go:
1. In the New Zealand dairy farming system, the farmer tries to match the amount of grass grown on the farm with the amount of feed needed by the cows at any given time. True or false?
2. What does rotation length mean?
3. As a rule, dry cows need more feed than lactating cows, unless they are pregnant. True or false?
4. A dry cow generally needs how much feed per day?
Stretch yourself:
5. In general, an 8ha paddock would give 400 milking cows, with 200m2 per cow, how much grazing time?
6. What does the farmer usually do if there is not enough grass growing on the farm in winter to feed the cows?
Learn more at agricademy.co.nz
How can an app help farmers with pasture control?
Aimer software is an AI-driven digital assistant and operating system developed by an agritech start-up company, Aimer Farming, to help farmers manage their pasture. bit.ly/pasture-app
Have a go:
1. How will the recent investment boost from Sprout help the company?
2. What other technology does Shane use on his dairy farm?
3. What is meant by a pasture deficit?
4. Why is it important that farmers are able to make informed decisions about pasture?
Stretch yourself:
5. What data does the system use to calculate whether the farm is moving into a pasture surplus or deficit?
6. Why does Shane see new technology being a vital part of attracting and keeping staff?
See more at aimer-farming.com and agritechnz.org.nz
How can farms improve our freshwater?
Piripi Perry-Smith is a farm environmental consultant. In this Opportunity Grows Here video Piripi talks about how he is helping make a difference to our freshwater. bit.ly/freshwater-enviro
Have a go:
1. Why is freshwater sampling important?
2. What does Piripi love about his role?
3. What other benefits can native riparian planting provide in comparison to just planting fast-growing trees?
Stretch yourself:
4. Another common activity for a farm environmental consultant is looking at nutrient budgets, which is a modelled calculation of nutrient losses from a farm. Why do we need to be aware of nutrient losses on farm? How can this affect freshwater?
5. What skills do you think a farm environmental consultant needs so they can bring lasting benefits to the agricultural industry?
Whose responsibility is animal welfare?
Madison Pannett is an Animal Welfare Sector Liaison. Her day-to-day role mainly consists of helping busy farmers in a way that ensures that they can understand and comply with animal welfare rules.
spoti.fi/43NFOGa
Have a go:
1. Who does Madison work for?
2. What does an Animal Welfare Sector Liaison do?
3. The role involves workshops, talking to farmers, as well as attending what kind of events?
4. Whose responsibility is animal welfare?
Stretch yourself:
5. What is a satisfying part of the job?
6. What skill has been honed the most to use in this role?
Did you know?
...is back!
...is back!
Learn about on farm scenarios, use real life case studies and understand what it takes to work in the ag sector in New Zealand. Students also have the opportunity to apply for our Ag&Ed Innovation Challenge, where 20 lucky students will work in teams to address key issues in the ag sector.
Learn about on farm scenarios, use real life case studies and understand what it takes to work in the ag sector in New Zealand. Students also have the opportunity to apply for our Ag&Ed Innovation Challenge, where 20 lucky students will work in teams to address key issues in the ag sector.
Applications are now open!
Applications are now open!
What makes a successful value chain?
The attributes of successful value chains for enterprises exporting products derived from NZ-grown food and fibre are shown in the poster. Look at why they are important.
bit.ly/value-chain-poster
Have a go:
1. What is a value chain?
2. What is collaboration? How does this help create a successful value chain?
3. Think about a sheep farmer and a wheat grower in New Zealand. What might their products be and who are the consumers? Why is it important to know your consumer?
Stretch yourself:
4. How do you think the running of small and medium-sized businesses differ from large corporations?
5. How might the sheep farmer and wheat grower improve the quality of their products?
Learn more at ourlandandwater.nz
RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
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agrihq.co.nz/our-education-resources
Thinking about a career in the primary sector?
Thinking about a career in the primary sector?
Whether you’re just starting out, or looking for that next step, there are education and training options. Some training options are even on the job, which means you’ll upskill and learn while you are earning.
Whether you’re just starting out, or looking for that next step, there are education and training options. Some training options are even on the job, which means you’ll upskill and learn while you are earning.
Other courses are free of charge, or have support options available.
Other courses are free of charge, or have support options available.
