Volume 152 – October 23, 2023
Ag&Ed Educational resources for schools & students
Read, listen to and watch what is happening in New Zealand agriculture by scanning the QR codes or following the links. Answer the questions to complete the exercises. In the news
The big issue
What is the ‘Sheep of the Future’?
What is Kai anamata mō Aotearoa? Researchers and iwi are working together, combining indigenous knowledge and practices with science to look at sustainable nutrition and food affordability. bit.ly/kai-anamata Have a go: 1. How much funding has been attracted by the project and where did the money come from? 2. What is the research project called and what does it aim to achieve? 3. What is the Wakatū Incorporation and where is it based?
Pāmu, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Focus Genetics, a Pāmu subsidiary, with support from AgResearch, have joined forces with a programme focused on selecting animals adapted to the changing environment while maintaining productive performance and lowering emissions. bit.ly/future-sheep Have a go: 1. How long will the programme run for? 2. Who will the programme benefit? 3. What is the vision for the programme? 4. At Pāmu farm Aratiati, what is being measured? Stretch yourself: 5. What is immune competence and why do you think it is important? 6. A method to measure heat tolerance is being developed. Describe how you think heat tolerance could be measured?
Analyse this
Stretch yourself: 4. What is Te Pae Tawhiti? 5. Why is it important to facilitate tikanga-led land use opportunities?
Did you know?
How many ways can trees benefit a farm? A recent study has highlighted various benefits from planting a variety of tree species in pasture, which go beyond erosion control. bit.ly/beyond-erosion Have a go: 1. What is the difference between the three land types in the image? 2. What is a silvopastoral farm system? 3. What type of trees did John and Margret Scrimgeour plant and why? 4. Identify and explain three benefits of tree cover on steep pastoral land. 5. How could trees help maintain milk production on a dairy farm? Stretch yourself: 6. What would you consider when deciding what tree to plant where on a farm?
Where to next for slaughter prices? This graph shows the average South Island prime beef slaughter value. Have a go: 1. What is the latest average South Island prime slaughter value? 2. How does the latest average slaughter price compare to yearago levels and the five-year average? 3. In the time period shown on this graph, what month are values typically at their highest level? 4. If the average for a prime steer or heifer is 300kg CWT (carcase weight), how much would it have been worth at slaughter this time last year ? How much less would the same animal be worth this year? Stretch yourself: 5. Premiums are offered to producers with approved AngusPure Source and Trace tags. Why do you think meat with good traceability is being encouraged? What benefits does this offer consumers?