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Dung – particularly in water – is bad news. Faecal bacteria and pathogens can cause disease in people. Faecal contamination is monitored using E. coli (Escherichia coli) as an “indicator” organism. E. coli is a type of bacteria commonly found in the guts of warm-blooded mammals (including people) and birds. … Where does excess E. coli in our waterways come from? Common sources of E. coli bacteria include untreated human wastewater discharges, storm water run-off and animal waste. Faecal …

The Kellogg Rural Leadership programme is a modern delivery platform designed to expand scholars’ ‘contextual intelligence’ and the critical thinking required for effective leadership. … To apply for this scholarship, please complete the online application form by Monday 7 October, 2024. … The Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme has been developing leaders for the rural and agri-food sector since 1979.  … The six-month course includes 18 days of programmed content delivered in three …

To improve parasite management decision-making, new diagnostic tests are being developed to provide faster, more detailed information allowing farmers to make quicker, more informed choices. … Background: Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are a significant concern for livestock health in New Zealand. Effective management of these parasites requires accurate monitoring to determine which treatment tools to use. Currently, the Faecal Egg Count (FEC) test is commonly used to assess worm burden. …

Previous research has shown that sowing a catch crop can reduce nitrate leaching losses by as much as 40%, as well as improving nitrogen use efficiency and farmers’ profitability. This project aimed to upscale this previous applied research into working winter crop rotations in Canterbury and Southland and adapt it to the various soil and climatic conditions. … Background The use of catch crops is recognised as a potential tool to help reduce farmers’ nitrate leaching losses but without good …

Agricultural and horticultural land occupy more than 40% of New Zealand, meaning there is significant pressure on farmers to manage the effects of their land use on water quality – and that includes managing stock near water. As well as the obvious action of keeping stock out of waterways this also involves management of the land near waterways or where there are transport pathways that could transport contaminants to water. … Benefits of keeping stock out of waterways As a farmer, keeping …

Find out how New Zealand’s sheep and beef farms are expected to perform this year – and how they’ve performed in the past. Farm management performance indicators are summarised by farm, hectare, stock unit, region, and farm class. They include balance sheet analysis. For comparison purposes, the spreadsheets include 10 years of sheep and beef farm data including the latest forecast. For quintile analysis, go to  Benchmark your farm . To benchmark the profitability of your own farm, try BLNZ’s …

Careful planning for winter allows you to winter animals in a way that ensures the highest standards of animal welfare are maintained and environmental risks are mitigated. … When planning for winter, careful thought needs to be given to: 1. Paddock/Grazing Management When you’re standing at the gate considering how best to feed your crop, here are some factors to consider: Feed planning  – how many animals will this crop feed and for how long. Consider using the B+LNZ FeedSmart app. This app …

Discover how our research is driving improvements in animal health and productivity, transforming parasite management, and eliminating the impacts of facial eczema. … Animal health and productivity research …

This page provides information for preparing for and responding to floods, including factsheets, and links to websites and organisations that can help provide you with support. … Factsheets for preparing for a flood, recovering from a flood and health & safety post-flood Developed in response to previous flood events, these three factsheets – Preparing for a Flood, Recovering from a Flood, and Health and Safety Post-Flood – are guidelines to help farmers prepare for rain events and deal with …

Freshwater ecosystem health includes a waterway’s aquatic life, physical habitat, water quality and water flow patterns. This helps determine the overall state of the freshwater system. There are a range of indicators of ecosystem health in a waterway which include stream life, water quality and habitat. … There are a range of methods for assessing ecosystem health and quality of waterways. It can be valuable to do some checking yourself as well as engage a specialist to help with these …