Real Communications - Latest News [Page 1]
Rare Species Discovered At Bennetts Stream Restoration Site
Monday, 30 September 2024, 5:08 pm | Real Communications
The recent discovery has prompted WIL biodiversity project lead Dan Cameron to consider further investigations to understand what other species could be living in Bennetts Stream & how their lifecycles interact with the unique nature of an ephemeral stream ... More >>
Students Plant Over 500 Native Seedlings For Biodiversity Project
Friday, 7 June 2024, 5:35 pm | Real Communications
A group of year 5 Swannanoa School students saw their yearlong native seedling project come to fruition when they planted their seedlings at Brian and Rosemary Whyte’s Swannanoa farm in North Canterbury last month. More >>
Connectivity Key To Waimakariri Biodiversity Project
Friday, 7 June 2024, 5:32 pm | Real Communications
The project was launched in 2018 after 297 sites of ecological interest were identified across the irrigation scheme’s 44,000-hectare command area. More >>
New Environmental Manager Focuses On Challenges And Opportunities
Wednesday, 14 February 2024, 6:21 pm | Real Communications
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Wamakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL). Ben is the first full-time internal environmental manager ... More >>
Over 2000 Plants Grown For Biodiversity Project
Monday, 22 January 2024, 12:17 pm | Real Communications
A nursery initiative to empower Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) shareholders to grow their own native seedlings has proven successful with over 2000 plants grown during the last two years at Brian and Rosemary Whyte’s Swannanoa farm. Waimakariri ... More >>
Creating A Resource-rich Ecosystem Along The Burgess Stream
Thursday, 7 December 2023, 2:46 pm | Real Communications
Over the last three years, 4500 native plants have been planted along a 2.5 kilometre stretch of the Burgess Stream which winds through Andrew and Peter Gilchrist’s 430-hectare farming operation in Swannanoa. It is the first freshwater site selected ... More >>
Ice Cream Stop Leads To Alpaca Farm
Thursday, 7 December 2023, 2:41 pm | Real Communications
A chance encounter after stopping for ice cream in Ashburton 18 years ago led Eyrewell Forest couple Sue and Peter Forbes to discover a passion for alpacas. “We lived in Woodend at the time and were thinking about a change during a holiday down south. ... More >>
Chance Encounter Creates Successful Venture
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 4:35 pm | Real Communications
After spotting a Clydesdale at the 1995 Oxford A&P Show, Margo Vliet Vlieland turned to her husband Alan and told him, “I want one of those horses with the fluffy feet for my next horse.” Alan Vliet Vlieland with Goldenlane Nova (two months old) ... More >>
Integrated Farm Plan Boosts Business Structure
Monday, 17 July 2023, 6:44 pm | Real Communications
Integrated Farm Plan (IFP) lead consultant Paul Reese discusses IFP outcomes with Swannanoa farmer Andrew Gilchrist. Swannanoa farmer Andrew Gilchrist has delved deep into the business and people side of his family-operated farm through completing ... More >>
Underground Irrigation Trial Boosts Efficiency
Wednesday, 21 June 2023, 11:25 am | Real Communications
Gary and Penny Robinson have received positive feedback on water use efficiency and increased grass growth from Maniototo sharemilker, Luke Jeffries, after installing a Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) system on the Central Otago farm. Penny and Gary ... More >>
Genomic Data Empowers Decision-making
Friday, 16 June 2023, 4:31 pm | Real Communications
Over the past two years, Fernside farmer Julie Bradshaw has refined her dairy herd size through the use of genomics while maintaining the same level of milk production. Julie has been participating in a Next Generation Farming project designed to help ... More >>
Farm Viability Improved Through Precision Agriculture
Monday, 12 June 2023, 7:34 pm | Real Communications
Reduced input costs and nitrogen fertiliser use, along with improved environmental outcomes are key benefits realised by Roscoe Taggart over the last two years on his family’s 730 hectare arable and sheep farm in Cust. Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart ... More >>
Maintaining Milk Production With Fewer Cows
Monday, 24 April 2023, 6:29 pm | Real Communications
Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw has reduced her herd size by 15 cows while maintaining the same milk production levels using genomic information provided by Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) that enables her to make informed decisions ... More >>
Subsurface Drip Irrigation Trial Gains Momentum
Monday, 17 April 2023, 11:56 am | Real Communications
Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson have advanced their Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) trial with positive feedback from farmers following field days at trial blocks in North Canterbury and Central Otago. The system is also being installed at Linwood ... More >>
N Sensor Provides Environmental And Economic Benefits
Tuesday, 11 April 2023, 11:05 am | Real Communications
Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart has reduced his use of nitrogen fertiliser by approximately 80 kilograms this season through trialling a Yara N sensor on his family’s 730 hectare arable and sheep farm over the past two years. More >>
Data Gathering Focus For Subsurface Irrigation Trial
Tuesday, 13 December 2022, 9:57 am | Real Communications
Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson are anticipating a season of “data collection” after installing a subsurface drip irrigation system on an 18-hectare block of land which is part of a 260-hectare farm in Maniototo, Central Otago. They ... More >>
Innovation Drives Creation Of World’s First Zero Fossil Fuel Orchard
Monday, 7 November 2022, 1:51 pm | Real Communications
GSI Partners Christchurch director Sean Lysaght, Vero executive manager of rural insurance solutions Sonya Whitney and Forest Lodge Orchard’s owner Mike Casey worked together to create an innovative insurance policy which covers Mike’s 100 per cent ... More >>
Genetics Focus Improves Dairy Herd
Tuesday, 26 July 2022, 3:19 pm | Real Communications
A strong focus on genetics and DNA has paid dividends for Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw with four of her cows being selected for Livestock Improvement Corporation’s (LIC’s) breeding programme. A passion for genetics has paid off for Fernside farmer ... More >>
Testing Establishes Exact Fertiliser Needs
Friday, 22 July 2022, 5:02 pm | Real Communications
Investing in a handheld nitrogen tester and using variable rate nitrogen fertiliser has enabled Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart to significantly reduce the amount of fertiliser he applies to his family’s 730-hectare arable and sheep operation which has resulted ... More >>
Baseline Set For Subsurface Irrigation Trial
Monday, 18 July 2022, 12:15 pm | Real Communications
While Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson are disappointed not to have collected the data they were hoping for from their subsurface drip irrigation trial due to a wet summer, the couple have established a baseline for the next irrigation season ... More >>