Gerald Piddock

Waikato

Senior Reporter at Farmers Weekly (Feilding, NZ)

Hamilton- based reporter for NZ Farmers Weekly

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Articles

Whey protein a booster for flu vaccine, company says

1 week ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 2 minutesTrials have shown the potential of a whey protein ingredient developed by Hamilton company Quantec to enhance the body’s response to the influenza vaccination. The trial of Immune Defence Proteins (IDP) revealed that participants who supplemented with IDP showed enhanced levels of influenza antibodies post-vaccination.
Farmers hope Cyclone Tam is a drought breaker

1 week ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 3 minutesWet holiday weather could be the perfect Easter gift for farmers across the North Island still recovering from the drought. Heavy rain from Cyclone Tam could be enough to finally break the drought that has gripped much of the country. The storm comes on top of the earlier low that hit the country in early April and saw as much as 50-80mm fall across some dry regions – but miss others.
Halter’s new features jump the fence

1 week ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 2 minutesHalter has unveiled multiple upgrades to its software in an effort to help farmers run better and more sustainable businesses. The six new features are in direct response to farmer feedback, giving them more data across milk production, mating and feed budgeting. More than 1000 farmers managing over 300,000 animals in New Zealand, Australia and the United States are using Halter’s collars and its app to increase production by growing and harvesting more grass.
Trump tariff war likely to put pressure on fertiliser prices

1 week ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe likelihood of upward pricing pressure on fertiliser in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war has Ballance Agri Nutrients warning farmers they will not be able to hold current prices for much longer. Ballance general manager customer Jason Minkhorst said they are holding fertiliser prices for as long as possible as farmers recover from drought.
DairyNZ sets new levy rate

2 weeks ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 2 minutesDairyNZ has set a new levy rate of 4.5 cents per kilogram of milksolids with the aim of keeping it at no more than this rate for a minimum of three years. It is the first time in 16 years that DairyNZ has changed its levy, and the new rate will begin from June 1. The decision came after a month-long consultation with farmers across the country including online and in-person meetings. From that, DairyNZ received1588 formal feedback submissions.
Research aims to improve understanding of NZ peat soils

2 weeks ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 2 minutesIt takes a team article embed form Work is underway by scientists to better understand drained peat soils and identify solutions to the greenhouse gas emissions they cause. The work will help improve greenhouse gas emissions accounting and identify where mitigation opportunities are, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research senior researcher Jack Pronger said in a webinar hosted by the organisation.
Confidence builds as Fieldays fast approaches

2 weeks ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 3 minutesAttendee feedback along with a favourable economic outlook has made Fieldays staff quietly confident about the success of this year’s event. Speaking at a media briefing, Fieldays head of customer and strategic engagement Taryn Storey said their feedback showed there had been quite a shift in 2023-2024 in terms of motivations for why people attended Fieldays. This shift shows there is a more purposeful attendee than what has been seen prior.
Dairy staff retention key to better on-farm gains

3 weeks ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 3 minutesStaff retention continues to be a real challenge in the dairy sector, farmers heard at the fourth and final People Expo held in Waikato run by DairyNZ and Dairy Women’s Network. A farmer perception survey undertaken by DairyNZ at the end last year showed that 13% of farms are understaffed, which DairyNZ people specialist Jane Muir called “not a great result” in the current economic climate.
Rain welcomed in drought-hit regions, but a lot more needed

3 weeks ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: 3 minutesSome drought-stricken farmers across the country have received rain, but more is needed to reduce soil moisture deficits and restore water tables. While the low front that brought rain to parts of the South Island and much of the North Island is a welcome reprieve, at least a month’s worth of rain is needed across Waikato, the region’s Federated Farmers president Keith Holmes said. The region needs at least 70mm just to penetrate the soil after evapotranspiration.
Volunteers needed for this year’s Fieldays

3 weeks ago | farmersweekly.co.nz | Gerald Piddock

Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe New Zealand National Fieldays Society has put out a plea for volunteers to help run this year’s event, which takes place from June 11-14 at Mystery Creek, south of Hamilton. Organisers are currently 48 people short of the 150 required every year to run Fieldays. The minimum age to volunteer for Fieldays is 16. Volunteers are part of the fabric of the event, Fieldays head of customer and strategic engagement Taryn Storey said.