M. bovis testing

Results from the current national bulk milk testing for Mycoplasma bovis are encouraging with only three farms confirmed with the disease and more than 51,000 of the about 70,000 tests completed. Full results from the bulk milk testing are expected to be delivered to most farmers early next month.

Field trip on

Tropical Fruit Growers of New Zealand (TFGNZ) plan a field trip to Lynwood Avocado Nurseries, 701 State Highway 14 at Maunu on the western outskirts of Whanga¯rei at 11am on November 25. TFGNZ will also have stand space at the Bay of Islands Show at Waimate North on Saturday and at the Whangarei A&P Show on December 1. The group seeks banana stems from overgrown banana patches. Phone Hugh Rose 09 9727727, 027 4391572 or email hugh@prose.co.nz.

Eco-N could come back

Eco-N, a nitrification inhibitor product developed by Lincoln University in partnership with Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-op Ltd which was taken off the market after residues of the active component Dicyandiamide was found in milk powder, could be cleared for use again on New Zealand pastures. Ravensdown says there’s now a chance world regulatory authorities, including NZ’s Ministry for Primary Industries, might ratify an agreement mid-2019 to set rules for a maximum residual level for a range of benign compounds in food products.