In 1952, Ronald Sharp, a visionary dairy farmer from Gordonton near Hamilton, New Zealand, forever changed the landscape of milking sheds with his revolutionary design known as the herringbone cowshed. This innovative creation not only alleviated the physical strain on dairy farmers but also significantly enhanced the efficiency of milking cows, setting a new standard…
A Bit Of A Dagg
In 1976, Fred Dagg had risen to prominence as a star. During that winter, John Clarke, the mastermind behind Dagg, teamed up with the renowned Big Dagg Band and John Hore (also known as John Grenell) for an immensely successful 52-date tour named ‘A Bit Of A Dagg’. A special half-hour TV presentation, screened in…
Dairying With Deer
Not too quiet but not too flighty… it’s not easy finding the perfect milking deer. This is a big focus at Pāmu’s Aratiatia Deer Milking Unit near Taupō which is finishing its third season extracting creamy, nutritious milk from a mob of red deer. The better-suited hinds have got a little bit of go about…
Milking Water Buffalo
Just south of Auckland, nestled along the shores of the Hauraki Gulf, lies a farm distinguished from the rest in New Zealand. Richard and Helen Dorresteyn, true trailblazers in the local buffalo farming scene, proudly own and operate this unique establishment. Since 2007, they have been at the forefront of buffalo farming in the country,…
Fred Dagg Meets The Prime Minister
The following clip is from a 1975 TV pilot entitled ‘The Wonderful World Of’, which featured John Clarke in various guises, including his iconic Fred Dagg character. Unfortunately the proposed series never happened. In this clip, the then Prime Minister Bill Rowling offers Fred some roadside assistance. Rowling became Prime Minister upon the untimely death…
Ag Assist’s Employment Platform
A possible homegrown solution to the agri-labour pinch, Ag Assist is turning heads in New Zealand’s farming community. Louise Benns, Ag Assist’s marketing manager and a dairy farmer herself, spills the beans on the startup’s journey, highlighting the platform’s straightforward approach, its plans for the future and more. Original story (May 16 2024) features the…