AgFirst NZ

21/10/2026

🌱 Understand your soils. Understand your risks. Monitor the indicators.📊

Soil damage isn’t just a winter problem. Wet conditions can lead to pugging and surface damage, while machinery and stock pressure can contribute to deeper compaction in drier conditions.

Knowing your soil types and keeping an eye on indicators such as rooting depth, drainage and soil structure can help you make better decisions about grazing, cropping and machinery use.

A little more understanding beneath the surface can go a long way towards protecting long-term farm productivity.🌱🔍

For more information, chat to one of team - find your regional office here: https://www.agfirst.co.nz/contact

20/10/2026

🥝 Setting the crop up for success

Spring is a busy time in the orchard, with shoot rubbing and flower bud thinning underway to help set the crop for the season ahead.

Getting flower bud numbers as close as possible to final crop load targets before flowering helps reduce competition between fruit, supporting better fruit size and quality. The right approach depends on the variety and the goals for each block.

We work alongside growers to make informed management decisions throughout the season, helping set their crop up for success come harvest.

🔴 Building knowledge around Red19

There’s still plenty to learn about getting the best out of Red19, with the Tasman region heading into its third crop this season.

We’re working alongside growers and industry to build knowledge and refine management approaches for this variety, including through the SFF Futures project 'Establish the Red Kiwifruit Centre for Excellence', in partnership with Mainland Kiwifruit Growers Entity.

For more information contact AgFirstNelson - https://www.agfirst.co.nz/offices/nelson

19/10/2026

🐄 Looking for your next role in the dairy industry?

AgFirst’s Kim Robinson shares some helpful advice for both job seekers and recruiters as the new dairy season approaches.

Whether you're looking for your next opportunity or trying to find the right people for your team, it's worth taking a look.

📖 Read Kim’s article in Rural News: https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/dairy-news/dairy-opinion/dairy-job-season-tips-recruiters-applicants-kim-robinson

https://www.agfirst.co.nz/consultants/kim-robinson

Check out our current listings: https://agfirstcareers.qjumpersjobs.co/jobs/dashboard

15/10/2026

Not all water sources are created equal.

Sometimes it’s a hidden spring on a steep Te Kūiti hillside.

Sometimes it’s a mountain water supply that has been wiped out by a flood.

The challenge isn’t just finding water. It’s capturing and moving it in a way that is reliable, environmentally responsible and designed to stand the test of time.

These two recently completed AgFirst solar water supply projects showcase what’s possible when practical farming knowledge meets engineering expertise.

☀️ No mains power required
💧 Reliable water where it’s needed
🌿 Low environmental footprint
🐄 Better outcomes for farming operations

For many hill-country properties, solar pumping can provide a practical, cost-effective way to access water sources that would otherwise be difficult or uneconomic to use.

Every successful system starts with understanding the landscape, the water source and the long-term needs of the farm.

That’s the part we enjoy most! A great result delivered by Project Manager Hayden Aymes and our wider Te Awamutu Engineering team, who have done an excellent job bringing these projects together.

Could solar pumping help create a more reliable water supply on your property? Talk to the AgFirst Engineering team - https://www.agfirst.co.nz/services/engineering

15/10/2026

🐑💰 What does wool really cost to produce, and how does it stack up when it comes to farm profitability?

AgFirst’s Phil Tither has taken a closer look at the numbers, modelling the potential impact of moving from a traditional wool flock to shedding sheep on a Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farm.

The findings highlight the importance of looking beyond wool income to understand the full costs, potential production gains and what they mean for the bottom line.

Read more about Phil’s analysis in CountryWide 👇
🔗 https://country-wide.co.nz/a-closer-look-at-wools-place-in-farm-profitabilty/

15/10/2026

🌿 There's plenty of potential in new farming technology, but how does it stack up in practice?

Through the LIFT Programme, AgFirst is working alongside farmers and industry partners to build a clearer picture of what virtual fencing can deliver on commercial sheep and beef farms. 🐑

The LIFT Programme is underway! 🥳

Nine different farming businesses with one shared goal: understanding what virtual fencing can deliver on commercial sheep and beef farms.

From Northland to Otago, the farms taking part in LIFT represent a wide range of landscapes, ownership models and farming systems.

Over the next two years they will be testing how virtual fencing can support better grazing management, productivity, environmental outcomes and day-to-day farm operations.

LIFT isn't about promoting a product. It's about generating practical evidence under real farming conditions and sharing both the opportunities and challenges along the way. 🚜

Collaring, cattle training and baseline modelling are complete, marking the shift from programme setup to on-farm delivery.

Read more about the farms involved and the next stage of the programme here: https://shorturl.at/bsZbO

13/10/2026

🌱 Persistent weeds or lower-than-expected yields?

Before spending more on sprays or cultivation, have you checked what’s happening beneath the surface?

Soil structure, drainage, rooting depth and pasture composition can all provide clues about what’s holding productivity back.

Understanding your soils helps you identify the underlying issues, rather than just treating the symptoms.

Start with your soil. Get better results.🌿
For more information, chat to one of team - find your regional office here: https://www.agfirst.co.nz/contact

13/10/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Patrick Coogan and all the winners at the 33rd Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards at Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

Patrick received the School of Agriculture and Environment Student Leadership and Service Award, sponsored by AgFirst, recognising his contribution to Massey University and his leadership with the Young Farmers Club.

We’re proud to sponsor this award and support the next generation of leaders in New Zealand’s primary industries. It’s great to see the passion, commitment and talent coming through in our sector.

Congratulations to Patrick and all the award recipients on their achievements! 👏🌱

Read more about the awards: https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/passion-purpose-and-potential-recognised-at-33rd-ag-awards/

09/10/2026

- 🌱 FEED WITH PURPOSE

The question isn't simply how much more milk can be produced with extra feed. It's whether that extra milk is delivering a worthwhile return.

As AgFirst’s Kim Robinson explains, the research points to the importance of letting pasture conditions and feed deficits drive supplementary feeding decisions, rather than simply chasing a higher daily milk figure.

A useful reminder that the best feeding decisions start with understanding what the extra feed is actually achieving.

📖 Read the research - https://www.dairynz.co.nz/news/the-hidden-cost-of-chasing-extra-milk/
🎧 Listen to the full podcast - https://www.dairynz.co.nz/podcast/when-does-extra-feed-stop-paying-its-way-ep-134/

Interested in finding out more:
Contact Kim - https://www.agfirst.co.nz/consultants/kim-robinson

09/10/2026

👋 Meet Hannah!

Hannah grew up on a 1,400-hectare hill country sheep and beef farm in West Waikato, giving her a strong understanding of the realities farmers face and inspiring her to build a career connecting practical farming with environmental science. 🐄🌿

Now an Agribusiness Consultant with AgFirst Waikato, Hannah brings together her farming background and environmental knowledge to help clients navigate compliance, new technology and on-farm decision-making.

Hannah also coordinates our Dairy Systems Monitoring (DSM) and pasture monitoring programmes, turning reliable data into practical insights that farmers can use on farm. 📊✨

What Hannah enjoys most about AgFirst is being part of an approachable, collaborative team where there is always someone willing to share their expertise. She believes technology and AI will continue to make some tasks easier, but nothing can replace trusted relationships, relevant advice, or having a coffee and a good yarn with a farmer. ☕🤝

Outside of work, Hannah enjoys hockey, horses, boating, fishing, tramping and getting back onto the family farm. 🏑🐴🎣