4th August 2026 // Rural News

Research confirms plantain cuts nitrogen leaching by a third on dairy farms DairyNZ releases six election priorities ahead of November vote Timaru-bred bull claims 2026 Mahoe Trophy WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command ‘Play CountryWide Connect’ on Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Apple: https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&hl=en_NZ Research confirms plantain cuts nitrogen leaching by a third on dairy farms New research from a four-year Lincoln University trial has delivered the strongest evidence yet that plantain can significantly reduce nitrogen losses from dairy farms without affecting milk production or farm profitability. The trial found annual nitrate leaching was reduced by an average of thirty-three percent in pastures containing around seventeen percent plantain dry matter, compared with standard ryegrass and white clover pastures. Milk production, herbage output and silage use remained consistent across both treatments. DairyNZ senior project manager Kate Fransen says the reductions achieved are more than double those predicted by current models — plantain's high water content dilutes urine concentration, and its nutritional makeup also diverts more nitrogen into faeces and milk rather than urine. Crucially, relatively low plantain content of ten to fifteen percent still delivered consistent leaching reductions. Maintenance costs for partner farmers run around forty-six dollars per hectare per year. DairyNZ aims to have plantain's additional benefits reflected in modelling tools like Overseer by 2028. DairyNZ releases six election priorities ahead of November vote Meanwhile DairyNZ is calling on political parties to commit to six practical policy priorities ahead of November's election, saying clear and predictable policy settings are essential for farmers to keep investing in productivity and sustainability. The priorities cover resource management and freshwater, biosecurity, workforce capability, science and innovation, rural infrastructure, low-emissions technology and animal welfare. DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown says the dairy sector generates more than twenty-eight-point-six billion dollars in export earnings annually and directly employs around fifty-one-thousand-eight-hundred people. She says when farmers have confidence in the policy environment they invest — and when they don't, innovation slows. Brown says backing dairy isn't just about supporting farmers — it's about strengthening regional communities and growing the wider economy. Timaru-bred bull claims 2026 Mahoe Trophy A Holstein Friesian bull bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru has claimed the 2026 Mahoe Trophy, the annual award recognising New Zealand's top Holstein Friesian sire. The bull achieved the highest overall score of three-hundred-and-eighty-five points across production, conformation, management and daughter performance traits. LIC Livestock Selection Manager Kelli Buckley says the win is a testament to the long-term vision and patience underpinning successful breeding. Tony O'Connor says it's especially meaningful — the bull is a grandson of an exceptional brood cow that left many outstanding female descendants, and to see a male line recognised in this way is particularly rewarding. The bull was bred through the Discovery Project, a collaboration between Holstein Friesian New Zealand and LIC established in 2004. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.