Educational resources for schools & students
Read, listen to and watch what is happening in New Zealand agriculture by scanning the QR codes or following the links. Answer the questions to complete the exercises.
In the news
Can slash be used to enhance soil?
Biochar might help landowners and local authorities deal with slash from Cyclone Gabrielle. bit.ly/biochar-soil
Have a go:
1. What is biochar and how is it produced?
2. How many cubic metres of slash and waste have been produced in the Gisborne region alone due to Cyclone Gabrielle?
3. Incinerator technology is developing rapidly. How much biochar can be produced from four to five tonnes of biomass in an eight-hour day?
4. What are three benefits of biochar processing?
Stretch yourself:
5. How does biochar help improve soil?
6. Other than forestry slash, what other types of biological waste are in our river systems?
Watch this
How are the Crutchleys adapting their farm?
Emma Crutchley’s family have been farming on Puketoi Station in Central Otago since 1939. Watch this Ag Matters video to see how they have been adapting to recent challenges.
bit.ly/adapting-farm
Have a go:
1. How much rainfall does Puketoi Station receive each year?
2. Why is it helpful to be able to list the things both in and out of your control when solving a problem?
3. What percentage of NZ’s greenhouse gas emissions are produced by agriculture?
4. List all the changes Emma mentions in the video that have been made at Puketoi station.
Stretch yourself:
5. Why do you think celebrating achievements and focusing on small improvements is so important?
6. Emma says that ‘we have no control over the cards we are dealt, but we can decide how we play the cards’. Explain how this relates to farm business decisions.
Have a listen
What can be done in spring to improve milk quality?
In this Seasonal Focus podcast, Farm Source Milk Programme Lead Daniel Heine and senior veterinary manager Michael Shallcrass discuss what farmers can do during spring to optimise milk quality for the rest of the season. lnkiy.in/milkquality
Have a go:
1. What premium is paid by Fonterra if 30 days of a milk quality excellence rating is achieved during the season?
2. What is somatic cell count a measure of? What can it indicate about animal health?
3. What are some things that farmers can do in spring to minimise bacteria on teats?
4. List the simple good practices all farmers should be doing to improve milk quality.
Stretch yourself:
5. Why are the first few milkings a particularly important period for udder health?
6. Explain the difference between subclinical mastitis and clinical mastitis.
The big issue
What really bugs NZ about eating insects?
Insects can provide a useful additional protein source. Would you eat them?
bit.ly/eating-insects
Have a go:
1. NZ has one major insect protein supplier. Where is it located?
2. When selecting food, what things do consumers consider?
3. Insects are an alternative protein source to red meat. What are some other alternative protein sources?
4. Where are the most likely opportunities for NZ in the insect protein market?
Stretch yourself:
5. What is a ‘niche market’?
6. What is your opinion about the future of the insect protein market, both in NZ and globally?