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Edible bale wrap, RamRacks and edge clearers among innovations featured at New Zealand trade show

Edible bale wrap, RamRacks and edge clearers among innovations featured at New Zealand trade show

They can claim credit for inventing the milking machine (Norman John Daysh) and electric fencing (Bill Gallagher), so it's worth keeping an eye on New Zealand's agricultural innovations.
Some of the latest and most exciting of which were on show this year's Fieldays 2025, where the innovation awards are an important part of this event, billed as the biggest agricultural trade show in the southern hemisphere.
One of the entries for the awards is an attachable digger arm, which can give a 1.8t digger the reach of a five-tonner. The extender can be fitted to an existing digger in the 1.8-20t range. The extended reach can be particularly useful when using a small digger in a confined space.
The inventor of the Excavator Folding Extension is Bryan Cleland of Bryscorah Ltd, and he suggests practical uses such as cutting a tree from the top down, horticultural hedge trimming, and residential trench work.
"I have used it where a larger machine would not have been able to reach," he said.
His invention is one of 63 in the innovation awards. Participants vie for a share of €40,000 worth of cash prizes, services, and help to launch or accelerate new products.
Many New Zealand innovations are somewhat unique to the territory (such as the aerial topdressing, which John Chaytor first did in 1906, using a hot air balloon to spread seed over a swamped valley).
Perhaps the modern equivalent is inventors responding to New Zealand's unique biodiversity crisis caused by invasive predators, primarily rats, stoats, cats, and possums, which prey on native species and damage ecosystems. The Department of Conservation aims to eradicate these predators by 2050 to protect New Zealand's unique wildlife.
Predator traps
The country is a world leader in predator eradication, using techniques like trapping and poisoning to remove invasive species. That's why Fieldays is a good place to find the latest in animal traps.
NZAutoTraps manufactures self-resetting predator traps for multiple species. They are mostly powered by rechargeable batteries, but their solar panel-powered AT220-XL can be left in place for at least 18 months without recharging. Other traps may need to be serviced after four to six months, to recharge the battery or refill with bait. Electronic sensors may need to be cleaned.
Some traps have artificial intelligence technology to make them species-specific, in order to protect species such as the kea bird, the world's only alpine parrot.
Other New Zealand innovations are more familiar to Irish farmers because they are designed for the country's large livestock industries, which have a lot in common with Ireland's grass-based livestock industries.
Beef snacks
They share problems, such as unwanted non-replacement dairy calves. In New Zealand, some of these calves end up in Mīti snacks. An 84g snack contains 20 grams of 10-month-old dairy beef, plus honey, a smoky flavour from the native Kānuka plant, and other locally sourced natural flavourings and condiments.
Mīti is New Zealand's first export-ready, shelf-stable young-beef snack.
For emissions-conscious consumers, it has up to 48% lower carbon emissions than conventional beef. No artificial preservatives are used.
Mīti is an entrant for an early-stage innovation award.
Another early-stage innovation award entrant is Kiwi-Econet, an edible bale net to replace plastic net.
Biodegradable and edible by livestock, it reduces the environmental impact and the carbon footprint of plastic netting.
Nutritious and safe when consumed by livestock, the edible net wrap reduces the labour and expense of traditional wrap removal and disposal, because you don't have to remove it when livestock are feeding on the bale.
RamRack carrying device
Sheep farmers here may appreciate the thought that went into the RamRack, a collapsible, adjustable carrying device attached to the front of a quad bike, easily raised and lowered by a hand winch rated to lift 100 kg.
It folds out flat for easy loading of, for example, a sheep, or awkward, heavy loads such as drench containers, seed sacks, mineral blocks, wheels, fence posts, etc.
It extends quad bike carrying capacity, while safely securing animals (live or dead) for transportation, with two fail-safe locking mechanisms to eliminate the chance of load release during travel. It could even be used to immobilise sheep for treatment.
Another innovation on show at Fieldays, which will interest Irish farmers, is the Landquip LaneRotr R1, a tractor-mounted hydraulic rotary machine designed to clear the edges of farm roads. It removes roadway edge build-up to improve drainage off the road. With a working speed of 1.5km per hour, it can be used to clear up to 5km of road edges daily.
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Watch: ABP marks 10 years of research at demo farm
Watch: ABP marks 10 years of research at demo farm

Agriland

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  • Agriland

Watch: ABP marks 10 years of research at demo farm

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Leaving Cert Diary 2025: We say slán to Irish and goodbye Biology!
Leaving Cert Diary 2025: We say slán to Irish and goodbye Biology!

RTÉ News​

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  • RTÉ News​

Leaving Cert Diary 2025: We say slán to Irish and goodbye Biology!

As we say slán to Irish, it means that the mandatory subjects are out of the way. It was still a long slog those sitting Irish Paper 2 and Biology. We are here with another instalment of the Leaving Cert Diary series, with thanks to our friends at the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU). Rónán is a sixth year student and Irish language activist based in Wicklow, and he is back again today to chat Paper 2. But, first we hear from Galway student Michaela who sat Biology this evening. Don't forget to take a break while you can, and if you want any tips for the remaining subjects, plus lots more besides visit RTÉ Learn. Walking into the Biology exam today, I don't think I've ever been as nervous. Biology is one of those subjects where the paper can either be your best friend or your worst nightmare. As someone who's passionate about the subject and hoping to become a Biology teacher in the future, I was really hoping the paper would go my way. Thankfully, it did - for the most part. From the moment I opened the paper, I let out a quiet sigh of relief. The short questions were a lovely start, covering topics like photosynthesis and food - two areas I'd spent a lot of time revising. They're some of my favourite topics, and seeing them right at the beginning gave me a huge confidence boost. In Section B, I tackled the ecology question and the experiment on osmosis. I was genuinely delighted to see osmosis appear. It's always been one of the easier experiments for me to understand and explain, and it felt like a reward for the hours I'd put into preparing for all the practicals. Ecology can sometimes be a bit unpredictable, but I felt I managed it well this time. That said, the paper wasn't without its tricky moments. Some questions, particularly in Section C, were worded in ways that made me pause and think carefully. But I stayed calm and reminded myself to trust the work I'd done. I was really pleased to be able to answer questions on three of my favourite topics: the skeletal system, the circulatory system, and homeostasis. These are the parts of Biology that really sparked my interest in the subject, and getting the chance to write about them in detail felt like things had come full circle. Overall, I'm absolutely thrilled. After all the time, stress, and effort, it felt like everything came together when it counted. The exam challenged me, but I felt prepared. Today reaffirmed why I love Biology so much, and it made me even more excited about my future career. I walked out of the exam hall smiling, knowing that my hard work had truly paid off. It's Rónán arís with his blog on Irish Paper 2... There was a quiet focus this morning as students opened Paper 2 of the Irish exam, a paper that was both challenging and fair. The general reaction was relief, with just a few moments of confusion where wording would have pushed students' vocabulary to their limits. The first léamhthuiscint paid tribute to Rory Gallagher, marking thirty years since the legendary guitarist's death. A fitting inclusion that offered a blend of culture and history in a way that felt fresh and thoughtful. The second reading comprehension took on sport in Ireland, highlighting key themes like recognition for athletes, the growing role of women in sport, and the continued need for government investment. Prose followed the predictions closely. Hurlamaboc gave us another look at Lisín, ever polished and endlessly in control. Oisín i dTír na nÓg returned too, asking students to examine the hero caught between two worlds and one that many had prepared for. Poetry brought another wave of reassurance. Colscaradh and An Spailpín Fánach came with reliable questions, giving students a chance to settle into familiar territory. Then came the filíocht breise, and with it was a twist. I had joked yesterday that if Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire appeared, I'd be ag caoineadh myself, hoping for Colmáin which hasn't appeared on the paper since 2019. At first glance, the Caoineadh question looked daunting. The language was weighty, which fits the poem itself. But with a steady approach and a good grasp of its emotional depth, it was very much achievable. This was a fair and fitting conclusion to the Irish course. The texts were familiar, the themes engaging, and students were given a real chance to show what they'd learned. Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann and a few may have felt those bends in the road briefly lost in the phrasing of some questions - a bit like Oisín trying to find his way, but I hope that most found solid ground in the end. Founded in 2008, the ISSU is the national representative body for school students in the Republic of Ireland. The ISSU is led by students, for students.

Strawberry Moon Ireland: When is the best time to spot rare celestial event
Strawberry Moon Ireland: When is the best time to spot rare celestial event

Dublin Live

time5 hours ago

  • Dublin Live

Strawberry Moon Ireland: When is the best time to spot rare celestial event

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Stargazers are in for a treat as a full 'Strawberry Moon' is set to light up Irish skies this week, accompanied by a rare event not witnessed for nearly two decades that will make the celestial spectacle even more breathtaking. June's full moon, dubbed the 'Strawberry Moon', is an event that bathes our lunar neighbour in a glow when sunlight fully illuminates the side of the moon facing Earth – a phenomenon that occurs every 29.5 days, signifying a complete lunar cycle, reports the Irish Mirror. The event gets its name from the wild strawberries that Native American tribes would gather after they ripened in June. In Europe, it has also been referred to as the 'Honey Moon' or 'Mead Moon'. The full moon will ascend on Tuesday evening and will be visible over Ireland and the UK in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, with sky-watchers encouraged to set reminders for 8.44am when the moon will reach its fullest phase. Although it will be daylight by then, with sunrise at roughly 4.45am on Wednesday morning, the prime viewing time will be at twilight on Tuesday, when the moon will rule the night sky, appearing full throughout the night. This lunar event will manifest in an unusual position in the night sky, making it even more extraordinary. Owing to a rare occurrence known as the Major Lunar Standstill, this year's Strawberry Moon special will appear lower than usual in the sky. This celestial event is part of an 18.6-year cycle, influenced by the sun's gravitational pull. According to astronomers at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, the moon's orbit is currently at a point that causes it to rise and set at more extreme positions. As a result, the moon's path will be the lowest it has been during a June full moon since 2006. We won't see another Moon this low until 2043. The low position means that the moon will shine through more of Earth's atmosphere, which could make it appear redder or more orange than usual. To catch the best view of the Strawberry Moon, experts recommend finding a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. Areas away from city lights and light pollution will offer the best views; such as parks, open fields, or the countryside, where the eastern horizon is unobstructed. As the moon rises off the horizon, it may take on a warm tint due to atmospheric scattering. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.

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