Science Media Centre

A new Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) survey has examined the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isloated from New Zealand food, and found little evidence of drug resistant ‘superbugs’. The survey was undertaken to establish the current extent of resistance to antimicrobial drugs in bacteria found in food-producing animals and fresh produce. Further details of [...]

Cattle infected with foot and mouth disease (FMD) are only infectious for a brief window of time, around half what was previously thought, according to a study published today in the journal Science. Outbreaks of the devastating virus, which affects cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and other animals, led to mass culling of livestock in the UK in [...]

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has released a report which suggests New Zealand should focus on producing and exporting technology which will counter green house gases from farming. The OECD’s Economic Survey of New Zealand, in addition to recommending the introduction of a capital gains tax and raising the retirement age, has [...]

ERMA has given permission for ten species of Australian dung beetles to be brought over to New Zealand, to help farmers deal with agricultural runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The beetles turn manure into a sawdust-like material which aids soil fertility, and can also help prevent manure leaching into waterways as well as increasing [...]

Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report looks at the ETS, which is still causing concern amongst many of the country’s farmers. However climate change campaigners say that  not including farmers in the ETS could harm New Zealand’s competitive edge, and Climate Change Minister Nick Smith responds to critics of the Scheme.  Government has, however, said that [...]

A recently released report by NIWA has said that a third of the monitored lakes in New Zealand have poor water quality. Further, the report states that more lakes are deteriorating in quality than are improving, with much of the deterioration linked to agriculture. Media coverage: (oldest first) ONE News: Third of NZ lakes of [...]

AgResearch has developed a new parasite test for sheep which will allow breeders to test their stock faster, more easily and more accurately. The test (which tests saliva) checks the levels of an antibody, CARLATM, which sheep produce to fight parasite infection. An excerpt: (read in full here) “A three-strong sampling team could process more [...]

A massive week for earth science Barely a week on from last Saturday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Canterbury, scientists have paused to outline what they have learned about the quake from examining the previously undiscovered fault and seismographic and GPS data that has been gathered in the region. Dr Ken Gledhill, Duty Seismologist at GNS [...]

Jon Morgan writes in the Dominion Post about Massey University’s agriculture director, Jacqueline Rowarth, and her thoughts on Generation X and Y’s engagement with science. Rowarth also has strong views, based on data, on subjects from biological farming to the meat industry. An excerpt: (read in full here) “It’s relevant to a point she returns [...]

Gerald Piddock writes in the Timaru Herald about groundwater – scientists say that the impact on our groundwater of intensive agriculture might not be known for decades, as it could take that long for any contaminants to reach monitoring sites. While effects on shallow groundwater might be seen fairly rapidly, effects on deep groundwater would [...]