News

As I write this, we are finishing the clean up after a complex and high-stakes piece of work which was delivered over the weekend – an upgrade to the power supply at our largest lab, located in Hamilton. This has been months in the planning, and included a full power shut down to the site, with generators used to keep essential operations running until the power was restored.

It is with great sadness that we share the news of Ian Graves' passing, as the result of an accident while surfing at his beloved Whale Bay, Raglan. Ian dedicated 19 years to Hill Labs, making a lasting contribution not only to the field of Air Quality testing, but also to the many people who had the privilege of working alongside him. He was a respected colleague, a memorable character, and a valued friend whose presence left a positive mark on our workplace.  

It has been a busy and productive year for Hill Labs, with several important milestones that reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting customers with reliable, responsive and innovative laboratory services. One of the highlights has been the successful establishment of our raw milk testing service from June. As the dairy season builds, sample numbers are now picking up, and it is encouraging to see this new capability already supporting the sector.

For many New Zealand farmers, pasture is the largest component of the feed budget. Measuring pasture and silage quality is key to getting the most out of home-grown feed. While a paddock may look green and lush, its nutritional value can vary considerably depending on season, pasture species, maturity and soil conditions. Pasture and silage quality testing provides farmers with data on what animals are actually eating, rather than relying on visual assessment alone.

Congratulations to Erin McIlmurray, our Market Sector Manager - Agriculture, who has recently been appointed Chair of the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA). Reflecting on her new role, Erin says one of the most rewarding parts of being involved with the Awards is hearing the stories behind successful farming and growing operations.

Hill Labs was pleased to attend the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Conference again this year - an event that brings together a diverse group, including students, scientists, food technologists and new product developers from across the food sector.