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Fiery setback for young Canterbury beekeeper

North Canterbury beekeeper James Malcolm is facing years of rebuilding his Natural New Zealand Honey business after his Okuku base was devastated by fire. Rural News Group

A devastating fire will knock back a young beekeeper’s developing operation in North Canterbury by at least two years.

Synthetic foods will challenge agriculture’s environmental footprint

Retiring Federated Farmers president Dr William Rolleston addresses the conference of the South Island high country group at Hanmer Springs.

The retiring Federated Farmers president, Dr William Rolleston, is warning farmers that they will soon be “chasing the tail” of synthetic food producers because of their products’ lesser environmental footprint.

Gumboot takeover 40 years strong

Ravensdown chief executive Greg Campbell doesn’t want the co-op to be labeled “a fertiliser business and a polluter”.

Affco’s value-added foray into China

Meat company Affco has shipped 33,000 consumer packs of premium beef to China -- its first foray into the lucrative value-added market.

Synlait matches opening forecasts

Canterbury milk processor Synlait has followed Fonterra in announcing an opening milk price of $6.50/kgMS for the new season.

Wrecked farms get a $23 million makeover

Joint venture chairman Rick Braddock (centre) flanked by Justine Kidd, TheLand and Bruce Hunter, Landcorp.

When state farmer Landcorp took over the dilapidated ex-Crafar farms in the North Island four years ago, it had little idea of the challenges lying ahead.

Houses squeezing out farms

If too many houses replace vegetable growing operations, we may have to look at alternatives such as vertical farming, says Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman.

Far North wins top award

Omapere Taraire & Rangihamama Trust were named as the winners of this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award at a dinner held in Whangarei. Photo John Cowpland / alphapix.

About 700 people in late May attended a gala awards night in Whangerei, to see Omapere Rangihamama Trust farm, near Kaikohe, awarded the Ahuwhenua Trophy.

New stock exclusion rules require greater flexibility – Feds

New rules excluding stock from waterways need to be sensible, practical and affordable says Federated Farmers.

New rules excluding stock from waterways are coming, but they have to be sensible, practical and affordable, says Cathy Begley, leader of Federated Farmers’ water team.

New skills needed

Arthur Graves says young people coming into farming will need a good education, but traditional farm workers will always find roles.

Farmers in future will have to do both traditional farm work and have more high-end skills, says Taratahi Agriculture Training Centre chief executive Arthur Graves.