rss trending-rn

Subscribe to this RSS feed

Horticulture grows up in the primary sector family

Horticulture in New Zealand is the little brother to the major powers of the dairy, meat, forestry and wine sectors.

Summer delicacy takes a lot of work

Ashley Boyd (left), Tony Rickman and Alex Boyd from Boyds Asparagus, Cambridge.

Asparagus on supermarket shelves usually points to summer being just around the corner

Flush the dunny on 2015, bring on 2016!

There's no doubt 2015 has been a tough year for those of us in the agricultural contracting sector.

Extremists’ views place heavy cost on farming and consumers

The 'businessman' who threatened the NZ dairy industry with 1080 contamination in baby formula if use of the pest-killing poison wasn't terminated apparently intended to gain economic advantage for a product of his own.

Farming is never SAFE - editorial

'Grossly irresponsible' is how New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen has rightly described animal rights group SAFE's placement of an anti-NZ dairy farming ad in a British newspaper.

Yap, yap

A mate of the Hound reckons Fonterra's Shareholder Council has proven it's nothing more than a lapdog of the Fonterra board rather than a watchdog for the co-op's farmer shareholders.

Good name

Meantime, speaking of actual animal welfare issues... the Hound was tickled by the name of a new drug recently released in Australia that aims to relieve the pain lambs suffer during castration and tail docking.

Just weird

This old mutt has always thought of the extremist group SAFE's top man Hans Kriek as pretty weird – and not just because of his crazy views on animals or his strange 'Dr Evil' accent.

Milking it

Your old mate reckons the self-professed friend of bobby calves – the Dutchman who wants to single-handedly destroy NZ's dairy industry, Hans Kriek...

Avoid toxic accidents on farm these holidays

The EPA regulates hazardous substances as part of its role to protect the health and safety of people and the environment.

People living on farms or lifestyle blocks are advised to check all buildings and other structures on their property to make sure any hazardous substances are stored safely and securely.

More...

Plant science technology combats climate change

Effect of climate change on average maize, rice and wheat yields in 2050: Based on process-based models (DSSAT) between 2010 and 2050 (%). Source: IFPRI study

This year will likely be the hottest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.

Guy praises farmers for El Nino preparation

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has praised farmers' preparations for this summer's El Nino climate pattern, as it shapes up to be one of the strongest on record.