Strong growth for primary industries
New Zealand’s primary industry export revenue is forecast to reach $43.8 billion for the year to June 2019, an increase…
Recent
New Young Farmers CEO hits the road
NZ Young Farmers’ new chief executive will “couch surf” her way around the North Island next month.
Keeping safety simple
Onfarm injuries are at their highest in the beginning of spring — here's how you can prevent them.
Stress levels rising in rural population — survey
A recent survey has found that 70% of rural New Zealanders have felt more stress over the last five years.
Spring Sheep gunning for more awards
Sheep milk company Spring Sheep Dairy is a finalist in four categories of the NZ International Business Awards.
National
Huge cost of pasture pests
Grass grub and porina are causing $2.3 billion of damage to New Zealand pastures annually, according to an AgResearch study.
Merino prices spinning a fine yarn
Merino wool is “very much the talk of the town at the moment,” says PGG Wrightson South Island sales manager…
Irrigation scheme runs dry
A proposed irrigation scheme in South Canterbury has been dumped after losing Government and farmer support.
Farmers back Fonterra’s rescue plan - chair claims
Fonterra chairman John Monaghan says farmers are backing a performance review of all co-op investments.
Tatua tops – again
Waikato milk processor Tatua has topped the 2017-18 milk payout stakes.
World
Not even a wild Atlantic storm can stop the Irish
The Irish sure know how to throw a good party, as experienced last month at the National Ploughing Association event at Screggan, County Offaly, Ireland.
Call for Brexit revote
Britain should hold a second referendum on Brexit to make sure the British people fully understand what they will be in for when the UK leaves the European Union (EU) in six months.
Drought top priority for new PM
New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s first trip in the top job was to a drought-stricken farm in Queensland.
Drought crisis for Irish farmers
Farmers in Northern Europe – especially the UK and Ireland – are facing a crisis as drought forces them to sell stock early while they struggle to adequately feed animals remaining.
Post-Brexit risk for UK farms
Analysts fear that up to 25% of Britain’s farms will be at risk of bankruptcy if farm subsidies aren’t guaranteed by the government post-Brexit.
Opinion
Dos and don’ts of selling raw milk
It is now legal to sell raw (unpasteurised) drinking milk to consumers.
Better irrigation beats tax on water
Irrigation NZ believes that imposing a nationwide water tax would be unworkable.
Make your vote count
Stimulated by Fonterra posting a loss of $196 million, business analysts, academics and journalists have put forward their views on…
Let the games begin — Editorial
OPINION: Fonterra's upcoming director elections will be an interesting contest with a potential shake-up on the cards, which its board…
Science the answer to debate
The previous government issued a call-to-action to New Zealand: double primary production export earnings while maintaining or improving water quality.
Agribusiness
Australia looks at agricultural visa
Australian farmers are throwing their support behind a proposed agricultural visa, which the Government could soon introduce to ease the…
Could ammonia be the new motion lotion?
Hybrid or electric vehicle (EV) makers had better mind their backs: the hydrogen fuel cell could still be in contention.
Local rich-lister to help scheme
Waimate contractor – and rich-lister – Gary Rooney will back a South Canterbury irrigation scheme that was left gasping by…
A ‘Big Mac’ day
Turning farmers into consumers is the objective of McDonald’s New Zealand farmer tours.
Dairy expertise could spin-off to plant protein
Expertise from the dairy manufacturing industry could be adapted to develop a new plant-based protein industry in New Zealand, says…
Management
Keeping safety simple
Onfarm injuries are at their highest in the beginning of spring — here's how you can prevent them.
Farmers and growers to tell their story
Farmers and growers are being encouraged to enter this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Data, compliance, records all seen to
Farm software company FarmIQ says it can manage the data farmers must collect and provide to prove their compliance and sustainability.
Vets worry about muddy cows
The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) is very concerned about the animal welfare consequences of poor practices during winter grazing, says chief veterinary officer Helen Beattie.
The show will go on!
The country’s biggest annual A&P show will go ahead with cattle classes this year despite the threat of spreading Mycoplasma bovis.
Farm Health
All farmers responsible for NAIT
Making sure all livestock coming on and off-farm are NAIT tagged and registered online is every farmers’ responsibility, says Taranaki…
Dealing to worms crucial to stock
A veterinarian is urging farmers to give their parasite control strategy closer scrutiny.
Trial indicates gains using injectable trade mineral supplement
West Australian cattle producer Ryan Willing has revealed the latest findings from a 12-month trial run by animal health company…
Raising dairy industry’s next sires
At the back of Raglan Harbour, on the West Coast Peninsula, lies an influential New Zealand farm.
New approach on animal welfare
A new Framework for Action on Animal Welfare released last month sets out a better approach, says Associate Agriculture Minister…
Machinery & Products
JD’s new forage harvesters coming
Snippets during the last few months about the new John Deere 9000 series SP harvesters no doubt originate in the…
New distribution for Case IH and Kuhn
The forming of CKNZ, a subsidiary of CB Norwood Distributors Ltd, heralds a new direction for the distribution of Case…
Feed mixers built tough
Manufacturers of total mixed ration (TMR) mixers should stop claiming their machines have “better steel, bigger tyres and brighter lights”…
Demo farm to show how Europeans do it
Hoping to encourage more discussion with farmers in the US, German arable manufacturer Horsch is now running another agricultural demonstration…
Cutting crops without cursing
German harvester specialist Claas has released new cutter-bars for its Lexion range of combine harvesters, with two configurations and three…
Motoring
Touring around in comfort
Okay Holden, you’re not fooling anyone with your raised ride height and plastic wheel arches; the Calais-V Tourer is no…
Forester comes out of the woods
Given that the Subaru Forester virtually started the trend to SUVs years ago, the New Zealand motoring public’s assigning to…
Never lose your car
A new entry-level Range Rover Velar is set to be the model Kiwi motorists can better afford.
Baby Ram no toddler!
The Ram 2500 and 3500 utes have a name for big load-carrying and towing capability but come with a hefty…
Toyota Fortuner is here!
Toyota’s Hilux-based Fortuner SUV line-up has had an aggressive upgrade in New Zealand with the addition of a TRD (Toyota…
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Popular Reads
Farmers to wield the needle from October 2019
Farmers will be able to administer a local anaesthetic for disbudding or dehorning, if they are trained, when new regulations…
Long, slow return for M. bovis farmer
Southland beef farmer Ben Walling is suing Southern Centre Dairies owner, Alfons Zeestraten over the spread of the cattle disease…
Fonterra drops milk forecast payout
Fonterra is dropping its 2018-19 forecast payout by up to 50c/kgMS.
Rural Life
Ozone in the vineyard
The word ozone conjures up images of big holes in the atmosphere, stronger UV light, the risk of severe sunburn…
Drones versus birds
Drones may soon be joining the armoury of weapons used to scare birds away from ripening grapes after a trial…
Boss woman has earned her stripes
Nicky Hutchinson “never dreamed” of becoming ‘The Boss’.