Farmers’ financial pressure highest since 2015
Farmers’ bank satisfaction is at its lowest and their financial pressure at its highest since 2015, reveals the Federated Farmers…
Recent
Primary sector exports soaring
The value of New Zealand’s primary sector exports is set to grow by 3.8% to a new record high over…
Tractor and machinery sales on track for record
Sales of tractors are up 17% on this time last year and could set a record by year-end, says NZ…
Ford’s revamped 4x4 mounts a number of challenges
The modern trend to fewer cubic centimetres and more gear ratios continues as car manufacturers chase better fuel economy and…
Deer farmer no quitter
When 300mm of rain fell in four hours and blew out a year’s worth of environmental mitigation work, Steve Borland…
National
Parents hold kids back from ag careers
The biggest barrier to youngsters choosing careers in agriculture is parents’ thinking that agriculture is “just a dumping ground.”
Changing climate needs better water storage
Water storage is more important than ever as climate change causes more severe drought forecasts.
New role too good to ignore
The role of project manager for the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Action Network programme was too good to ignore,…
Research farm breaks new ground
Farmers are hearing that Beef + Lamb NZ is “putting your money where our mouth is” as it launches an…
Small herd farmers draw big interest
When Rangiora Lowline cattle breeders Philip and Kay Worthington hit the A&P show circuit it is usually with a small…
World
Where to for the UK?
“On a knife-edge,” is how NZ’s former high commissioner to London, Sir Lockwood Smith, describes the British government’s EU exit plans.
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.
Opinion
Red tape choking primary sector productivity
OPINION: Immigration NZ should attract immigrants to our primary sector as well as they attract overseas investors and entrepreneurs to…
How do we the tackle the meat worker shortage?
The meat industry is short of about 2000 workers, a gap needing filling by much more than just signing up…
Bring on 2019 — Editorial
Without doubt, 2018 will be remembered as Fonterra’s annus horribilis.
Future-proofing NZ’s meat exports
Matt Luxton, Silver Fern Farms’ sales executive in the US, discusses the opportunities for New Zealand to exploit the growing…
Honey not a gold rush for all
OPINION: Honey isn't the gold mine the media often sets it out to be.
Agribusiness
Countdown on for East Coast Farming Expo
In a little under four months, the East Coast Farming Expo will return for a fourth year of innovation, interaction…
China remains the key to dairy prices
China remains the key to where the global marketplace is heading in dairy prices, says Westpac economist Anne Boniface.
Kiwifruit may be the ticket
Growing confidence in the kiwifruit sector is providing new opportunities for pastoral farmers.
Velvet prospects looking sound
Prospects for the velvet market during the 2018-19 season are expected to be reasonably stable, says Deer Industry NZ (DINZ).
New orchard a vote of faith in sector
A new 12ha cherry orchard now being set up by Cromwell’s 45 South is a vote of confidence in the…
Management
Deer farmer no quitter
When 300mm of rain fell in four hours and blew out a year’s worth of environmental mitigation work, Steve Borland admits “it just about broke me”.
Time to rethink how we farm
Agrichemicals are an addiction and pests are not the problem, claims a visiting American entomologist, Dr Jon Lundgren.
Hill country's development risks and opportunities
Sheep and beef farmers are increasingly finishing stock on hill country forage crops and pastures, with a resultant drop in erosion risk.
Early weaning useful for dry summer
Predictions of a dry summer may make early weaning an attractive option for sheep farmers this year, provided they have high-quality legume-based forages available for their weaned lambs.
Achieving target weights in hoggets
Veterinarians and farmers working together to improve stock performance must emphasise two aspects of hogget growth, say the authors of a guidebook published by Massey University Press.
Farm Health
NAIT for sheep?
Bringing sheep into the NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) system may be a way of getting more value out…
Get a feel for ewes’ body condition
Weaning is an ideal time to body condition score (BCS) ewes as it allows valuable summer feed to be partitioned…
Don’t get ticked off this season — or next!
New Zealand appears to be lucky in having only one major livestock tick.
Genetics an answer to better FE tolerance
Facial eczema (FE) is a seasonal scourge, but genetic selection can help minimise the impact of this production-limiting disease in…
Improved antibiotic resistance test for dairy
Bayer has improved its antibiotic resistance test in dairy cows, adding four new antibiotic families.
Machinery & Products
Tractor and machinery sales on track for record
Sales of tractors are up 17% on this time last year and could set a record by year-end, says NZ…
Good health needs to be worked on
Rural life, and agriculture is driven by changing seasons that dictate on-farm tasks and operations and busy times can mean…
Mama Mia!
New Holland has exhibited a concept tractor to give everyone a look at what a Fiat machine might possibly look like…
Smoother safer ride
The latest offering from tyre specialist Cooper, in the shape of the Discoverer AT3, is said to offer a range…
No tiring after 90 years
Tyre manufacturer Continental is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its launch of Europe’s first pneumatic agricultural tyre onto the market.
Motoring
Volkswagen Transporter Runner an impressive ride
Kiwis remain fixated on utes of every shape, size and price, but we wonder whether in the rural sector the…
Mercedes ute sets a new standard
It took a while to get here, but now it’s arrived the Mercedes X-Class has created a stir at the…
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.
» Latest Print Issues Online
The Hound
Fire sales?
Your canine crusader hears that Fonterra’s current financial woes could see the dairy co-op dumping many of its key assets.
Boring
This old mutt has been a long-time critic of the multi-national, tax-dodging, political activist group Greenpeace for its sustained and…
» Connect with Rural News
» eNewsletter
Popular Reads
Petition pleads for immigration law changes
A 7,500 signature petition was presented to parliament last week calling for changes to NZ’s immigration laws.
Don’t treat pests as a problem
Farmers should stop treating agricultural pests as a problem, and instead realise they are a symptom of an unsustainable farming…
Dairy goats: the high performance ruminants
Assuming a goat’s nutritional requirements fit somewhere between that of sheep and cattle is a mistake.
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’.