Minister cuts short overseas visit
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is cutting short an overseas visit and returning home following the discovery of a new fruit…
Recent
Fair pay rules may lead to strikes – Feds
Dairy farmers are concerned about the Government’s fair pay working group recommendations, says Feds dairy chairman Chris Lewis.
Facing challenges with gusto
While the hills in Central Hawkes Bay remain green, which is remarkable for this time of the year, Porangahau farmer…
WOF for new season
Setting up for next year’s production was the theme of a Beef + Lamb NZ field day held last week…
Beetles help cut council’s crap
Hundreds of dung beetles have been released on the Wither Hills Farm Park in Blenheim.
National
Feed needed in fire ravaged Tasman
Feed will be the biggest issue in the coming months for farmers in Tasman region, says Federated Farmers Top of…
Government's $45m M. bovis bill
The Government has paid out $45 million compensation to farmers impacted by the Mycoplasma bovis disease.
Meat tariff whammy?
With a no-deal Brexit looming, NZ meat exporters face the prospect of paying tariffs twice on product going from the…
Auckland fruit fly find under investigation
A single male Queensland fruit fly has been found in a surveillance trap in the Auckland suburb of Devonport.
Pāmu lifts half-year profit
State-owned farming company Landcorp Farming Limited (known as Pāmu) has declared a net profit of $29 million.
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
We need to tell consumers the full story
OPINION: New Zealand food and fibre is different from those in other countries, yet not all consumers know this or…
Proposed immigration changes a win-win
OPINION: Recent proposals by the Government to make it easier for regions to get workers look like a step —…
Stop the sniping — Editorial
OPINION: They say when you point a finger at someone in condemnation you have three fingers pointing back at yourself.
Common sense needed in honey sector
OPINION: It's time all honeys are given the same respect that we are trying to give to manuka.
Culling cows not the answer
OPINION: The agricultural sector plays a critical role in New Zealand's economic health and the lives of everyday Kiwis.
Agribusiness
Research farm up for sale
A slice of New Zealand’s agricultural history is for sale in the form of AgResearch’s Winchmore Research Station, northwest of…
New technology will help
Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies have the potential to help our primary industries capture high-value niches, according to a new…
Students excited about Ag careers
An agri-leadership course held recently had secondary students ‘buzzing’ about career opportunities in agriculture — even though many already came…
Farmer confidence slips further
Rural confidence has fallen for the third consecutive quarter.
Expo to highlight latest rural communications
The latest in rural communications will again be high on the agenda at the East Coast Farming Expo.
Management
Dung beetles ‘last piece of a big puzzle’
A greater Wellington council officer is “really proud” of dairy farmers in the region who have backed a scheme to release dung beetles.
‘Spray and walk away’ atttitude must change
The first step in tackling herbicide resistance in arable farming is admitting you have a problem, says Australian specialist Dr Peter Boutsalis.
Promising results from denitrification wall
A world-first denitrification wall at Silverstream, North Canterbury designed to reduce high groundwater nitrate levels is working as anticipated.
Kiwis outstanding in their fields
Two New Zealanders were named as winners in the recent trans-Tasman 2018 Growth Awards run by agriculture multinational Syngenta.
Precise irrigation solves many problems
Tired of blanket irrigation's issues, two Massey University engineering graduates decided to create a solution.
Farm Health
Comparing apples with oranges in insemination
It is true that the current frozen sexed semen product SexedULTRA 4M is the result of almost three decades of…
Herd testing offers peace of mind
Herd testing, whether it heralds good or bad news, is ultimately good for a farm’s viability and for a farmer's…
Prevention best for flystrike and lice
With animal welfare a key aspect of livestock farming, treatments to prevent flystrike and kill lice are crucial in sheep…
Fresh is best semen trial finds
A field trial using frozen sexed semen didn’t produce the desired results, says LIC.
Breeders aim for parasite-resistant sheep
Ten sheep breeders have formed WormFEC Gold to show farmers that breeding for parasite-resistant genetics will strengthen flocks and save…
Machinery & Products
Turbine-powered drone aimed at farming sector
The world may be going all-out on electric vehicles, but GCH Aviation, Christchurch, is trialling a large, gas turbine-powered drone…
Thumbs up for strip tilling
To farm more sustainably and profitably, many farmers and contractors are exploring the advantages offered by strip-tilling.
25 years of selective seeding
After 25 years in electrical seed metering, Kverneland claims more knowledge in electric drive systems than any other precision seeding…
A new standard in sprayers
A new range of trailed and self-propelled sprayers from German manufacturer Horsch is now available in New Zealand from distributor…
Weed wipers get an upgrade
Rotowiper manufacturers a wide range of weed wipers — from 1.8 to 12m in several configurations.
Motoring
HSV ute a cohesive upgrade
The after-market options for utes are extensive, but there’s a big difference between a properly engineered package and a ute…
Car of the year an easy choice
Having driven the 2019 Subaru Forester at Queenstown and through the Bendigo Station at the media launch in August, your…
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…
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…
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The Hound
Pull your heads in
The Hound was disappointed but not surprised to see the multi-national, tax-dodging environmental group Greenpeace have another crack at NZers…
Unfortunate timing
Your old mate reckons Fonterra is not the only dairy company in NZ now under pressure.
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Popular Reads
Columnist facing calls to apologise to Wilson’s family
A New Zealand Herald columnist, who questioned the retirement of former Fonterra chairman John Wilson in July last year, is…
Wilson farewelled in Hamilton
Former Fonterra chairman John Wilson was farewelled in Hamilton today by family, co-op colleagues, farmers and friends.
$6-plus payout looking likely
A farmgate milk price at the upper end of Fonterra’s forecast is now on the cards.
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’.