Sauvignon NZ27
Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027 will offer something for everyone, says committee member Murray Cook.
Rural groups are banding together to support farmers dealing with challenging weather conditions in Otago and Southland.
Parts of Southland received almost triple their normal September rainfall, a heavy dumping of snow, and a further 70 millimetres of rain last week.
The Southland Rural Support Trust is coordinating a range of initiatives to help boost farmer morale.
"The challenging weather has occurred during a busy time of the year and is taking a physical and mental toll," says Trust chair Cathie Cotter.
"We're encouraging farmers to get off-farm for a couple of hours to take a breath and reflect on how well they have coped."
"These events will help farmers realise they are not alone and are all facing the same challenges," she says.
The Southland Rural Support Trust, with the support of other organisations, is holding seven brunches between 13 and 22 October.
Free workshops, co-funded by the Ministry of Health and Rural Women NZ, are also being held across Otago and Southland from 9 to 13 November to help rural women prioritise their wellbeing and thrive.
They're being facilitated by Southland dairy farmer and former Dairy Woman of the Year Loshni Manikam and will offer practical tips and advice.
"I know how hard it is to prioritise looking after your wellbeing, especially when constant rain and snow create extra work on-farm," says Manikam.
"Women are central to the success of many farming businesses and families, and you can't run on an empty tank."
Thriving Southland, funded through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), is hosting a free event in Invercargill on 22 October featuring guest speaker Melissa Clarke-Reynolds.
It will focus on helping farmers achieve positive outcomes through connecting with others and being innovative during periods of change.
Motivational speaker Tony Christiansen is also fronting a series of events in Oamaru, Balclutha, Gore and Winton between 3 and 5 November.
Paynes Titus Excelsior ET, an LIC bull bred by Brad Payne and Claire Brodie in the Waikato, has won the JT Thwaites Sire of the Season 2026 Award.
South Canterbury farmer Colin Hurst has been elected as the new president of Federated Farmers.
Dairy continues to be the mainstay of the country's primary export earnings.
China remains New Zealand’s biggest market, taking $23 billion of our exports, but it’s no longer a commodity story, says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
For Jane Smith, becoming a Ravensdown director has been a way she can actively contribute to something quite personal to her - protecting and strengthening a co-operative she deeply believes in.
Lactalis New Zealand has opened a new distribution centre in Christchurch, marking a significant investment in the company's South Island supply chain capability.

OPINION: Central Hawke's Bay farmer Mark Warren recently told the Hawke's Bay Times it's time for a conversation about allowing…
OPINION: A nation that relies as heavily as NZ does on functional global shipping lanes will have to do its…