Farmlands Co-operative Appoints Rachel Aldikacti as Chief Sales Officer
Farmlands Co-operative has announced Rachel Aldikacti will be its new chief sales officer.
Rural Women New Zealand is teaming up with Farmlands to give away gardening grants to six lucky North Island rural primary schools.
Each of the winning schools will receive $2000 in prize money from the proceeds of the popular Farmlands Ladies' Nights.
This is the third year Rural Women New Zealand and Farmlands have given grants to North Island rural schools.
In the first year over 120 entries were received for funding to erect shade sails in school playgrounds. Last year Rural Women New Zealand and Farmlands presented cheques for road safety initiatives to schools in Ruatoki, Matakohe, Elstow, Manakau and Kai Iwi.
At the October Farmlands Ladies' Nights events, 'cuddly cook' Annabelle White will be touring the North Island for fun-filled evenings of cooking tips peppered with humorous quips.
Rural Women NZ national president, Liz Evans, says, "We're delighted to be able to partner with Farmlands once again to give away gardening grants from funds raised at these events.
"There's a magic about planting seeds and growing your own fruit and veges. We're keen to encourage children to learn the skills for what can become an enjoyable hobby and a way of providing healthy food for families."
The $2000 'Grow Your Own' grants can be used to set up, or further develop, a rural school garden or orchard.
The winning schools will also receive a copy of A Good Harvest – Recipes from the Gardens of Rural Women New Zealand, as well as gardening equipment, soil nutrients and seeds.
Dates for the Farmlands Ladies Nights and application forms for the 'Grow Your Own' North Island rural school gardening grants can be found at www.ruralwomen.org.nz.
Winning four of the big categories at the 2026 New Zealand Cheese Awards feels special, says Meyer Cheese general manager Miel Meyer.
Local cheesemakers are being urged to embrace competition from imports but also ensure their products are never invisible in the country.
Ireland's Minister of state for Agriculture says it’s hard to explain to Irish farmers the size and scale of NZ farms.
Dairy farming in New Zealand offers career progression and this has motivated 2026 Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year Navdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Kaur.
A partnership between Canterbury milk processor Synlait and the world's largest food producer, Nestlé, has been celebrated with a visit to a North Canterbury farm by a group including senior staff from Synlait, the Ravensdown subsidiary EcoPond, and Nestlé's Switzerland head office.
Canterbury milk processor Synlait is blaming what it calls "a perfect storm" of setbacks for a big loss in its half year result for the six months ended January 31, 2026.

OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…