The dirt on soil: Why healthy soil matters
OPINION: Every year, December 5 marks World Soil Day. This date wasn’t chosen at random, it’s the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, a passionate advocate for soil stewardship.
Canterbury dairy and arable farmer, Cameron Henderson has been appointed a director of Ballance.
Henderson currently sits on DairyNZ’s board as an associate director and is a Rural Leaders’ Kellogg Scholarship recipient and Nuffield Scholarship recipient.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients chair, Duncan Coull, says “We’re delighted to welcome Cameron on-board. His commitment to innovation and sustainability within New Zealand’s agricultural sector represents the sort of transformative thinking that will ensure our industry can continue to thrive for generations to come.
“That, coupled with his extensive experience both on-farm and at a governance level, will make him a real asset to our shareholders in this role,” says Coull.
Henderson says that building his family business has given him a strong understanding of the importance of focus on financial management, strategic investment, and risk.
“My past roles in supply chain strategy, IT and farm systems modelling, alongside my strengths as a critical thinker and strong team advocate, all add to the list of qualities I will bring to the board table.
“I am deeply passionate about New Zealand’s farming community – and firmly believe that robust advice, innovative solutions and strong advocacy all need renewed focus to help our industry navigate the regulatory minefield we’re currently facing in New Zealand. It’s that which has led me to various regional and national policy and governance roles, with a focus on finding a way forward for agriculture.
“I’m committed to always putting the needs of my fellow farmers front and centre, and look forward to this new opportunity to contribute to our co-operative, and the wider agricultural industry as a whole,” says Henderson.
Ballance’s Annual Shareholder meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday 29 September at 5pm.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.
New Zealand's dairy and beef industries say they welcome the announcement that the Government will invest $10.49 million in the Dairy Beef Opportunities (DBO) programme.

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