Not so cuddly
OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took to social media to gloat over Bayer Crop Science's decision to close its Hastings research site.
(Top L-R) @mtaggartalliancegroup, @robhewettsff and @jmccarthymie. (Middle L-R) @fionahancoxsff, @winstonfirstandlast and @drbillfeds. (Bottom L-R) @jwilsonfonterra, @dcoullshc and @stevecardenlandcorp.
Rural News' irreverent and hypothetical look at what's happening in the farming world.
@mtaggartalliancegroup: To all those Alliance Group suppliers who thought lamb prices couldn't get any worse; we are now docking you 50 cents a sheep and $2 a beast to remain loyal supporters of the only true NZ meat co-op. #loyaltycosts
@robhewettsff: Ni how, SFF comrades. So I guess selling out to the Chinese doesn't sound so bad when it is costing you an extra 50 cents a lamb and $2 a cattle beast more to have your stock killed by a fully-owned NZ co-op? #dollarsandsense
@jmccarthymie: MIE has unendorsed SFF directors Richard Young and Dan Jex-Blake. Our principles do not include ceding control to foreign interests – so we are now backing a candidate who actually supports these principles. We're endorsing Donald Trump as the next president of the USA. #whocares
@fionahancoxsff: Hey @jmccarthymie any chance of getting MIE to unendorse me? I'd quite like this director gig and the kiss of death from MIE will not help my re-election chances. #thanksbutnothanks
@winstonfirstandlast: I see that Cyclone Winston did to Fiji as yours truly has to done NZ politics over the past 30 years. Made a big noise, blew hard, caused major damage, wreaked havoc and then buggered of out to sea and petered out! #wellnamed
@drbillfeds: Dairy's down; lamb is terrible; arable's struggling; drought in some parts; floods in others; the public blame farmers for everything from polluting our waterways to torturing animals. It's got me buggered why we can't attract young people into the farming sector. #betterworkstories #whatalife
@jwilsonfonterra: Good to see our 'discussion' booklet on governance is out and about with our farmer shareholders. It will give them something to keep them warm this winter when the power is cut due to low milk prices. #letshavetheconversation #moretalk
@dcoullshc: Hi @jwilsonfonterra can I just say Mr Chairman what a wonderful job you and your board are doing on behalf of Fonterra shareholders. When you talk about changing the culture at the co-op, does that mean we are looking at making more yoghurt? #loveyourwork #whatisgovernance
@stevecardenlandcorp: Our partnership with Shanghai Pengxin to run the former Crafar Farms has been an outstanding success. In fact, it has been so successful that we don't want to carry on working with them anymore. I just think it's time we started seeing other people. #itisnotyouitisme
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.
Dairy farmers need to be high quality partners to the beef industry, says Prem Maan, the co-founder and executive chairman of the dairy corporate Southern Pastures.
The regions that will host clinical training for the University of Waikato's new medical school from 2028 have been confirmed, alongside a new nationwide approach to clinical placements for medical students.
The bumpy road you travel on teachs you a lot, believes Don Watson. And that’s the message he and wife Kirsten, supreme winners of the Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, aim to pass on to their three sons.
New Zealand’s food and fibre sector is on track to deliver record export earnings, with export revenue forecast to reach $64.3 billion in the year ending 30 June 2026.

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