M.I.A.
OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country will be going into a nation-wide Level 4 lockdown from Wednesday 11:59pm. Agriculture will still be able to operate as it is an essential service.
OPINION: Amidst the coronavirus upheaval, one thing is certain – agriculture will see the NZ economy through.
The world still needs to eat and trade channels remain open. The bedrock of country’s economy is still agriculture and our main export is of course food.
Farms and orchards will carry on, and with our biggest market China turning a corner with its COVID-19 situation, demand for our produce will remain strong. The fundamentals of food supply and demand remain strong.
To get us through, farmers will need our support. They’ll need good, trustworthy information.
They’ll need the usual inputs from the service and supply parts of the industry.
They’ll need some breathing space from political moves that might restrict their ability to operate efficiently.
Rural News is a trusted source of information for farmers and we will help keep our farming and rural communities connected. With rural events banned for the foreseeable future, the role we play in keeping the sector connected and informed is more vital than ever.
In the parlance of these somewhat unsure times, you can be assured that Rural News will keep calm and carry on.
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.
Efficiency is the big one because it tracks back into what is done on farm.
A four year trial has reaffirmed that mixing plantain into dairy pastures can help reduce nitrogen losses to freshwater while maintaining milk production and profitability, say researchers.

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