NZ Farmgate Beef Prices Hit Record Highs in Early 2026
Farmgate beef prices remain at record levels and show no sign of easing.
OPINION: The Hound reckons the country's hard-pressed wool growers will be pleased to know that rural banking specialist Rabobank has laid woollen carpets in its new Hamilton-based HQ.
Apparently, after relocating its head office from Wellington to the third and fourth floors of a central Hamilton building, it was suggested synthetic carpet squares would be more appropriate because rolls of carpet were too big to lift.
However, Rabobank chief executive Todd Charteris, recognising it would be a bad look, wasn't having a bar of it.
In fact, he was so determined to have wool carpet he arranged for it to be craned in.
Rabobank sourced 3000kg of wool from three of its clients to be woven into the carpet.
It's good to see a major rural service company backing the industry.
Good work Rabobank!
While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.
Irish Minister of State of Agriculture, Noel Grealish was in New Zealand recently for an official visit.
While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in Palmerston North certainly did, when reigning World Champion Jack Jordan was denied the opportunity of defending his world title in Europe later this year, after being beaten by his big brother’s superior axle blows, at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.
AgriZeroNZ has invested $5.1 million in Australian company Rumin8 to accelerate development of its methane-reducing products for cattle and bring them to New Zealand.
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
A bull on a freight plane sounds like the start of a joke, but for Ian Bryant, it is a fond memory of days gone by.

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