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The Hound is quick to put the boot in when someone gets things wrong, so he has to confess to his own major cock-up in the last issue of 2023.
The old mutt must have hit the Christmas sherry a little too early when commenting on the performance of Rob ‘I don’t care where, as long as I’m chair’ Hewett’s tough year.
The Hound mistakenly and wrongly accused Hewett of overseeing a $98 million loss for Silver Fern Farms.
While poor old chairman Rob has many irons in the fire, he – of course – is not responsible for the Alliance Group, which actually reported a $98 million loss last year and not Silver Fern Farms!
The Hound was punished for this mistake by only been given bone and no meat for Christmas – much like Alliance Group’s farmer shareholders – and would like whole-heartedly to apologise to readers, SFF shareholders and Hewett for his mistake.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities Party, labelled by some as the 'LinkedIn Greens' for their corporate spin on Green-esque 'tax the rich' policies.
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in Westminster is a salient warning for us.
OPINION: Proponents of regenerative agriculture tend to be naturally aligned with a 'green mindset', so they will be nonplussed with their new mates in the US of A.
OPINION: Mike Chapman, former chief executive of levy-funded HortNZ, has thrown out a challenge to farmers and growers to put their levy-funded industry organisations under the same scrutiny as fertiliser, electricity, labour and freight.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
Power Farming has launched a joint venture in Southland.
Food rescue charity Meet the Need has released its 2025/26 Impact Report, revealing a record year of growth alongside a stark warning: demand for food support across New Zealand is rising faster than supply can keep up.
As we move into the second half of 2026, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that Year-to-Date figures ending June 30 saw new tractor deliveries hitting 1,386 units or 10.7% ahead of the same period in 2025.
The avocado sector is entering the new season with a larger crop and positive market opportunities.
New Zealand growers have always adapted to changing conditions, but one challenge is steadily gaining ground across the horticulture sector: resistance.
