Top performing New Zealand sheep breeders were recognised at the first-ever Beef + Lamb New Zealand Sheep Industry Awards in Invercargill last week.

Dairy farmer owned cooperative, LIC, will seek support in November from shareholders for the transfer of the Core Database to DairyNZ.

More than a third, 36%, of farmers expect the agricultural economy to worsen in the next 12 months, according to a June quarter confidence survey by Rabobank.

A programme of improvements on the Crafar farms will begin as soon Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin can settle on the properties.

Waikato farmer Brian Frost will be able to get out of the cowshed completely in future after investing in a farm automation system for his 24-aside Herringbone shed.

While few dairy farms have currently been affected by the Tongariro eruption, DairyNZ wants farmers to be aware of the hazard to animals from ash.

Federated Farmers is welcoming Beef+Lamb NZ's Economic Service confirming declines in the national sheep flock and beef herd may now be at an end. It also confirms the North Island has become the dominant island for both sheep and beef.

A SHARE trading scheme for Fonterra farmers has passed the parliamentary hurdle. However, some farmers are unhappy with the Government’s refusal to put a legislative cap on the co-op’s proposed shareholders fund.

A NEW industry training organisation covering meat, dairy and seafood sectors is being launched this week (Jul 31).

THE RIGHT form of governance is critical to good succession planning, says the organiser of a recent two-day summit on the subject held at Massey University.