Climate change, record low farmer confidence and an avalanche of government-sponsored regulations dominated the inaugural Rural Issues Debate in Hamilton earlier this month.

Dairy prices rose for the second successive Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction last week, but the jury is still out on whether prices have turned a corner.

Synlait has matched Fonterra in delivering a final milk price of $8.22/kgMS for last season.

Troubled Canterbury milk processor Synlait has posted a loss of $4.3 million for 2023 financial year, a major reversal from a $38m profit the previous year.

Farmers have expressed alarm at some banks setting targets to reduce emissions at a time when the sector is under growing financial strain.

A mid-Canterbury dairy farm has been confirmed infected with Mycoplasma bovis this week after it was first identified by standard bulk tank milk background screening, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Mark Cameron, the ACT Party’s agricultural spokesperson, says farmers are both referee and player in “the game of farming”.

ACT Party agriculture spokesman Mark Cameron says he regrets earlier statements made prior to his time in Parliament but stands by the tone in which they were made.

An online feed sourcing and delivery platform, Feed Finder, has been launched to help farmers.

While New Zealand might not have the hills associated with Switzerland, the concept of a self-propelled round baler makes an interesting proposition.