A New Zealand Herald columnist, who questioned the retirement of former Fonterra chairman John Wilson in July last year, is facing calls to apologise to his family.

He was a “good bloke” and a family man.

Former Fonterra chairman John Wilson passed away this morning after a hard-fought battle with illness, the co-op announced.

The rich black colour of blackcurrants is what makes them so valuable, says South Canterbury grower Hamish McFarlane.

The opportunities for the potato industry lie in a planned series of sustainable developments, says Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge.

Summer has seen a good start to farm sales, according to the latest data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ)

Manawatu farmer Kevin Buckman was experiencing ongoing cup slip issues before experimenting with lightweight milking liners in his three herringbone sheds.

One change to your dairy system can reduce costs, shorten milk-out time, prevent cup slip, lower somatic cell counts and boost milk yield.

The bonus of split calving is that you can match feed supply with feed demand throughout the year, says Neville Porteous of Te Arai Farms in lower Northland.

Interest in once-a-day (OAD) milking is rising, says DairyNZ senior scientist Dr Paul Edwards.