A South Canterbury irrigation scheme left high-and-dry by changes in Government policy is being revived with the backing of Waimate rich-lister Gary Rooney.

It is an exciting time to be talking sheep milking, says Thomas MacDonald, business manager for Spring Sheep Dairy, in Taupo.

It is a great pity that some people have embraced – with little question – the concept that farmers can make a ‘reduction in stocking rate and still make the same money, while leaching less nitrogen’.

This time last month, not many people were aware that a new era was dawning on the world’s largest dairy exporter, Fonterra.

Speaking of Fonterra, your old mate hears that dairy farmers are struggling to take seriously the role of the co-op’s shareholders’ council.

Most farmers are now flat-out calving and lambing and are looking forward to another season of forecast good returns. 

The 30-year wheat farming career of Syd Worsfold, Canterbury, has been recognised with the title of Federated Farmers Arable Farmer of the Year for 2018. 

Since 1990 New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have increased about 20% with industry growth, particularly dairy, but it's not all bad news.

Farmers in Northern Europe – especially the UK and Ireland – are facing a crisis as drought forces them to sell stock early while they struggle to adequately feed animals remaining. 

New Zealand’s sheep flock now seems to be stabilising, says Beef+Lamb NZ chief economist Andrew Burtt.