Almost 600,000 native plants were distributed to farmers, last week, as part of Taranaki’s Riparian Management Programme.

Animal welfare is a central focus of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) new winter grazing campaign.

Federated Farmers sharemilkers’ section chairman Richard McIntyre says not knowing whether the country or parts of it will still be in lockdown on Gypsy Day is adding to uncertainty in the industry.

Going into autumn, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is encouraging farmers to think about how they will manage their winter fodder crops – particularly in a year when feed resources are likely to be tight.

Good crowds are expected for the well-established 27th Central Districts field days being held at the Manfeild racetrack, at Feilding, from March 19 to 21.

Farmers are counting the cost after a violent storm which cut transport links on both sides of the South Island and looks likely to disrupt West Coast milk collection for weeks.

The dairy sector will earn New Zealand about $17.5 billion in export revenue this year, and likely more next year, says Professor Graeme Doole, DairyNZ principal economist.

The dairy industry must look forward continually to assess itself as fit for purpose – or not. So says retiring DairyNZ director Ben Allomes.

A Northland farmer (62) has been fined $5000 and banned from owning more than 70 cows for two years after being found guilty of animal welfare offences.

The Frew family in Ohakune have arguably the largest milking platform in New Zealand – some 4000ha – yet run only 700 cows. The question is why? Peter Burke explains.