DEVELOPING one big farm is proving to be a good retirement plan for Far North couple David and Heather Gray.

CHOOSING A WINNER in the 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year competition is a tough task for the judges, due to the varying backgrounds and positions of the finalists.

THE 33 FINALISTS in the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards showcase the talent the dairy industry is attracting.

FARMERS IN need of autumnal rain are disappointed Cyclone Lusi has failed to deliver the rain goods. Despite being in a de facto state of drought there are no plans to call for an adverse events declaration.

NORTHLAND AND WAIKATO are being warned of heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges  – but Cyclone Lusi may be welcomed by farmers, says a Civil Defence spokesman.

TURNOVER IN farms grew 41.4% year-on-year for the three months ended January but the median price/ha eased 5.6%, latest REINZ data shows.

DAIRYNZ CONSULTING officer Abby Hull had three job offers waiting for her by the time she graduated university.

LELY HAS further extended its loader wagon range with new Tigo PR loader and silage wagons, replacing the Tigo R Profi model. 

NEW EXTRA-WIDE (650mm) chevron-patterned belting on Agriquip’s new Cub Tornado 6000 trailed tandem-axle fert spreader makes the machine ideal for bulky material such as chicken manure, the company says.

STEPHEN AND Jane Hayes run 348 sheep and 734 cattle on their 583ha property near Kaeo, just north of the Bay of Islands. For the past three years they’ve been Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Far North monitor farm during which time they’ve lifted gross farm revenue $43,850, not to mention having better pasture covers and stock condition across the farm.