Tasman farmers and orchardists struggling with flood recovery and mental health pressures
The strain and pressure of weeks of repairing their flood-damaged properties is starting to tell on farmers and orchardists in the Tasman district.
OPINION: In the aftermath of a mass shooting earlier this year on the campus of Michigan State University in the US, the university's herd of cows has provided comfort to students.
The Dairyherd reports that the MSU Dairy opened its doors to students, inviting them "to de-stress by petting MSU cows and calves".
The first two events had about 800 people pass through its two farms - horse and dairy.
MSU dairy manager Jim Good said students spent an hour brushing cows, which they said made them more at peace.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.
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OPINION: At a time when dairy prices are at record highs, no one was expecting the world's second largest dairy…