Meyer Cheese Dominates 2026 NZ Cheese Awards
Winning four of the big categories at the 2026 New Zealand Cheese Awards feels special, says Meyer Cheese general manager Miel Meyer.
» Featured
NZ Cheesemakers Urged to Compete but Stay Visible
Local cheesemakers are being urged to embrace competition from imports but also ensure their products are never invisible in the country.
Irish Agriculture Minister Highlights NZ Farm Differences
Ireland's Minister of state for Agriculture says it’s hard to explain to Irish farmers the size and scale of NZ farms.
Dairy Farming Career Path Drives Award-Winning Couple
Dairy farming in New Zealand offers career progression and this has motivated 2026 Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year Navdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Kaur.
Synlait, Nestlé Expand Eco-Focused Dairy Partnership in NZ
A partnership between Canterbury milk processor Synlait and the world's largest food producer, Nestlé, has been celebrated with a visit to a North Canterbury farm by a group including senior staff from Synlait, the Ravensdown subsidiary EcoPond, and Nestlé's Switzerland head office.
Synlait Blames “Perfect Storm” for $80m Half-Year Loss
Canterbury milk processor Synlait is blaming what it calls "a perfect storm" of setbacks for a big loss in its half year result for the six months ended January 31, 2026.
National
Lalichs Take Top Honours at 2026 Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Industry Awards
Marc and Megan Lalich were named 2026 Share Farmers of the Year at last night's Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Industry Awards.
State of Emergency Declared in Far North and Whangārei as Severe Weather Worsens
A precautionary State of Emergency was declared for the Far North District at 1.18pm today (Thursday 26 March), for an initial period of seven days.
NZ “tongue-soft” red meat innovation wins 2026 MIA Dragon’s Den
A New Zealand red meat product range with “tongue-soft” texture for elderly or unwell people has won the 2026 Meat Industry Association (MIA) Dragon’s Den competition.
Wool Source Converts Strong Wool into Sustainable Screen Printing Pigments
Strong wool is now being used as a pigment in screen printing for a new clothing range.
World
Arla Foods delivers $15b revenue as Co-op turns 25
European dairy giant Arla Foods celebrated its 25th anniversary as a cross-border, farmer-owned co-operative with a solid half-year result.
Nestle reportedly withdraws from methane accord
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows…NZ–Canada dairy trade dispute resolved
The long running trade dispute between NZ and Canada appears to be over.Europe’s largest dairy co-operative to launch in 2026 as Arla Foods and DMK merge
The creation of Europe's largest dairy co-operative should be complete by early 2026.Young Aussie farmers gain global insights on study tour to Ireland
Twenty four young farmers from South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania have returned from a recent study tour of Ireland…Opinion
Rural Parents Blindsided By Bus Route Changes
OPINION: Rural school buses is a topic I have had a great deal of correspondence on over the last couple of…
Synlait is 'Burning Cash, Not Creating Value'
OPINION: Synlait's latest half-year result reveals a serious problem at the heart of the business: its core operations are no longer…Editorial: Well Done, Miles!
OPINION: In 2018, when Fonterra’s board tapped Miles Hurrell to step in as interim chief executive, the co-operative was in…Accept Who You Are
OPINION: There is a lot of truth to this statement I first heard many years ago: 'The energy within is…Editorial: Fuelling Hype
OPINION: For some of us the threat of a fuel crisis is something we have dealt with before and are…Agribusiness
Massey Student Wins Prestigious Pāmu Agriculture Scholarship
William John Poole, a third year Agribusiness student at Massey University, has been awarded the Dr Warren Parker and Pāmu Scholarship.
Halter Raises NZ$377M to Expand Virtual Fencing Globally
Halter has unveiled plans for a large-scale expansion of its virtual fencing and animal management system, following a major fundraising…Future of NZ Agriculture Takes Centre Stage at E Tipu 2026
The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit, E Tipu 2026, is the place for farmers who want to stay…Pork Prices Hold Steady as Food Costs Rise Across New Zealand
New data shows that pork remains one of the more affordable meat options for New Zealand households at a time…Fonterra Begins CEO Search Following Miles Hurrell Resignation
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.Management
Study Shows Balanced Phosphorus Use Across New Zealand Farms
New research suggests Aotearoa New Zealand farmers are broadly matching phosphorus fertiliser use to the needs of their soils, helping maintain relatively stable nutrient levels across the country’s agricultural land.
Bout Right: Why Bout Width Accuracy Matters
Every farmer knows the feeling of watching fertiliser go out the back of the spreader, along with the hopes for a productive season that will come off the back of it.
Global First: Fertile Hybrid Grass Could Transform Future Pastures
Scientists from the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao has achieved a successful cocksfoot-ryegrass cross capable of producing fertile seed, a world-first.
Boosting Crop Production by Spreading Effluent
Tararua district farmer Jamie Harris milks around 400 cows using a split calving system on his farm, Crossdale Dairies.
Watermetrics highlights smarter water monitoring for farms
Water management is an integral component of sustainable farming practices, according to Watermetrics.
Farm Health
Dairy Beef Opportunities Programme Launches to Unlock Calf Value
A $20 million dairy beef programme will help farmers capture greater value from their animals.
Wormwise Advice: Managing Resistant Worms After Drench Testing
Ginny Dodunski, Wormwise's programme manager, Beef+Lamb New Zealand, outlines what to do when faecal egg counts indicate that worms are surviving your drench.
Probiotics and Prebiotics Could Help Reduce Somatic Cell Counts in Late Lactation
Somatic cell counts on the rise in late lactation?
Body Condition Scoring Ewes Before Mating Can Boost Lambing Rates
Body condition scoring ewes at least six weeks out from mating can make a significant difference to conception rates and scanning percentages.
Check Worm Burdens in Your Ewe Flock Prior to Mating
Wormwise vet Mary Bowron gives timely advice about worm management prior to mating, particularly being on the look-out for the blood-sucking Barber's Pole worm.
Machinery & Products
Chinese Tractors Eye Western Europe
Having caused quite a stir at last year’s Agritechnica, Chinese manufacturer Zoomlion is reported to be conducting large-scale field trials of its flagship DX7004 hybrid wheeled tractor, paired with a 13-furrow reversible plough to demonstrate and confirm its suitability for ultra-high-power tillage operations.
Kuhn Group Sales Dip 9% in 2025 but Orders Signal Recovery
Kuhn Group recorded net sales of NZ$2.27 billion in 2025, finishing around 9% lower than in 2024.
Rotowiper Unveils 12m Tractor Wiper at Waimumu Field Days
Showcased at the recent Waimumu Field Days, Rotowiper’s latest addition to its tractor mounted wiper range, the big 12m span machine dominated the site, complementing the current 6m (working width) FU600 and the 9m FU900 Fold-ups.
Franz Grimme Turns 80
Franz Grimme recently celebrated his 80th birthday earlier March and continues to be an entrepreneur with passion and pioneering spirit, still present at the company every day, as chairman of the supervisory board of GRIMME Holdings.
Top CNH Dealers Named as NZ Firms Shine in Awards
The most outstanding CNH dealers from across Australia and New Zealand for the past year have been revealed, with two New Zealand dealerships amongst the major winners.
Motoring
Kia Tasman ute launches in NZ
Stepping into the already crowded ute market, it’s important to bring your best game. Kia look to have done just…
Ford's new addition
Ford New Zealand has announced the addition of the Everest Tremor as a rugged and capable expansion of its hugely…Jimny goes 5-door
Fifty years ago, Suzuki was a pioneer in developing a small Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with fourwheel drive capability and…Big tick for a big truck
Electric cars and big American trucks can both bring a little anxiety, but for different reasons.RAM hits 20K!
In a market dominated by utes, Ram Trucks Australia has just put the finishing touches on its 20,000th right-hand drive…» Latest Print Issues Online
The Hound
What A Choice!
OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
Your Call!
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…
Milking It
Blunt CEO
OPINION: Synlait's woes show no sign of ending anytime soon.
Media Obsession
OPINION: The mainstream media's obsession with (sleazy) 'tabloid' issues were to the fore at Fonterra's recent media conference to discuss…
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Popular Reads
Heinz Wattie’s Plant Closures Set to Hit Canterbury Vegetable Growers Hard
The proposed retrenchment of Heinz Wattied's manufacturing presenced in New Zealand will be a blow to the wallets of more…
State of Emergency Declared in Far North and Whangārei as Severe Weather Worsens
A precautionary State of Emergency was declared for the Far North District at 1.18pm today (Thursday 26 March), for an…
Castle Ridge Station Wins Canterbury Supreme Environmental Award
Castle Ridge Station has been named the Regional Supreme Winner at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
