Time to restart genetic modification debate?
An expert on genetic modification says though young people can see the possibilities with the technology, some people are still…
Recent
Pros and cons for forestry changes
Changes coming through from the Government on overseas investment in forestry have pros and cons, says Christina Lefever, a special…
Synlait lauded for environmental effort
Global businesses are looking to New Zealand for solutions to tough environmental challenges – especially agriculture, says Abbie Reynolds, executive…
New land ownership regulations causing uncertainty in rural sector
The door has not closed on overseas investment in the rural sector but there is uncertainty, says Christina Lefever, of…
New leaders for Rural Contractors NZ
The new presidential team leading Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) says the organisation plays an invaluable role educating and up-skilling…
National
50 years young
The Young Farmer of the Year competition celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala gathering of former winners, finalists and…
Awful offal pit sorted
Northland Regional Council (NRC) has inspected an illegal offal pit at a farm in Northland that is also the subject…
Potential risk to NZ’s primary exports
Mike Petersen says the potential US-China trade war poses long term threats for NZ products.
Farm subsidies distorting and ill-placed – report
More progress is needed on reducing and redesigning the world’s farm subsidy policies, says a new report from the OECD.
Talking up NZ/EU free trade
A 50% increase in trade, higher wages for New Zealanders and cuts in tariffs to benefit our producers.
World
Fodder crisis hits Irish dairy farmers
A fodder crisis is forcing Irish dairy farmers to buy feed from other farmers around the country.
Europeans in a pickle over glyphosphate
A move in the EU over licensing the use of glyphosate is bothering the farming industry.
Get Brexit right – UK dairy farmers
Brexit presents “the biggest seismic change” to the dairy industry in the UK, says Tomas Pietrangeli, UK managing director of Arla Foods.
EU hardline blamed for Brexit
An Irish politician is blaming the inflexibility and hardline tactics of the European Union (EU) on the UK voting to leave the bloc.
Are EU and UK doing the dirty of NZ?
The New Zealand meat industry could be hit by fallout from the tense and divisive Brexit negotiations.
Opinion
Time for fresh thinking on Fieldays
OPINION: The Winter Solstice has passed, the nights are drawing out and National Fieldays has been and gone – hooray…
Subsidy reform needed — Editorial
Half a trillion dollars a year: that’s US$620billion or €556b annually.
The strange case of Shane Jones — Editorial
If you think only dairy farmers are facing fire from the new coalition Government, think again.
Don’t let them bring home your corpse
When the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASWA) came into force two years ago there were misgivings and nervousness…
Agribusiness
Synlait lauded for environmental effort
Global businesses are looking to New Zealand for solutions to tough environmental challenges – especially agriculture, says Abbie Reynolds, executive…
Keep up with pace of change
A quality environmental plan will soon be a prerequisite to buying or selling a farm, says ANZ Bank’s head of…
NZ formula makers sweet with NZ
The Ministry for Primary Industries and the New Zealand Government over time have done an excellent job of building the…
Aussie live exports under microscope
Australians’ outrage at scenes of dead and dying sheep on ships to the Middle East is forcing exporters to shape…
Alliance gives international chefs a taste of NZ
Alliance Group recently hosted overseas chefs and writers in an effort to differentiate its products and position itself as a…
Management
Ensuring lice treatment is successful
The move into the cooler seasons brings with it an unwanted guest – the sheep louse.
Dairy farmer’s passion for goats
Dunsandel farmer Michael Woodward may be Federated Farmers North Canterbury dairy chairman but his real passion is the angora goats he inherited from his father John.
Kiwifruit growers to wave the flag for NZ
New Zealand's new national ambassadors for sustainable farming and growing, Mark and Catriona White, are getting better-than-average production out of their kiwifruit operation using organic farming methods.
Green doesn’t necessarily mean more greenbacks
Dairy farmers running pasture-based systems on the coast of California have adapted their practice to produce organic milk.
Would you happily eat that?
Farmers need to ask themselves how often they have loaded onto a truck an animal they would not be happy eating, says Nuffield scholar David Kidd.
Farm Health
Deer breeders looking at maternal traits
Deer farmers wanting fewer late-fawning hinds can now buy sires and hinds with breeding values (BVs) for earlier fawning.
Success leads to change
Now in its third incarnation, DRL started life as Otago University’s deer research laboratory at a time when deer farming…
Feedlot lamb research wins
University of Adelaide honours student Leesa Flanagan has been named Alltech Young Scientist of the Year from an international field…
Vet head’s challenge of change
The attraction of heading a world-rated veterinary school, a love of New Zealand and disillusionment with Brexit persuaded Professor Jon…
NCD researcher wins grant
Early detection of neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD) is top of mind for the winner of the National Fieldays Sir Don…
Machinery & Products
New Holland upgrades steering
New Holland Agriculture is updating the T7 long wheel base with a new suspended front axle designed to ease the…
Maxima 3 TRR 8-row compact and stable
Kuhn is expanding its range of single-seed sowing drills with a new 8-row folding, trailed frame layout for maize, using…
SIP a VIP at Mystery Creek
Flying the flag at Fieldays via its New Zealand distributor Webbline and export sales manager Sebastjan Bogataj, the machinery manufacturer…
New tractors series challenges the norm
Challenger has unveiled the next-generation MT700 Series track tractors, said to deliver more performance, ride comfort, operating efficiency and onboard…
Canny Scot knows how to tow
It's apparent that New Zealand farmers and contractors accept the benefits of high-spec, tractor-drawn tipping trailers: a wide range of…
Motoring
She’s a truck; not a ute!
Prominently displayed at the Mercedes Benz site at Fieldays was a vehicle that gives merit to the saying ‘there’s plenty…
Sure to blaze a UK trail
News noted last year that the price of the Land Rover Discovery 6 was right up there, perhaps too high…
Controlled chaos for petrol-heads
The last two years have seen record vehicle sales in New Zealand, with prospective purchasers spending many hours picking the…
Holden’s still here
Holden is still spending up large on a marketing campaign to remind you of one thing – they’re still here.
Rides, hauls no worries
Recently we spent a day testing out the new rear suspension upgrades to the Nissan Navara on Australian roads. Now…
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The Hound
MIA
The Hound reckons Fonterra must have one of the largest teams of spin-doctors and PR hacks in corporate NZ.
Bovine excrement
Speaking of hyperbole and unsubstantiated claims, your canine crusader is getting tired of hearing the pompous, pretentious and self-important claims…
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Popular Reads
Kiwi farmers best paid in the world
New Zealand farmers are getting paid much more than their counterparts overseas and it's all thanks to the co-op model, says…
A killer worse than M. bovis
A cattle disease prevalent on 100% of New Zealand farms is much more serious than Mycoplasma bovis, a veterinarian says.
Stock cartage rates likely to rise
Farmers will not get stock moved if trucking companies do not get better freight rates, according to the Road Transport…
Rural Life
Ozone in the vineyard
The word ozone conjures up images of big holes in the atmosphere, stronger UV light, the risk of severe sunburn…
Drones versus birds
Drones may soon be joining the armoury of weapons used to scare birds away from ripening grapes after a trial…
Boss woman has earned her stripes
Nicky Hutchinson “never dreamed” of becoming ‘The Boss’.