Ashburton Farmer Matthew Paton Elected to Ruralco Board
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
Ruralco CEO Tony Aitken and Ruralco Chair Sir David Carter with the team from FMG at Ruralco Instore Days in 2024.
This year’s Ruralco Instore Days is centred on staying local and local connections, as part of the co-operative’s ongoing commitment to supporting Mid Canterbury farmers.
“We’ve worked hard over the last 12 months to focus on what matters most, lowering the cost of farm inputs for our local farmers,” says Ruralco chief executive Tony Aitken.
“Instore Days has always been about more than great deals; it’s about people. It’s about connecting our members with the products, knowledge and innovations that support their business, backing local businesses who are part of our farming community, and helping farmers and their businesses prepare for the season ahead.”
This year’s Instore Days will take place on 3rd and 4th of July, and as always will deliver exclusive deals for co-operative members, while showcasing what’s new and innovative from across the agricultural sector.
“We’re incredibly proud of how our merchants and supplier partners come together to deliver real value for our members and help us create an event that celebrates the importance and innovation of agriculture,” says Aitken.
With more than 80 exhibitors onsite at the Ashburton store, Instore Days offers members the chance to access expert advice on key areas such as farm supplies, seed, fertiliser, energy, fuel, and agricultural services. Alongside the deals, the event provides a relaxed, social setting, where members can chat with merchants, suppliers, and Ruralco staff, whilst connecting with fellow farmers over lunch, with food trucks on site both days.
For those closer to Methven or Rakaia, the local Ruralco stores offer the same great deals, the chance to catch up with the team, and a bite to eat. For those unable to attend in person, many of the offers will also be available online or by phone. Several Ashburton-based merchants will also run their own in-store promotions during the event, adding even more local value and vibrancy to the two-day celebration.
Beyond the deals, Instore Days is a chance to talk shop, swap stories, and connect with the people who help power local farming. “Instore Days has become a cornerstone event in Mid Canterbury,” Aitken adds.
“It brings together farmers, merchants, and suppliers in a genuinely valuable way. Ruralco was founded by Mid Canterbury farmers in 1963 looking to lower input costs for their farming operations and that local ownership and core focus remain just as strong as we look to the future."
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.

OPINION: Your old mate welcomes the proposed changes to local government but notes it drew responses that ranged from the reasonable…
OPINION: A press release from the oxygen thieves running the hot air symposium on climate change, known as COP30, grabbed your…