Meat the Need expands offerings
Farmer-led charity Meat the Need has expanded its offerings, following a new partnership.
Nominations are open for the 2015 Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition, and organisers are hoping for another record year.
Foundation chair Ben Todhunter says last year it received record entries, then the best-attended winner's field day in the history of the contest: at least 400 people turned up to tour Patoa Farms.
The top prize is a $20,000 travel grant towards farm study or to fund farm business opportunities, plus four $5000 awards for the best performers in resource management, consumer awareness, innovation and human resources.
Lincoln University Foundation and the competition sponsors find that a "key to getting good numbers and a high quality of entries is nominations," Todhunter says.
"Traditionally it has been hard to get farmers to put their own hand ups, but when they're nominated that seems to take the 'tall poppy' factor out of it and they let their nomination go forward.
"We're looking for leadership, innovation and farming excellence, which can be found equally in small family-owned farm businesses and in large commercial agricultural entities."
Todhunter says previous entrants are also encouraged to re-enter.
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
This past week has seen another round of negotiations between India and New Zealand to produce a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Cautiously optimistic is how DairyNZ's regional manager for the lower North Island, Mark Laurence describes the mood of farmers in his patch.
The Infrastructure Commission has endorsed a plan by Chorus to expand fibre broadband to 95% of New Zealand much to the delight of rural women.
Questions are being raised about just how good the state of the dairy industry is - especially given that the average farmgate payout for the coming season is set to exceed $10/kgMS.
A leading financial and banking advisor says he doubts if most dairy farmers fully understand the dynamics of banking.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…