Dairy unity
OPINION: A last-minute compromise ensured that the election of the new Federated Farmers national dairy chair wasn't a repeat of the Super 15 rugby final - Canterbury versus Waikato.
The innovators and heroes of New Zealand’s arable industry will be recognised at New Zealand’s Arable Awards next week.
Finalists in each of nine categories have been selected by independent judges for the 2022 Arable Awards of New Zealand, to be presented at a special event at Te Pae, Christchurch, on August 4.
“With Covid, supply chain and workforce disruption, inflation and all the other challenges going on, one might have thought nominating arable industry heroes for awards could slip as a priority,” says Colin Hurst, Federated Farmers Arable Group chairperson and national board member.
But not so, as there were 80 nominations.
“Clearly there are many others who, like Federated Farmers and our Arable Awards partners FAR, United Wheat growers and NZGSTA, recognise the value of celebrating and honouring the leaders and rising stars among our arable producers,” he says.
Judges have named Federated Farmers Southland President, Arable executive member David Birket and immediate past national vice-president Karen Williams (along with her husband Mick) as the three finalists for Arable Farmer of the Year.
“We are excited to bring the Arable Awards of New Zealand to life, an event put together by industry, for industry,” Hurst says.
Finalists
Agronomist of the Year
Grower of the Year – Grain
Grower of the Year – Small Seed
Grower of the Year – Maize
Emerging Talent Award
Environment & Sustainability Award
Arable Farmer of the Year
Innovation Award
Arable Food Champion
Rob & Toni Auld
Holstein Friesian excellence was front and centre at the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ (HFNZ) Awards, held recently in Invercargill.
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.
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…