DIRA Review: Open Country Dairy Warns Against Regulatory "Complacency"
The country's second largest milk processor is warning against 'complacency' during a review of competition regulations in the dairy sector.
The Government has announced a new rural scholarship designed to back emerging primary sector leaders.
Three scholarships each year are set to support young farmers to grow in confidence and gain experience to become farm leaders of the future.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says recipients will receive a grant of $10,000 to go towards domestic and international study and capability building and to grow industry-wide experience and best practice.
The “Minister of Agriculture Future Leaders Scholarship” will help identify emerging leaders across the primary sector including in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
It will help foster leadership and capability development, supporting successful applicants to grow their governance skills and encouraging the creation of opportunities for practical hands-on primary sector governance experience.
The Ministry for Primary Industries will work with sector leaders to ensure the programme effectively targets capability gaps in rural governance and will develop an annual application process with relevant criteria to ensure the programme is fair and transparent.
“The Kiwi can-do attitude is world-renowned and this scholarship is about nurturing that,” McClay says.
“This Government is committed to finding pathways to build the future in a way that supports the sector’s sustained success.”
Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst and his family raised a glass of milk last week to toast the start of a new addition to their farming operation at Makihihi, south of Timaru.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
Power Farming has launched a joint venture in Southland.
Food rescue charity Meet the Need has released its 2025/26 Impact Report, revealing a record year of growth alongside a stark warning: demand for food support across New Zealand is rising faster than supply can keep up.
As we move into the second half of 2026, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that Year-to-Date figures ending June 30 saw new tractor deliveries hitting 1,386 units or 10.7% ahead of the same period in 2025.
The avocado sector is entering the new season with a larger crop and positive market opportunities.