increase font size
Earl Worsfold unloads peas after harvesting.
Green gold is flowing around New Zealand as this summer's harvest gets underway.
With pea pods popping in the 30 degree Canterbury heat, Greendale farmer Earl Worsfold hopes this will be a good season for farmers.
Worsfold was harvesting 20ha of blue peas near Darfield last week, destined for Indian food markets. He says at the moment crops on drylands farms appear to be a bit more advanced than those with irrigation.
As the dry weather stretches on he predicts those with water will do better than those without.
With the wells already dry on the 360ha Worsfold family farm they are hoping for rain in the coming weeks to tide them over to winter.
As shareholders in the Central Plains Water scheme the Worsfolds are eagerly awaiting the completion of its second stage, which will bring a consistent water supply to their farm.
Federated Farmers Arable representative for North Canterbury Alan Harvey says the harvest has started with the drylands farms harvesting first, but he reckons it is too early to predict yields.
With about 75% of NZ's pea crop grown in Canterbury and close to 70% of all crops in NZ grown across 140,000ha in Canterbury, everyone from farmers to economists will be watching to see how much production is affected by the prolonged dry spell.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
