Move over ham, here comes lamb
It’s official, lamb will take centre stage on Kiwi Christmas tables this year.
The Agri-Women's Development Trust business programme for sheep and beef farming women has been confirmed for 2016 with funding from the Red Meat Profit Partnership.
Fourteen programmes will be held around New Zealand that will further engage women as critical farming partners by building business knowledge skills and confidence.
Each programme consists of four high-quality, full-day workshops delivered by industry experts over four months in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Understanding Your Farming Business (UYFB) is funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP).
More than 150 women completed the programme in 2015 following an earlier pilot in partnership with Beef + Lamb New Zealand that involved 90 women.
Programmes will be run in the Wairarapa, Tararua, Hunterville, Stratford, Blenheim, Cheviot, Wanaka, Gore, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Rotorua and National Park.
See www.awdt.org.nz
Greenlea Premier Meats managing director Anthony (Tony) Egan says receiving the officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) honour has been humbling.
Waikato dairy farmer Neil Bateup, made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the New Year 2026 Honours list, says he’s grateful for the award.
Another Australian state has given the green light to virtual fencing, opening another market for Kiwi company Halter.
Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.
Applications are now open for the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards, set to be held at Parliament on 23 July.
Ravensdown has announced a collaboration with Kiwi icon, Footrot Flats in an effort to bring humour, heart, and connection to the forefront of the farming sector.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…