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OPINION: The Hound reckons former Fed Farmers president Andrew Hoggard's move to stand for the Act Party at this year's election had to have been the worst kept secret in NZ agri-circles.
Hoggard follows in the footsteps of two other former Feds presidents, Owen Jennings and Don Nicolson, both of whom hitched their political colours to Act.
Hoggard will be hoping he emulates Jennings who managed to get a high enough list ranking to get into parliament, rather than Nicholson who missed out each time he stood.
Meanwhile, your old mate had to laugh at much of the commentary - mainly from beltway politicos - who claim securing Hoggard means all farmers will now vote Act instead of National.
If you take a look at the confirmed National candidates standing this election at least a dozen are farmers, compared to Act's two.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of transparency by the Crown-owned entity - spurred by its refusal to release information under the OIA about its conduct around Cyclone Gabrielle and the Hawke's Bay flooding.
OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the banking structure massively favours lending to housing, at the expense of the productive sectors, particularly agribusiness.
OPINION: Just as they did in 2016 when Trump beat Clinton, liberals in the media are crying "how did this happen?"
OPINION: About as productive as a politician's taxpayer-funded trip to Hawaii, as cost-effective as an OSPRI IT project, and as smart as the power-company pylon worker, the Hound gives you the NZ Post business strategy:
The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…
OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…
