Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
Speaking of Fonterra, the Hound received a curt note from a failed board candidate in last year's election...
The note was 'thanking' this old mutt for helping publicise his run as a director in 2014 – claiming it helped lift his profile (what do they say about all publicity being good publicity?). Anyway, the said column referred to a lack of talent among the challengers last year and described the talent pool of potential directors as being "as shallow as the puddle out the back of the Hound's kennel". Anyhow, the said failed candidate claims, "Got to say though that you did lament the caliber [sic] (or lack of) in the challenging pack last year. Surely now with the untrained lot hoping to get onto a sinking lid board this will make last year's lot look like rocket scientists". The Hound reckons his newest 'fan' does make a fair point!
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.