Migration essential for the future
OPINION: The New Zealand dairy sector attracts the best and brightest from around the world; aspirational farmers that want to make the highest quality products in the best environment.
OPINION: Your old mate hears that the question, who exactly is the National Party's spokesman, is one of the biggest mysteries in farming circles since the rabbit calicivirus was illegally released back in 1997.
According to the Hound's sources, a recent series of farmer meetings found that more than 70% of those attending couldn't name who National's ag spokesman is.
In an effort to uncover the truth, this old mutt has done some tireless research and discovered that the invisible man is actually one David Bennett.
Apparently Bennett's been an MP since 2005 and was tossed out by the electors of Hamilton at the last election, but snuck back into parliament via the party list.
Bennett is supposedly a 'close personal friend' of Judith Collins and better known by the moniker FU - which stands for F#@&ing Useless! Which is totally appropriate, considering his complete invisibility.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.

A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…
OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…