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.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
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.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.

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…