Westpac NZ launches community banking van in Northland
A new Westpac NZ community banking van begins making visits around Northland this week.
OPINION: A mate of the Hound's reckons Westpac agri economist Nathan Penny is dreaming with his latest reckons about on-farm inflation.
Penny claims current on-farm inflation is now sitting at aroun 13% - down from 15% at the end of last year.
However, this old mutt's mate is not sure what Penny has been smoking, because the Westpac man reckons on-farm inflation will be down to 4% by the end of this year and down to 2% by the end of 2024.
The Hound's mate suggests Penny needs to get out of Westpac's ivory tower on Auckland's Queen Street and out on the farm more often.
He reckons Penny would then find that the chances of on-farm costs falling to 4% by Christmas this year are about as likely as Westpac offering 3% mortgage rates at the same time!
A recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand quad safety field day, held along the rugged Whanganui river valley at Kakatahi, focused on identifying risks and taking appropriate actions to minimise unplanned accidents.
Healthy snacking company Rockit has announced Wang Yibo, one of China's most influential celebrities, as its new brand ambassador.
Rabobank has celebrated the tenth anniversary of its AgPathways Programme, with 23 farmers from Otago and Southland gathering for two-and-a-half days to learn new business management and planning skills.
Adopting strategies to reduce worm burden on farm goes hand-in--hand with best practice farm management practices to optimise stock production and performance, veterinarian Andrew Roe says.
Last night saw the winners of the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards named at a gala dinner at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
A 12-month pathway programme has helped kickstart a career in dairy for an 18-year-old student-turned-farmer.

OPINION: The old saying 'a new broom sweeps clean' doesn't always hold up, if you ask the Hound.
OPINION: This old mutt went to school to eat his lunch, but still knows the future of the country, and…