Green no more?
OPINION: Your old mate has long dismissed the Greens as wooden bicycle enthusiasts with their heads in the clouds, but it looks like the ‘new Greens’ may actually be hard-nosed pragmatists when it comes to following voters.
The Hound knows that the Greens hate farming about as much as they hate cars.
So your old mutt was intrigued to see that the tree-huggers’ latest wunderkind – and possible replacement for co-leader – James Shaw has lodged numerous written parliamentary questions about Hawkes Bay agribusiness consultancy Brownrigg Agriculture Ltd. Shaw has written to the ministers for trade, economic development, foreign affairs and primary industries demanding to know what deals and contracts have been awarded to Brownrigg Agriculture and questioning the relationship between said government departments and the Hawkes Bay firm. The question has to be asked, why are Shaw and the Greens so interested in Brownrigg’s business? Watch this space.
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill have been lifted.
Fonterra farmer shareholders and unit holders are in line for another payment in April.
Farmers are being encouraged to take a closer look at the refrigerants running inside their on-farm systems, as international and domestic pressure continues to build on high global warming potential (GWP) 400-series refrigerants.
As expected, Fonterra has lifted its 2025-26 forecast farmgate milk price mid-point to $9.50/kgMS.
Bovonic says a return on investment study has found its automated mastitis detection technology, QuadSense, is delivering financial, labour, and animal-health benefits on New Zealand dairy farms worth an estimated $29,547 per season.
Pāmu has welcomed ten new apprentices into its 2026 intake, marking the second year of a scheme designed to equip the next generation of farmers with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed for a thriving career in agriculture.

OPINION: Here w go: the election date is set for November 7 and the politicians are out of the gate…
OPINION: ECan data was released a few days ago showing Canterbury farmers have made “giant strides on environmental performance”.