Be afraid
OPINION: Your old mate hears some of the recent uptick in farmer confidence has slipped since the political polls started leading a bit to the left, away from the current coalition of National, Act and NZ First.
OPINION: The Hound reckons the country's hard-pressed wool growers will be pleased to know that rural banking specialist Rabobank has laid woollen carpets in its new Hamilton-based HQ.
Apparently, after relocating its head office from Wellington to the third and fourth floors of a central Hamilton building, it was suggested synthetic carpet squares would be more appropriate because rolls of carpet were too big to lift.
However, Rabobank chief executive Todd Charteris, recognising it would be a bad look, wasn't having a bar of it.
In fact, he was so determined to have wool carpet he arranged for it to be craned in.
Rabobank sourced 3000kg of wool from three of its clients to be woven into the carpet.
It's good to see a major rural service company backing the industry.
Good work Rabobank!
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.