In many ways, Central Otago lends itself to organic vineyard management and farming. However, by the same token, the nature of the climate and soils constitutes significant obstacles to overcome.

For growers the end of harvest means they will be contemplating the financial result from the year's work. For most, the news will not be good. Low yields and grape prices mean most growers will not have fared well in the past 12 months. Ironically the cause of the tough times this year is not too many grapes, but not enough.

Funds left over from wool levies collected by Meat & Wool New Zealand – now Beef + Lamb New Zealand - have supported the development of a new fabric that blends waste rice straw and New Zealand strong wool.

Rabobank Australia and New Zealand has appointed Sarah Sivyer as the senior animal proteins analyst in its Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) division.

Rural Women New Zealand will highlight the devastating impacts on families of leptospirosis, a disease that can be passed from infected animals to humans, at the New Zealand Veterinary Association conference in Hamilton next week.

The Innovation Centre, powered by the University of Waikato, is the showcase for the best industry developments and inventions, improving New Zealand farming practices.

Zespri will release 2068ha of Gold3, a commercialised kiwifruit variety with tolerance to Psa, as the next stage of its recovery pathway from the devastating vine disease.

AgResearch's role in the changing face of farming is the theme for AgResearch's stand in the Premier Feature area at this year's National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

New Zealand already feeds about 20 million people around the world on top of our own population -- and has the potential to feed more, a University of Waikato expert says.

Rural Women New Zealand is calling on the Minister of Education to gift or lease closed rural schools to local communities, and has requested a meeting with Minister Hekia Parata to discuss the proposal.