THE 2013 year started with reasonable optimism. Dairy production was tracking nicely and dairy prices took off. For sheep there was hope that new Asian demand for lamb and wool would bring a move in the right direction. Meanwhile, the US drought last year meant demand for our beef, grains and produce were looking healthy. 

DROUGHT BEHAVIOUR renders deeply questionable the concept of co-operative companies being for the benefit and fair treatment of shareholders.

EVER HEARD people talk about their “BHAG”?

ANOTHER WEEK, another suite of big nights for North Island dairy farmers as the annual awards season gets into full swing.

A HILL farm in the west, and a 5000ha station in the east are the latest winners in the annual round of regional Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

The future of New Zealand's horticulture industry could rest with finalists in the 2013 Young Horticulturist of the Year contest.

THE FASTER you get a dog with twisted gut to the vet’s, the more likely it can be saved, so don’t delay.

THOUSANDS OF cattle and deer herds have had TB movement controls or testing requirements removed or scaled down thanks to the success of the TB-free New Zealand programme, says the Animal Health Board.

DON’T RUSH to dry off cows without first doing your sums.

NEW ZEALAND has a potential problem: we don’t know where all our pigs are, where they’re going, or where they’ve been.