MANAWATU Rangitikei Horowhenua Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year for 2012, Shaun and Liza Connor, are going up in the dairy industry and reducing their herd size at the same time.

SOUTH AUCKLAND farmer/contractor Ad Raaymakers is so hooked on the Fendt 714 he recently went out and bought another.

The winners of the 2012 Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Barry and Nicky McTamney, take the next step in their dairy farming career in June when they enter an equity partnership.

There was only two points in it at the Carterton Events Centre on Saturday night.

THE MASSEY Ferguson 5400 series tractors released in 2011 have proved to be a popular choice among New Zealand farmers, says New Zealand manager for Massey Ferguson, Peter Scott.

Fonterra's decision to drop its 2011-12 forecast payout by 15c/kgMS demonstrates the trade exposed nature of our primary industries, says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Willy Leferink.

The establishment of a regional water entity could well be the way forward for Canterbury - and the place to debate this will be the IrrigationNZ conference in Timaru next month.

New Zealand's leading rural recycling programme is running a rewards initiative this autumn to encourage more farmers to recycle.

Starting a family provided the impetus for 2012 Northland Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Miles Harrison and Lucy Heffernan, to commit to the dairy industry.

The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) yesterday cleared German company BayWa Ag to take over Turners and Growers.