Major players in the primary sector are mobilising ahead of predictions that the country is about to be hit by potentially one of the country's worst droughts. Peter Burke reports...

Climate change, record low farmer confidence and an avalanche of government-sponsored regulations dominated the inaugural Rural Issues Debate in Hamilton earlier this month.

Synlait has matched Fonterra in delivering a final milk price of $8.22/kgMS for last season.

Farmers have expressed alarm at some banks setting targets to reduce emissions at a time when the sector is under growing financial strain.

A mid-Canterbury dairy farm has been confirmed infected with Mycoplasma bovis this week after it was first identified by standard bulk tank milk background screening, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

A custom-built, eight-row, linkage-mounted precision planter is enabling Hamish Golden, a South Catlins-based ag contractor, to direct-drill a range of forage crops without any loss in accuracy or yield potential.

The Kuhn GA 15131 rake, with a working width of 9.50 to 14.7 metres, currently holds the world record, established in Denmark in 2019, for raking output, where it was able to rake 188.9ha in only 8 hours.

Fonterra has announced a final 2022-23 season farmgate milk price of $8.22/kgMS and a full-year dividend of 50c.

With Agritechnica 2023 just around the corner and a reputation for getting grass knocked over quickly, German manufacturer Krone has released details of two newcomers to their butterfly mower conditioner range in the shape of the EasyCut B1050 CV (Collect) and the EasyCut B880 CV/CR (Collect).

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the Government is not to blame for on-farm pressures.