A Waikato farmer has been convicted and fined $25,050 for carrying out unlawful earthworks in a stream on his Te Awamutu property in May and June 2020.

As 2021 draws to a close and 2022 approaches, Leo Argent takes a look back at the year gone by, reviewing some of the major stories that appeared in Rural News which shaped farming industry news this year.

North Otago farmer Jane Smith says she remains concerned that levy organisations appear to have little appetite for gaining full and transparent farmer mandates before taking their advocacy positions.

Overall the NZ economy has performed more strongly than anticipated, according to the ANZ Agri Focus Report.

While the outlook for global food prices is positive for New Zealand primary producers, some challenges lurk in the year ahead.

The climate emergency is by far the most severe threat faced by grape growers and wine producers around the world, says a group of climate action wineries in an open letter to wine trade executives.

From December, new enhancements to the national animal genetic evaluation system will benefit Kiwi dairy farmers when they are selecting bulls.

Young Kiwis wanting to replace the traditional overseas experience with vintage in wine country will receive a warm welcome this autumn.

Having walked away with a Fieldays Innovation Award and a useful cheque back in June, Springarm Products has recently signed a sole marketing agreement with Dannevirkebased Metalform.

Three sitting Fonterra directors - chairman Peter McBride, Leonie Guiney and John Nicholls - have been re-elected to the board for another three-year term.