OPINION: Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor doesn't get too many plaudits these days, but at this month's Ahuwhenua Awards he got one that took him by surprise and, he said, it was one of the nicest things anyone has said to him in a long time.

Farmers need to start now keeping accurate and detailed records of their fertiliser use to meet new pastoral nitrogen limits, says Ravensdown’s Phil Barlow.

DairyNZ says farmers are welcoming the establishment of a Workforce Development Council for people, food and fibre.

The man who has led the Ahuwhenua competition for the past fifteen years is bowing out.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor lavished praise on Tataiwhetu saying he had the privilege of attending the field day on their farm in April and saw for himself the work they have put into upgrading the property.

He's only been in the dairy industry for just over a year but that hasn’t stopped 26-year-old Quinn Morgan from taking out the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Dairy Farmer of the year award.

Tataiwhetu Trust, which runs an organic dairy farm in the Ruatoki Valley south of Whakatane, is the winner of this year’s prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori dairy farm.

Dream big and work hard to achieve it, says the 2021 Dairy Farmer of the Year, Christopher Vila.

A rural sector stalwart and mentor to many has been recognised for his contribution to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards programme.

There are progression pathways in the dairy industry, one just needs to work hard, says brothers, Manoj Kumar and Sumit Kamboj, the 2021 Share Farmers of the Year.