For the second year running an emerging leader from Central Otago has taken out the national title of Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year.

Taranaki farmer Mel Poulton was announced, this month, as the successor to New Zealand’s special agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen.

Dairy farmers planning to upgrade or install new milk cooling plant must think long-term rather than install a ‘bare minimum’ system.

Milk cooling is consistently a focus of regulators and customers, says Fonterra.

Farmers and growers need to rattle their dags for this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA), with entries closing on October 31.

Meat and dairy prices are strong and horticulture is leaping ahead, yet farmer and business confidence in the primary sector remains low – especially dairy.

Our growing world needs more food production than ever — yet it will have to be produced with less water and land, and there will be more consumer backlash. 

No increase in stock numbers in the sheep and beef sector is anticipated as the industry moves towards carbon neutrality, says Beef + Lamb NZ head of nutrition Fiona Windle.

Regional councils won’t be anything more than “unpopular policemen” if the discussion document on freshwater goes the way the Government is proposing, says a newly elected Canterbury regional councillor.

A new endurance event is starting in Canterbury courtesy of a dairy farmer’s irrigation lake.