A mixed sheep and beef farm near Motueka has been confirmed as the first Mycoplasma bovis infected farm in the Tasman district.

After 38 years, the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme in New Zealand had its first member of the wine industry involved last year. Since then another two members of Marlborough’s wine industry have taken part.

At the back of Raglan Harbour, on the West Coast Peninsula, lies an influential New Zealand farm.   

Lincoln University-owned research and development company Lincoln Agritech says dairy farmers might improve their environmental footprints and profit through two research projects now underway.

Most farms infected with Mycoplasma bovis may already have been detected but you must be confident you have got the last one, says MPI veterinarian epidemiologist Andy McFadden.

The Mycoplasma bovis outbreak is heading for its first real crunch point in a couple of weeks with the start of the next round of bulk milk tests.

Methane prompted a number of questions from rural professionals to experts last week, but none of the answers gave any joy to those who think methane should be a special case among greenhouse gases (GHG).

Making waterway planting compulsory on farms nationwide would be totally impractical, says North Canterbury native plant nurseryman and environmental consultant Jamie McFadden. 

New Fonterra chairman John Monaghan says regulation forcing the co-op to pick milk from farmers is past its use-by date.

South Canterbury deer farmer Joshua Brook has won a prestigious trans-Tasman award for 2018.