OPINION: If you want to see a role model (or two), just look at NZ Dairy Industry Awards winners Damian and Jane Roper.

Women working in the meat industry have gathered for an inaugural meeting of the New Zealand chapter of Meat Business Women (MBW) this week.

Genesis Energy has launched an electricity supply plan which it claims is the first ever tailored specifically for dairy farms.

The key to using a catch crop to reduce onfarm nitrate leaching is to get it in the ground as soon as possible after winter feeding, says Plant and Food scientist Dr Brendon Malcolm.

Decisions are being made about and for New Zealand’s rural communities by the 80% of the population who live in urban areas, say the authors of a new book on rural change.

Canterbury and Southland dairy farmers under active surveillance for Mycoplasma bovis should get support and work with their grazier to develop a plan as they send stock to winter grazing, says DairyNZ.

New Zealand cheesemakers fear that European proposals to protect names of many common foodstuffs may stifle local investment and innovation in cheesemaking, and limit choices for NZ consumers.

New Zealand horticulture is well on track to meet its goal of $10 billion by 2020.

Hundreds of beekeepers, packers and industry trade and suppliers will converge in Rotorua next month for Apiculture New Zealand’s national conference.

Dairy industry critics – in fact every Kiwi – should look at the dairy farm run by Damian and Jane Roper on a small rural road near Patea, Taranaki.