Benchmarking themselves against other farmers was a big plus in entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, say Wairarapa farmers Mike and Liz McCreary.

Matt Walker, of Barrhill Dairy Ltd in Mid-Canterbury, runs a mixed operation that focuses on 2200 cows milked through two dairies, producing 1.3 million kgMS per annum.

The subject of quad safety is never far from the news media, but recent recommendations by Wellington coroner Brigitte Windley following the death of a 56-year-old Otago worker in 2014 do nothing to advance a solution.

Wet, wet, wet: that’s the message I’m getting from contractors all around the country.

When I started work 20 years ago on a system to improve farm profitability I had no idea it would lead to ways of increasing soil carbon and reducing GHG emissions.

Meanwhile, the Hound hears that the supposedly kind, caring, friendly-to-everyone Labour leader Jacinda Ardern is showing none of these qualities towards her fellow female leader Katie Milne, Fed Farmers national president.

Despite challenges from competing land use and a drop in the national deer herd, the industry is well positioned to fulfil New Zealand’s goal to provide high quality protein products to the world’s best-heeled consumers.

Young Grower of the Year Erin Atkinson (30) says the industry is at a critical time of change with many opportunities for innovations and inventions.

Canterbury milk processor Synlait has reported a record net profit of $38.2 million for year ending July 2017.

DairyNZ has three key priorities for the next government.