OPINION: This old mutt suggests the new government is going to have to move fast to rein in a number of district and regional councils around the country who seem hell-bent on trying to push through their own agendas.

Hundreds of tractors gathered on Brussels' Luxembourg Square in the Belgian capital in early February.

Alliance Group says following delayed livestock flows - due to ideal growing conditions in both the North Island and the southern South Island - sheep and beef processing numbers are starting to crank up in the move to autumn.

While there is a degree of optimism among Hawke's Bay apple growers, it somewhat masks a real and uncertain fear about the future.

With increasing and rising financial challenges, a well-balanced combination of carrot and stick will be needed to help dairy companies reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle that hit over one year ago have landed two of the country's biggest fruit and vegetable traders with massive trading losses.

The family behind Te Ranga farms have won the regional supreme award at the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Time is running out for farmers to have their say on funding two important primary sector programmes.

Simon and Josi Beamish and Hugo & Pip Beamish of Awapai have been announced as the regional supreme winners at the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Gisborne this week.

A worsening drought in the northern South Island has seen the newly built Waimea Community Dam – in the hills behind Nelson – is doing what it was designed to do for the first time.