Dana Blackburn is an Ohakune local – born and bred in nearby Raetihi. 

The backdrop to the 850ha property is spectacular, including the partly snow-covered Mt Ruapehu. 

The southerly blast in April was a reminder to much of the country that winter is not far away.  Let’s hope we get a bit more mild autumn weather before winter kicks in.

Alex Furniss has only ploughed at one New Zealand final – Gore in 1966. 

Jim Brooker (83), of Darfield, recalls winning the first NZ Ploughing Championship at Oamaru in 1956 when he was 23 years old.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says it is relaxing the fruit and vegetable movement controls for some households within Auckland’s fruit fly zone.

Overwhelming retail demand has prompted South Canterbury start-up flour miller Farmers Mill to open a café to showcase its Homebake range and other products.

In April two people died on farms in ‘workplace’ deaths – one was a boy aged 14. And in Waikato in April a toddler nearly drowned in dairy farm effluent. 

Timaru farmers Warren and Joy Darling are now the Guinness World Record (GWR) holders for the highest barley yield. 

Despite last week’s drop in this season’s expected milk payout by both Fonterra and Westland there are positive – albeit slow – signs about the future outlook for dairy prices.