CHOOSING A WINNER in the 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year competition is a tough task for the judges, due to the varying backgrounds and positions of the finalists.

A GLOBAL AGREEMENT is needed on greenhouse gases, but New Zealand is leading agricultural research on cutting emissions and farmers are doing their bit, says Climate Change minister, Tim Groser.

RURAL WOMEN NZ urges bus companies to follow the lead of Ritchies Transport, which installed extra mirrors on its buses following the 2012 death of a 5-year-old West Coast boy after he was dropped off a school bus operated by the company.

A $30,000 SCHOLARSHIP at the University of Waikato has gone to a doctoral student, Jack Pronger, who will study drought impacts on farms.

BRETT PARKER was crowned the New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower 2014, beating six other competitors at the national competition on Thursday, April 10.

AN AUCKLAND-BASED drystock farmer has been convicted and fined $45,000 for unlawfully taking water from a stream on his Waikato property over a three year period, including during last year's drought.

THE 33 FINALISTS in the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards showcase the talent the dairy industry is attracting.

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION company CRV Ambreed will donate semen products worth $27,750 to the West Coast Focus Farm Trust every year for the next three years.

ALLIANCE GROUP has appointed experienced executive and director, Vanessa Stoddart, to its board.

FONTERRA'S FENCEPOST smartphone app is being rolled out to farmer-approved farm consultants and on-farm staff.