RURAL TOWNS COULD be left with little left standing if they have to comply with proposed building earthquake-risk rules, the Waikato Mayoral Forum warns.

RECENT RAIN IN Waikato and South Auckland has set farmers on the road to recovery from the drought but the situation remains fragile for some, a meeting of farming leaders and central and local Government officials has heard.

STATE-OWNED FARMER Landcorp is seeking to make subtle but significant changes to its strategic direction.

FARMER CO-OP Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) is revamping its executive team and aiming to raise revenue 500% by 2025.

RURAL CONTRACTORS New Zealand (RCNZ) will be updating its members on the latest changes in health and safety, transport and employment laws in roadshows around the country in May.

NORTH ISLAND dairy farmers are urged to look out for Theileriosis in cattle.

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.