The Hound reckons West Coast MP and Labour’s primary industries spokesman Damian O’Connor made a complete idiot of himself over his ‘support’ during the recent Anzac rugby league test.

Your canine crusader had to giggle when receiving one of those pesky emails/adverts suggesting possible gifts for Mothers’ Day. One particular email from a rural retail supplier offered an alluring array of gifts for mum.

Your old mate hears that a finalist in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition – for the top Maori Sheep and beef farm – had some simple advice for the large number of young Pakeha shepherds attending the field day at Mangaroa Station.

The Hound understands that more than a few farmers are feeling uncomfortable about the new work health and safety regime onfarm being promoted by WorkSafe NZ.

They say good things take time, and that is certainly the case for South Canterbury arable farmers Warren and Joy Darling who were aiming to better the world record for a barley crop – which was 12.2t/ha – at harvest time this year.

Your canine crusader hears that the proponents behind the Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) Group – which published its long-awaited red meat sector reform paper a month or so back – are getting tetchier and tetchier as the days tick by and little momentum or action is taken over its suggested reforms.

Your old mate would like to know what happened to all the vocal critics of the new owners of Crafar Farms and where have they all disappeared to?

Your canine crusader reckons fertiliser company Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ new chief executive David Wynne may need to improve his timing.

Your old mate wonders if there’s something in the water that’s caused the recent raft of departures – some sudden – of many top executives in the agri sector.

The Hound reckons there must be a whole lot of red (which is appropriate) faces at the red meat promotion agency Beef + Lamb NZ  after its major SNAFU in this year’s Golden Lamb Awards (The Glammies).