Milk price up, plants at full throttle
Milk price up, plants at full throttle
Fonterra’s Southern plants have hit peak production as the co-operative announces a potential record milk price.
Shawn McAvinue
Fonterra’s plants at peak production
Fonterra’s plants at peak production
Fonterra's southern plants have hit peak production as the co-operative announces a potential record milk price.
Pest control strategy ‘big-picture stuff’
Pest control strategy ‘big-picture stuff’
University of Otago student Anna Clark has secured funding of $180,000 to follow her dream of finding a more effective pest control method.
Grant for research into possum genes
Grant for research into possum genes
University of Otago researcher Alana Alexander has secured a $640,000 to boost New Zealand’s possum control efforts.
Only part load of logs possible from wharf
Only part load of logs possible from wharf
Shawn McAvinue stopped to photograph logs beside State Highway 88 in Dunedin and spoke to Southern Wood Council chairman Grant Dodson about them.
In support of strong wool
In support of strong wool
Reporter Shawn McAvinue joins farmers at a stop of a nationwide roadshow where executives spoke about their plans to more than double the price for strong wool in the next three years by competing with synthetic carpet on price.
Wool overtaking synthetic for carpet
Wool overtaking synthetic for carpet
The tide is turning for the sales of woollen carpet, a Southern retailer says.
Farmers urged to plan for a dry summer
Farmers urged to plan for a dry summer
Farmers are being encouraged to plan ahead in the event of another dry summer.
Birthday spent at docking pen
Birthday spent at docking pen
Farmer Wilson Ronald celebrated his birthday docking sheep with his family in Western Southland last week.
Pomahaka work celebrated
Pomahaka work celebrated
The Pomahaka River was once the dirtiest waterway in Otago but a ‘‘trailblazing’’ rural community is uniting to improve it.
Welcoming warmth after ‘rough spring’
Welcoming warmth after ‘rough spring’
In an occasional series, Shawn McAvinue travels highways in Otago and Southland and when something catches his eye, he stops for a chat with the people involved. For the first instalment he stops...
Stock agent retiring after 50 years
Stock agent retiring after 50 years
A Southern livestock agent is calling time on career of more than 50 years and will celebrate with a ginger beer on his final day this Friday.
Claim of best dairy bull sale in NZ
Claim of best dairy bull sale in NZ
A herd of dairy bull calves with the greatest potential to breed profitable and efficient replacement heifers sold for the highest prices in New Zealand this year, their breeders say.
Tulip tour in doubt, but beauty assured
Tulip tour in doubt, but beauty assured
An annual tour of the tulip fields will wilt this year if Southland remains in Alert Level 2, an event organiser says.
Tractor attraction born of necessity
Tractor attraction born of necessity
In an occasional series, Shawn McAvinue travels highways in Otago and Southland and when something catches his eye, he stops and talks to the person responsible for that something. For the first...
Kaitangata circus lion emergency all part of extensive vet career
Kaitangata circus lion emergency all part of extensive vet career
Vet John Smart has called time on a nearly 46-year career of caring for animals in South Otago.
Vet shortage looks set to bite in South
Vet shortage looks set to bite in South
A critical shortage of vets is set to get worse, heads of Southern practices say.
Old dogs finding a new home
Old dogs finding a new home
A North Otago teacher is giving retired working dogs a second chance at life.
Partnership growing organically
Partnership growing organically
Business is booming since a transtasman partnership bought an organic market garden in North Otago. Shawn McAvinue talks to Organic Solutions co-founder James Porteous about adding value to his...
Global warming pushing porina problem
Global warming pushing porina problem
Outbreaks of a pasture-damaging pest are more prevalent in the South because of drier summers, a scientist says.