Dog trialling wisdom being passed on
Dog trialling wisdom being passed on
A series of training days aiming to get more young people competing in dog trials was launched in Northern Southland on Sunday.
Shawn McAvinue
Kill, don’t count, rabbits, farmer says
Kill, don’t count, rabbits, farmer says
Otago Regional Council staff should be killing rabbits rather than counting them, a sheep and beef farmers says.
‘Oiling the wheels’ to help farmers
‘Oiling the wheels’ to help farmers
Rural professionals learnt the ‘‘art of facilitation’’ at a workshop in Dunedin last week.
Australia wants shearing workers
Australia wants shearing workers
Southern shearers and woolhandlers are being targeted by Australians as a staff shortage starts to bite across the Ditch as their industry back home braces for a stressful season.
Ram breeders optimistic
Ram breeders optimistic
Clutha ram breeders are feeling optimistic despite battling tough weather conditions this season.
Bales chequerboarded on pasture winner
Bales chequerboarded on pasture winner
A South Otago dairy farmer is wintering his cows on a chequerboard of pasture and hay bales to improve the health of his soil.
Seeking practical ways to protect soil
Seeking practical ways to protect soil
Dairy farms in Otago and Southland are experiment sites for a nearly $1million project to explore whether dairy cows grazing on pasture in winter can reduce nitrogen leaching and mud compared with...
Premium milk price suggested
Premium milk price suggested
A Northern Southland dairy farmer is ‘‘pushing hard’’ for Fonterra to pay a premium for milk produced using regenerative farming practices.
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.
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.