Timothy Brown

Lovells Flat farmer Stephen Woodhead has been appointed to a second term as chairman of the Otago Regional Council.

Farmers need to approach news of another lift in rural property prices with caution, Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills says.

Athol farmer Steve Wilkins has come back from his latest trip overseas with more inspiration, more knowledge of innovation and a wealth of information to digest.

A leading Italian ecophysiologist raised some eyebrows while presenting his research and knowledge of the summerfruit industry at Plant and Food Research near Clyde last week.

Although local body elections brought few changes to council in Otago and Southland councils there are reasons to be upbeat, Federated Farmers' provincial presidents say.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand's Central South Island Council decided on a smaller council at its annual meeting in Cromwell last week, reducing the number of councillors from four to three.