Rural Life

Call for more southern farms

A sheep and beef farm near Te Anau; genetic modification technology may be on its way to farms...

Call for more southern farms

Fewer southern food and fibre producers are showing their businesses to the public and celebrating national open farm day as there is no rural-urban divide in the region, the event organiser says.

Good growing at garden open day

Kale seedlings growing in a market garden in Dunedin are destined for the Emerson’s Brewery...

Good growing at garden open day

"We need more people growing food."

Farmlands reports 4% rise in revenue

Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton.

Farmlands reports 4% rise in revenue

Rural supplies co-operative Farmlands is highlighting improved half-year results, although it will not reveal its profit for the period.

Dairying a family affair

DairyNZ’s new South Otago area manager Emma Campbell. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE

Dairying a family affair

Shawn McAvinue asks DairyNZ South Otago area manager Emma Campbell, of Southland, five questions.

Clearing sales results impress

Wharetoa Genetics owners Chris and Garth Shaw have sold their capital livestock on their sheep...

Clearing sales results impress

South Otago sheep breeders Garth and Chris Shaw have gone out with a bang with exceptional flock dispersal sales.

From the classroom to the paddock

John Barker teaches children in a Czech Republic school the English names for shapes. Photo:...

From the classroom to the paddock

In an occasional series, former Western Southland farmer John Barker shares his experiences shearing sheep and teaching in the Czech Republic.

A&P show ‘the Oscars’ for North Otago’s farming community

Enjoying an ice cream in the sun at the North Otago A&P Show on Saturday are (from left) Theo...

A&P show ‘the Oscars’ for North Otago’s farming community

The North Otago A&P Show has been described as the Oscars for farmers.

Trip sows interest in dual farming

Lincoln University student Jonathan Jamieson was impressed with local growers mixing shrimp with...

Trip sows interest in dual farming

A Canterbury student is back in the lecture rooms after wading through rice paddies in the Mekong Delta, Tim Cronshaw writes.

Future challenge

Future challenge

Exiting chief executive Lynda Coppersmith is confident New Zealand Young Farmers is on the pathway to becoming a financially sustainable membership organisation.

‘Many small wins’ over long career

Departing Foundation for Arable Research chief executive Dr Alison Stewart plans to fill a semi...

‘Many small wins’ over long career

An arable leader will miss a working relationship with growers ranging from immensely rewarding to frustrating.

Fonterra protein hub takes shape

Fonterra is making good headway on its new $75million advanced protein hub at the Studholme site...

Fonterra protein hub takes shape

Fonterra’s new $75 million advanced protein hub is taking shape as it juggles the building project with ongoing milk processing at the Studholme site in South Canterbury.

Cash surpluses boost farm sales

A lift in the milk price forecast is being felt in dairy farm sales, but high costs continue to...

Cash surpluses boost farm sales

The seven dairy farms sold in the past quarter year in Canterbury exchanged hands for an average of about $14.6 million.

Restructure tough but necessary call

Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack is happy with the fertiliser co-op’s cost structure after...

Restructure tough but necessary call

Fertiliser co-operative Ravensdown believes making tough calls has put the business in a better position to ride out reduced spending by farmers.

Fox disappointed to be leaving Wronz

North Canterbury farmer Andy Fox has rejected the offer of just one more year on a major wool research board and is stepping down as its chairman.

Farmgate prices rise in time for field days

Farmers are expected to come in their droves and possibly open up the purse strings at the coming...

Farmgate prices rise in time for field days

A confidence-boosting rise in farmgate prices is expected to free up farmer spending at the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) in Canterbury’s Kirwee.