- Heifer on the lam: Farmer seeks sightings of 'mildly agitated' cow
"Her mates that I sold were $800 each, so while it's not a fortune, it's significant and it's a hell lot of steak and hamburgers and stuff gone west if I can't find her."
- 5 days ago, 29 May 20, 12:30am - - Hawke's Bay $1m drought funding 'doesn't go very far' - Rural Advisory Group
$1 million will be divided between thousands of Hawke's Bay farmers struggling with one of the worst droughts in a century.
- 5 days ago, 28 May 20, 10:05pm - - Synlait drops forecast milk pirce to farmers as dairy prices fall
Dairy company Synlait has dropped its forecast milk price for the season about to end and is predicting of a lower opening price for next season
- 6 days ago, 28 May 20, 2:28am - - Forestry reform bill 'cumbersome and unworkable' - industry
There has been scathing criticism of the government's latest forestry reforms at a parliamentary select committee.
- 6 days ago, 27 May 20, 11:19pm - - Hauraki Plains farmers: 'We just want some help'
Farmers on the Hauraki Plains are banding together and holding socially-distanced shed meetings, as they fight the worst drought seen in the area in decades.
- 8 days ago, 25 May 20, 9:53pm - - Government announces $500,000 drought relief for Northland, north Waikato
The government has announced relief funding for drought-stricken farmers in north Waikato and Northland.
- 9 days ago, 25 May 20, 5:54am - - Farmers in drought say rain offers little relief
Farmers in parched regions of the country say the rain that has fallen over the past 24 hours is a small reprieve - but it's no drought breaker.
- 9 days ago, 25 May 20, 5:34am - - Dairy farmers preparing for drop in milk prices
Federated Farmers dairy spokesperson Chris Lewis said while next year's milk forecast was expected, it will lead to tough conversations for many.
- 12 days ago, 21 May 20, 11:27pm - - Targeted response could be needed for rural communities - NZIER
Rural communities which are already deprived or reliant on tourism will need the most support to recover from the pandemic's economic damage.
- 12 days ago, 21 May 20, 9:12pm - - Fonterra third quarter earnings rise to $815m
Fonterra has announced an increase in third quarter earnings before tax of $301 million to $815m, but has lowered the forecast payout to farmers for the season.
- 13 days ago, 20 May 20, 10:03pm - - Drought-hit Hawke's Bay farmers get $500,000 from Budget
Drought-stricken Hawke's Bay farmers will be given $500,000 by the government, to help them through one of the worst dry spells in living memory.
- 15 days ago, 19 May 20, 6:40am - - Sheep art in drought area 'something to smile about'
A farming family near Dannevirke having to put out extra feed for stock during the drought are using the opportunity create sheep art.
- 15 days ago, 18 May 20, 11:11pm - - Hundreds support reopened Christchurch farmers' market
Among the many activities people were able to do for the first time at the weekend under level 2, was to head to their local farmers' market.
- 16 days ago, 17 May 20, 8:17pm - - On the farm: What's happening around rural New Zealand
This week, it's still desperately dry in southern Hawke's Bay and from Marlborough through to northern Southland, some Gisborne mandarins are being held on trees until demand picks up and kiwifruit are being harvested in Nelson.
- 18 days ago, 15 May 20, 6:58pm - - Covid-19 could revive single-use plastics - agribusiness head
The Covid-19 crisis could be a big setback to progress on eliminating plastics, a rural expert has warned.
- 23 days ago, 11 May 20, 2:06am - - Wairarapa farmers come to the rescue of drought-stricken Hawke's Bay
Farmers in Wairarapa are banding together to send feed north to their drought-stricken neighbours in Hawke's Bay.
- 23 days ago, 10 May 20, 10:32pm - - Revealing the extent of the Hawke's Bay drought
Nasa has released then-and-now images showing the impact of the drought on the Hawke's Bay.
- 24 days ago, 10 May 20, 12:52am - - In 113 years on the Dasent family farm, they've never seen a drought like this
The rolling hills on the Dasent family's farm in rural Hawke's Bay are a sea of brown as far as the eye can stretch.
- 26 days ago, 8 May 20, 1:01am - - Regenerative agriculture: How a dairy farmer learned to trust his instincts
A journey from generations of standard dairy farming to a new, regenerative approach is having early benefits for the land and the farmer, writes Alina Siegfried.
- 26 days ago, 7 May 20, 7:45pm - - Drought relief: Teen encourages farmers to 'bare all'
A Facebook page for Hawke's Bay farmers struggling with severe drought is being credited with saving lives.
- 27 days ago, 7 May 20, 7:34am -
- Increase in exports helps drive rise in beef cattle numbers
New figures from Stats NZ show the number of beef cattle being farmed in New Zealand rose last year, while dairy cow and sheep numbers fell.
- 27 days ago, 7 May 20, 3:44am - - Drought relief 'too little too late' - Hawkes Bay farmer
A Hawke's Bay farmer says the government's latest drought relief package - a $500,000 fund for advisory services - is a "drop in the ocean".
- 28 days ago, 6 May 20, 6:25am - - Half-million dollar fund to help farmers recover from drought
The Agriculture Minister has announced a new $500,000 fund to help farmers and growers prepare their businesses to recover from drought.
- 28 days ago, 6 May 20, 2:40am - - New Zealand Agricultural Show cancelled
The South Island's largest springtime event has been cancelled for the first time since World War 2.
- 29 days ago, 5 May 20, 3:21am - - Hawke's Bay farmers desperate in drought: 'Mother nature has got it in for us'
Farmers in Hawke's Bay are becoming desperate as drought conditions continue in their region.
- 29 days ago, 5 May 20, 2:56am - - Horticultural labour shortage could mean food shortage, industry warns
Production of some food could become a casualty of the campaign against Covid-19, the horticultural industry says.
- 30 days ago, 4 May 20, 3:50am - - Dairy sector wants New Zealanders to consider farm work as labour shortage looms
The dairy industry wants New Zealanders to fall back in love with life on the farm, with the migrant workforce unavailable due to Covid-19 and the sector needing to fill an estimated 1000 jobs in time for Moving Day on 1 June.
- 30 days ago, 4 May 20, 12:30am - - Farmers ask government to align domestic, international emissions target
Two major farming groups have urged the Climate Change Commission to align New Zealand's domestic policy with its international promises on climate change.
- 36 days ago, 28 Apr 20, 6:36am - - Covid-19 prompts iwi-owned producer to speed new planting projects
The head of iwi-owned Wakatū Incorporation says the Covid-19 crisis demonstrates the value of staying local, of food sovereignty and the strength of community networks.
- 36 days ago, 28 Apr 20, 2:41am - - China's wild meat clampdown affecting NZ venison exports
New Zealand venison farmers are being caught out by the Chinese government's moves to clamp down on the trade of wild meat.
- 42 days ago, 22 Apr 20, 3:03am - - A2 Milk sales boosted as consumers stock up
Specialty dairy company a2 Milk is getting a windfall boost to sales from the Covid-19 virus.
- 42 days ago, 22 Apr 20, 12:04am - - Relief for farmers as Moving Day confirmed to go ahead
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor has announced Moving Day will go ahead as planned for dairy farmers this year, but with strict controls to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
- 42 days ago, 21 Apr 20, 11:18pm - - Meat the Need: Farmers donate stock for poor, needy with new scheme
Two New Zealand farmers have launched a campaign to bring meat to low-income people around the country.
- 43 days ago, 21 Apr 20, 4:55am - - Confidence logistics and supply chains to operate smoothly during level 3
Freight companies are confident trade logistics and supply chains will operate effectively and efficiently once the Covid-19 alert drops to level 3 next week.
- 43 days ago, 21 Apr 20, 12:00am - - What Covid-19 has done for sales of a chicken feeder
A Bay of Plenty firm selling rodent proof backyard chicken feeders says sales are sky rocketing.
- 47 days ago, 17 Apr 20, 4:57am - - Lack of market access still a concern for growers in level 3 response
The country's fruit and vegetable growers say moving to level 3 on the Covid-19 scale will ease pressure on some in the sector, but many consumers still won't be able to get their greens.
- 47 days ago, 16 Apr 20, 7:27pm - - Dairy farmers dry cows off early as 'tough winter' nears
Tight feed supplies and ongoing drought are forcing some dairy farmers across the country to dry off earlier than usual.
- 48 days ago, 16 Apr 20, 1:56am - - Agricultural emissions lower that thought, new data reveals
Enhanced data on greenhouse gas emissions from livestock has revealed agriculture is contributing fewer emissions than first thought.
- 49 days ago, 15 Apr 20, 2:20am - - Rabobank dairy forecast predicts hit to incomes
The latest Rabobank dairy seasonal outlook report is grim reading with a predicted hefty hit to dairy farm incomes for the new production season starting in June.
- 50 days ago, 13 Apr 20, 11:32pm - - Workers give up Easter break to clear logjam at meat plants
Staff at 12 meat plants run by Silver Fern Farms worked on Good Friday and Easter Monday to try to catch up with a serious backlog of animals needing to be processed.
- 50 days ago, 13 Apr 20, 7:06pm - - Kiwifruit growers' PSA case: Government cleared of liability
The Crown has been cleared of a potential $500 million bill over the arrival of the vine killing disease PSA into New Zealand.
- 54 days ago, 9 Apr 20, 10:37pm - - Crayfish exports pick up but far from normal
New Zealand Rock Lobster (crayfish) are once again heading to China with the first small consignment being airfreighted last week.
- 55 days ago, 9 Apr 20, 1:51am - - Covid-19: Horticulture gains employees as urban jobs dry up
There are early signs the farming sector is gaining workers as urban jobs dry up.
- 56 days ago, 7 Apr 20, 8:14pm - - Pandemic kills off Israel agritech move
The Covid-19 crisis has killed off a planned expansion of New Zealand agritech into Israel.
- 57 days ago, 7 Apr 20, 4:22am - - Support set up for farmers facing stock feed shortages
Farming groups have launched an advice feed budgeting service via 0800 numbers to help farmers as they head into winter.
- 58 days ago, 6 Apr 20, 1:38am - - Covid-19 lockdown: apple, pear harvesting continues with strict rules
The apple and pear harvest is getting under way, although with very strict rules in place for picking, packing, and shipping fruit.
- 59 days ago, 4 Apr 20, 9:29pm - - Government allows butchers to process pork for wholesale only
The government is loosening some restrictions on independent butchers.
- 62 days ago, 2 Apr 20, 7:23am - - Pork industry warns of animal welfare issues during lockdown
The pork industry is worried the closure of independent butchers during the Covid-19 lockdown will cause an animal welfare crisis for the sector.
- 63 days ago, 1 Apr 20, 2:48am - - Berry grower fined over employment breaches
A Waikato berry grower has been ordered to pay over $76,000 for employment law breaches.
- 65 days ago, 29 Mar 20, 11:33pm - - Covid-19: Fruit industry facing hurdles with harvest due to restrictions
The kiwifruit industry is fighting for survival as it tries to pick and pack the season's crop while enforcing Covid-19 restrictions.
- 65 days ago, 29 Mar 20, 5:45pm - - Wine industry faces worker accommodation woes during lockdown
The wine industry is facing criticism for continuing harvest during the Covid-19 lockdown, and is facing problems with worker accommodation.
- 69 days ago, 26 Mar 20, 12:37am - - Coronavirus: Panic buying of vegetable seedlings at garden centres
Garden supplies and vegetable seedlings are the latest target for panic buying and people in isolation keeping busy, as concerns about the Covid-19 coronavirus grow.
- 75 days ago, 20 Mar 20, 12:46am - - Dairy farm sales low but recovering
New figures from the Real Estate Institute show dairy farm sales remain slow, with only one dairy farm changing hands in Canterbury in the last nine months.
- 75 days ago, 19 Mar 20, 10:05pm - - Synlait Milk's first half profit drops 30 percent
The dairy company's net profit for the six months ended January was $26.2 million, compared with $37.3 million the year before.
- 76 days ago, 18 Mar 20, 9:30pm - - Global dairy prices drop amid coronavirus disruption
Prices fell to their lowest level in more than a year in the global dairy auction as the Covid-19 pandemic seemed to disrupt buying.
- 77 days ago, 17 Mar 20, 7:05pm - - Fieldays postponed, other options being considered
This year's National Agricultral Fieldays has been postponed, due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
- 78 days ago, 17 Mar 20, 1:17am - - Coronavirus: Further strain on fruit picking labour shortages
The kiwifruit and apple industries are looking for New Zealanders to help fill labour shortages for this season's harvest, caused in part by the Covid-19 outbreak.
- 79 days ago, 15 Mar 20, 11:38pm - - Cowpats, cabers and clouds of soot in showcase of country life
Thousands descended on Palmerston North over the weekend to witness cowpat throwing, hay bale stacking and sheep shearing.
- 79 days ago, 15 Mar 20, 9:41pm - - Shortcomings in New Zealand's plant-based protein strategy, report says
A new report has found New Zealand needs to speed up its response to growing consumer demand for alternative plant-based proteins.
- 81 days ago, 14 Mar 20, 7:35am - - Drought, Covid-19 expected to slow primary sector export revenue
MPI's latest outlook report forecasts is $1.3 billion lower than the previous and further downaward revisions are likely.
- 83 days ago, 12 Mar 20, 3:26am -
