- Shearers await word on overseas workers approvals
The shearing industry is nervously waiting to find out if it will be able to bring in overseas shearers to help this season.
- 20 hours ago, 29 Oct 20, 3:14am - - Online service aims to help fill shortage in fruit pickers
A new online job service hopes to get students into summer fruit picking work as growers continue to warn of a dire shortage of pickers.
- 1 day ago, 28 Oct 20, 11:01pm - - 'Stressed' vets desperate for help from 200 foreign workers
The government has no plans to change border exemptions for vets despite pleas from the Veterinary Association that vets are burning out and animal welfare is at stake.
- 1 day ago, 28 Oct 20, 9:38pm - - Dairy industry short hundreds of staff
The dairy industry says despite a big push to try and attract locals, it is still hundreds of staff short this season.
- 3 days ago, 26 Oct 20, 9:37pm - - Man dies after accident on Central Otago farm
A man has died in Dunedin Hospital after suffering critical injuries when the truck he was driving rolled on a Central Otago farm late last week.
- 4 days ago, 26 Oct 20, 1:07am - - Townies get taste for rural life by exploring food origins
The manager of the park that hosts Nelson's agricultural and pastoral show says it has become an important event for people who have lost touch with the origins of food.
- 6 days ago, 24 Oct 20, 3:58am - - Shearer who killed lamb jailed for 16 months
A shearer who killed a lamb, by hitting it on the head, has been jailed for 16 months.
- 6 days ago, 23 Oct 20, 7:52pm - - On the Farm - a wrap of farming conditions around NZ
Country Life: Grass is bolting and tractors are humming in the North Island but farmers could still do with more rain. On the West Coast farmers are waiting for paddocks to dry out...
- 6 days ago, 23 Oct 20, 6:11pm - - Live animal export ban lifts but SAFE wants total ban on livestock shipments
A temporary ban on live animal exports lifts today - but the number of animals which can be loaded on a ship will be capped.
- 6 days ago, 23 Oct 20, 5:52pm - - Cows and crowds cancelled, but the A&P Show goes on
One of the largest events on the Hawke's Bay calendar has had to make big changes in order to survive Covid-19.
- 7 days ago, 23 Oct 20, 12:57am - - Shearers were among those travelling to Melbourne via Sydney
New Zealand shearers were on the first flights to Australia and among those who travelled on to Melbourne.
- 8 days ago, 21 Oct 20, 9:44pm - - Drought fears for South Canterbury, North Otago farmers
South Canterbury and North Otago farmers are concerned they are on the precipice of a drought.
- 10 days ago, 20 Oct 20, 5:03am - - Fonterra Shareholders Council pledges reform
The Fonterra Shareholders Council says it will lift its game following two reports, the latest which said it must do better to hold the Fonterra Board to account.
- 11 days ago, 19 Oct 20, 2:55am - - Watermelon shortage predicted as biosecurity concerns hold up Tongan supply
Supermarket shelves could soon run dry of watermelons with all import channels for the fruit currently closed due to biosecurity concerns.
- 11 days ago, 19 Oct 20, 2:46am - - Farmers want Labour to govern alone - Fed Farmers
Farmers are anxiously waiting to see whether or not Labour will choose to govern alone or bring in the Green Party.
- 11 days ago, 19 Oct 20, 12:41am - - Gisborne sheep shorn after five years producing record-breaking fleece
A Gisborne sheep that evaded capture for five years has finally been shorn, producing a record-breaking fleece.
- 13 days ago, 17 Oct 20, 3:45am - - Cow collars allow farmers to create 'virtual fence'
Country Life - Three farms are now using a start-up company's cow collars that use sound and vibration to keep them contained without the use of fences.
- 13 days ago, 16 Oct 20, 10:49pm - - On the farm: A wrap of what's happening in the regions
Country Life - Farmers are welcoming a few millimetres of rain this week, but trading stock is being offloaded in Marlborough which is still hanging out for rain.
- 13 days ago, 16 Oct 20, 6:23pm - - Allied Farmers to buy into new rural land management company
The rural services group Allied Farmers has announced it will buy into a land management company, and in two years, may take it over completely.
- 14 days ago, 16 Oct 20, 1:10am - - Fonterra raises forecast milk price
Fonterra is raising its forecast farmgate milk price range for the current dairy season to $6.80 per kilogram with a plus or minus margin of 50 cents.
- 15 days ago, 14 Oct 20, 10:13pm -
- 'You've got to take the community with you'
Farmer Chris Lewis tells The Detail new environmental legislation led from Wellington adds another level of compliance and burden but isn't likely to clean up rivers any better.
- 15 days ago, 14 Oct 20, 4:41pm - - Kiwifruit can be a mood booster - new research
Adults low in dietary vitamin C can improve their mood by eating two kiwifruit a day for two weeks, new research by Otago University has found.
- 17 days ago, 13 Oct 20, 6:14am - - Growers warn 'time is slipping by' for harvest amid dire need for pickers
A group of 14 growers have issued a joint warning that some fruit and vegetables could rot unharvested this summer because of a shortage of people to pick them.
- 17 days ago, 13 Oct 20, 2:01am - - Fonterra rolls out on farm emissions reports for its farmers
The dairy co-operative has introduced on-farm greenhouse gas emissions profiles which it says will help its farmers better understand how they can reduce emissions.
- 17 days ago, 12 Oct 20, 10:51pm - - La Niña likely to bring rain for top of NZ this summer - Niwa
There are fears a lack of rain will lead to another serious drought this year, but weather experts are predicting there might be a reversal of fortunes.
- 18 days ago, 12 Oct 20, 7:46am - - Farmers share concerns with Labour leader Jacinda Ardern
As Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says there is more work to be done over freshwater policy reforms, farmers have been voicing their concerns with her personally.
- 18 days ago, 12 Oct 20, 5:26am - - Three years after the Morrinsville protest, farmers reveal if views have changed
This time last election 500 people in Jacinda Ardern's home town of Morrinsville protested the treatment of farmers. Andrew McRae talks to some who where there to find out if feelings have changed.
- 18 days ago, 11 Oct 20, 8:00pm - - Title ton: shearer celebrates milestone
A South Canterbury farmer has become the first person in the world to win 100 blade-shearing finals.
- 19 days ago, 11 Oct 20, 2:19am - - On a mission to destroy wilding pines
Country Life: Dr John Hellstrom is at the helm of a group leading the way in the battle against wilding pines which are being blamed for creating tinder box conditions in parts of the country.
- 20 days ago, 9 Oct 20, 10:26pm - - Feet first: ensuring cows don't get the wobbles
Country Life: Draining abscesses on cows hoofs may be a mucky job but Johan 'The Hoofman' Buys loves it.
- 20 days ago, 9 Oct 20, 6:56pm - - Water rules concerns drive farmers' tractor hui
More than 150 Southland farmers on tractors hve descended on Invercargill for a town and country hui.
- 21 days ago, 9 Oct 20, 12:02am - - More farmers say Google Maps sending drivers over tracks
Farmers sick of shooing intruders off their properties are demanding answers from Google - but the tech giant won't say exactly how it came to list their private tracks as roads.
- 22 days ago, 8 Oct 20, 5:16am - - Farm tracks on Google Maps as roads raises concerns
A West Coast farmer was disconcerted to find a farm track on his property listed as a road on Google Maps.
- 22 days ago, 7 Oct 20, 5:32pm - - Growers hopeful for government support to address labour shortage
The horticulture industry is still holding onto hope that some RSE workers from the Pacific may be able to come into the country to help harvest fruit this season.
- 23 days ago, 7 Oct 20, 4:15am - - Freshwater reform concerns: Govt farm funding ‘nowhere near enough’
Government funding to help farmers and councils deal with new environmental rules is "nowhere near enough" to cover the costs, West Coast Regional Council chairman Allan Birchfield says.
- 23 days ago, 7 Oct 20, 2:03am - - Tourism worker left without job sees future in horticulture industry
A displaced tourism worker says he has no regrets about switching the office for an orchard.
- 23 days ago, 6 Oct 20, 7:53pm - - Government nixes calls for fruit pickers to be let into NZ, for now
The Minister of Immigration is adamant the government will not let oveseas workers cut corners through border controls to fix a horticulture labour shortage.
- 24 days ago, 6 Oct 20, 6:15am - - Covid's tentacles extend into Endeavour Inlet
Country Life: A possum hunter, a farming couple and a young Polish man live in an idyllic part of the Marlborough Sounds, but the effects of the global pandemic are still being felt.
- 27 days ago, 2 Oct 20, 10:46pm - - Heavy snow, and falls to sea level expected for some parts of the South
Snow to low levels could be on its way for many parts of the South Island overnight and through until Tuesday, with MetService issuing warnings for travellers and farmers.
- 33 days ago, 27 Sep 20, 6:31am - - Raising meat rabbits proves food for thought for aspiring author
Country Life: Dana Thompson and her family are living off the land in South Otago and helping others who want to do the same.
- 34 days ago, 26 Sep 20, 3:33am - - Partial reverse of livestock ban if Labour elected - O'Connor
The Minister of Agriculture has unveiled policy that would allow some live cattle exports to be permitted from late next month.
- 35 days ago, 25 Sep 20, 2:27am - - Farmers natural guardians of biodiversity, new study says
More than 90 percent of sheep and beef farmers support biodiversity on their farms, a new study has found.
- 35 days ago, 25 Sep 20, 12:44am - - New project to increase tomato yield in winter
A new tomato venture in Northland could go some way in easing the spike in tomato prices seen during the winter period.
- 35 days ago, 24 Sep 20, 10:01pm - - Agriculture industry, environmentalists lukewarm on National, Labour policies
Agriculture has found itself in a policy tug of war between National's Judith Collins and Labour's Jacinda Ardern this election.
- 35 days ago, 24 Sep 20, 6:36pm - - Lower sheep and beef farmers sentiment chief contributor to rural confidence fall - Rabobank
Waning sentiment among sheep and beef farmers has pushed rural confidence deeper into negative territory in Rabobank's latest rural confidence survey.
- 36 days ago, 23 Sep 20, 11:57pm - - Still not enough RSE workers with immigration changes - fruit picking industry
A leading New Zealand fruit harvesting organisation says even with the changes to immigration policy there will not be enough RSE workers in New Zealand to support a full harvest in February.
- 37 days ago, 22 Sep 20, 10:51pm - - Hawke's Bay rugby team to pay tribute to region's farmers
Hawke's Bay's rugby team, the Magpies, will take to the field this weekend wearing special jerseys as a tribute to the region's farmers.
- 38 days ago, 22 Sep 20, 7:32am - - Visa changes, border exemptions for specialised workers
The government has announced more border exemptions and visa changes to help get specialised workers in the country and fill labour shortages in key sectors.
- 38 days ago, 22 Sep 20, 12:48am - - Primary sector wary of health and safety if cannabis legalised
Legalising of recreational cannabis could increase health and safety risks for the primary sector, say wary employers.
- 38 days ago, 21 Sep 20, 6:32pm - - On the farm: A wrap of what's happening in the regions
Country Life - Docking's started in blustery weather in the North and in Te Waipounamu it was a wild week for many on both sides of the main divide.
- 41 days ago, 18 Sep 20, 7:00pm - - Plug pulled on 2021 Marlborough Wine and Food Festival
Organisers of next February's Marlborough Wine & Food Festival have pulled the plug early.
- 42 days ago, 17 Sep 20, 9:52pm - - Fonterra posts $659m full year profit
The dairy co-operative has put last year's massive loss of $605 million behind it with a full year profit of $659m.
- 42 days ago, 17 Sep 20, 9:32pm - - Farmers and growers call for help with labour shortages
Farmers and growers say if agriculture is going to drag the country's economy back into shape, they will need help to fix labour shortages.
- 42 days ago, 17 Sep 20, 7:59pm - - Rural property market sales rebound
The Real Estate Institute thinks the resilience primary industries have shown during the Covid-19 pandemic has helped boost confidence in the sector.
- 43 days ago, 17 Sep 20, 3:25am - - Three egg companies allowed to be whisked together
The Commerce Commission has approved a three-way merger in the egg industry.
- 43 days ago, 17 Sep 20, 2:54am - - Waikato A&P Show cancelled due to uncertainty around Covid-19
The Waikato A&P Show, due to get underway late next month, has been cancelled due to the uncertainty around Covid-19.
- 44 days ago, 16 Sep 20, 1:41am - - DOC relying too much on hunters to control tahr - Forest & Bird
Forest & Bird is alarmed that some conservation land where tahr numbers need to be reduced is excluded from the plan for control operations this year.
- 45 days ago, 14 Sep 20, 8:20pm - - Greens warned fertiliser tax 'will create pressure on farmers'
The Green Party is being warned that a fertiliser levy is not a solution to more sustainable farming.
- 46 days ago, 13 Sep 20, 7:43pm - - NZ Dairy Industry awards review complete
An independent review into the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards revocation of the national title has been completed.
- 49 days ago, 11 Sep 20, 4:58am - - Fears for harvest as seasonal workers locked out due to Covid-19
Hawke's Bay growers are facing a serious seasonal labour shortage as the reality of Covid-19 sinks in.
- 49 days ago, 11 Sep 20, 4:34am -
