Sally Rae

Clint McAughtrie was born to be a cowboy.

When Boer goats were introduced on Barewood Station four years ago, it would be fair to say a few eyebrows were raised.

It is far from the bustle of Auckland - and the cameras and lights of the MasterChef kitchen - to the quiet, stark beauty of the Mackenzie district.

High country artist Norman Sinclair is looking forward to a trip to the Waitaki Valley next week.

A dairy expansion planned at Telford Farms - costing just over $4 million - is the first major dairy development at the South Otago property for more than 20 years.

A plan has been launched with the aim of almost doubling the value of New Zealand's red meat sector earnings, and participants yesterday said it was a good start.

Two women were taken to Oamaru Hospital to be checked after a car collided with a freight train in Oamaru yesterday.

People expect Sue McDowell to have an amazing sewing machine.

Otago Federated Farmers president Mike Lord's combined regional and district council rates bill, for his Taieri dairy farm, has increased from $23,000 in 2002 to almost $50,000 this year.

When Lagooncreek Rosey Red was named supreme champion animal at the recent Mackenzie Highland Show, the victory was sweet not only for her owner but for dairy goat breeders in general.

Being sharemilkers on a farm in rural Otago is a far cry from running a gift and homeware shop in Wellington - but Tim and Lorraine Johnson have successfully made the transition from city to country life.

Federated Farmers Otago provincial president Mike Lord just wants to see a fair rating system.

United Kingdom supermarket chain Marks and Spencer has not been able to source enough Primera-bred lambs to move towards becoming exclusively Primera.

If Jann Robertson is not at work at Idealprint and Design in Tapanui, she is most likely to be found ferrying children to music lessons or sports practices.

A $713,000 redevelopment of the Oamaru blue penguin colony has been suggested to maintain its status in the nature heritage industry.

The need for a fair rating system has been impressed upon the Waitaki District Council by North Otago's farming community.

An $850,000 contestable fund has been established to drive further growth of the red-meat industry.

Middlemarch beekeeper Blair Dale is used to dealing with the vagaries of the weather.

Hakataramea is going to the dogs.

A strong involvement in Young Farmers, which included helping to raise $70,000 for the Christchurch earthquake appeal, has paid off for lower order sharemilker and equity partner Greig Moore.