Shawn McAvinue

Making a living from sheep and beef farming has never been harder and many farmers are in a "misery locker", Beef + Lamb New Zealand South Island lead extension manager Hannah Blakely says.

Sheep and beef farmers Graham and Rhys Evans hosted a field day on their family farm in Owaka last week.

Weighing fodder beet on a dairy farm in Outram for the annual Taieri winter crop competition and charity auction are (from left) Warren Blakely, Jeff McKenzie and Drew Carruthers, all of North Taieri.

Cathie Cotter is calling time on helping southern rural communities deal with the impact of adverse events.

A sheep and beef finishing unit is developing in Central Otago.

A wildfire left a path of destruction in its wake on two sheep and beef farms in East Otago last month.

New Zealand Beef Shorthorn Association president Anita Erskine, of Western Southland, spends five minutes talking to Shawn McAvinue.

About 1500 calves were on offer at an annual back-to-back sales on five stations in Upper Clutha last week.

Rabbits are destroying the pasture, crops and soul of a Clutha dairy farmer.

Decisions, decisions.

Southerners took home a good share of the spoils from the New Zealand Ploughing Championships this month.

Competitors in the inaugural Otago Merino Association Two Tooth Ewe Flock competition get more than bragging rights, chairman Will Gibson says.

A drone can scatter seed and spray weeds to allow native plants to establish in a gully on a South Otago dairy farm, technology converts Sandra and Chris Campbell say.

Southern farmers battling dry conditions have a few less mouths to feed after a full clearance at the Maniototo Last Muster Lamb Sale.

Politicians are visiting woolsheds across New Zealand to hear about the issues affecting farmers to help the government determine its "direction of travel".

Dog triallists worked up a thirst at the 101st Warepa Collie Club in South Otago recently. 

Competitors flocked to the 101st Warepa Collie Club dog trials in South Otago for two days ending Monday last week.

Bruce and Lesley Martin took a short stroll to make their debut as vendors at the Owaka Calf Sale and took home all the trophies on offer.

Mating results have been positive on dairy farms in South Otago, a vet says.