Shawn McAvinue

Southland Rural Support Trust has hired a co-ordinator to help organise recovery and wellbeing events after a cold and wet spring.

Central Otago sheep and beef farmer Sam Stevens is remaining chairman of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Central South Island farmer council despite his farm being on the market.

Beef + Lamb may ask farmers for a levy increase, chairwoman Kate Acland warned.

Southern farmers are helping rural schools get a slice of a rewards programme.

A good leader can identify his weaknesses and build a team around him to bridge those gaps, Central Otago orchardist Kris Robb says.

A group of students used their study break to help clean farms impacted by flooding in South Otago.

Central Otago fruit grower Luke St John is chasing his dream of orchard ownership.

The best way to install a fence is continually evolving and fencing contractors can separate themselves from the cowboys by attending bestpractice days, a southern industry spokesman says.

Rising positivity in the agriculture sector is bringing pleasing results for cattle vendors in the South.

Shawn McAvinue talks to New Zealand Merino Shears president Lane McSkimming, of Alexandra, about the upcoming event this weekend. 

North Otago farmer Kate Faulks has been elected to the Ravensdown board and is looking forward to helping the agricultural sector navigate challenges towards a bright future.

A faster, cheaper and more accurate way to test for bovine tuberculosis and Johne’s disease is being developed at the University of Otago and may slash diagnosis times from days to minutes.

The "business end" of a bunch of burgeoning black bulls have been given clearance to headline an annual on-farm auction in Balfour next week.

Jason Smith is holding his first yearling cattle sale at Charlton Saleyards near Gore this month.

Relentless rain and diabolical ground conditions in the South have sparked a call for farmers to look out for each other and check the level of their effluent ponds.

Reporter Shawn McAvinue spends five minutes talking to Growing Future Farmers student success lead Amy Priest, of Lumsden. 

A call is being made for southern sheep poo samples in order to help investigate the spread of facial eczema.

Romahapa Primary School pupils and teacher Lauren Keighley (left) and teacher aide Lisa Cowie celebrate selling prime lambs at Balclutha Saleyards last week.