Sally Rae

Dramatic structural change is first required beyond the farm-gate in the wool industry if the economics of sheep farming are to improve, ANZ economists say.

Ask Greg Kirkwood what he loves about the dairy industry and he says: ''You don't know where you're going to end up.''

Dawn Sangster is an advocate for rural women developing their leadership skills.

Warren Taylor's goal for his new business venture is to achieve ''significantly better'' outcomes for Dunedin businesses and families.

A split industry is highlighted in the latest Federated Farmers' farm confidence survey, with confidence continuing to sink in the sheep, beef and grain sectors.

Negotiating with potential customers in bustling Asian cities is a far cry from collecting herbs in the tranquil Central Otago landscape.

Winton dairy veterinarian and mastitis consultant Kath Taylor is among six finalists in the 2013 Dairy Women of the Year Award.

Clarendon breeder pays top price for ram, wins fleece awardsIT has been a good couple of weeks for Kate McLachlan's black and coloured sheep stud.

Tractors, motorbikes, farm machinery and dancing girls will all be on display at the Southfuels Farmarama at Lawrence on February 7 and 8.

More than 190 workers at Summit Wool Spinners in Oamaru are being made redundant with the sale of the troubled woollen mill - the town's second largest employer - to carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst.

Sheep and beef farmers will be asked to vote to support the farmer contribution for a $65 million programme which the Ministry for Primary Industries says will ''transform'' the delivery of knowledge and capability within the red meat sector.

Paul Williams searched for 11 months to find the right premises for his new wine business.

Fonterra has moved to persuade global customers that New Zealand dairy products are safe to consume, in the wake of the discovery of dicyandiamide residue in milk.

Lindsay Tregonning jokes he could have bought a jet-boat or gone on holiday instead of purchasing English Longhorn cattle embryos from the United Kingdom. But the long-time beef cattle enthusiast was intrigued by the breed, regarded as the oldest pure breed of cattle in England.