Shawn McAvinue

After more than 20 years, Canterbury couple Jason and Tracey McDonald are returning to farm in the South after buying a sheep and beef property in West Otago.

Rising confidence in the sheep sector is boosting demand at ewe and lamb sales in the South. 

After more than 20 years, Canterbury couple Jason and Tracey McDonald are returning to farm in the South after buying a sheep and beef property in West Otago.

South Otago sheep breeders Garth and Chris Shaw have gone out with a bang with exceptional flock dispersal sales.

Shawn McAvinue asks DairyNZ South Otago area manager Emma Campbell, of Southland, five questions.

"We need more people growing food."

Fewer southern food and fibre producers are showing their businesses to the public and celebrating national open farm day as there is no rural-urban divide in the region, the event organiser says.

Ida Valley Station owner Callum Paterson is crunching data to find the best way to combat a lack of pasture cover on his farming operation in Central Otago.

Dunedin farmers are encouraging more of their kind to give surfing a crack next season.

Pendella Farm owner Angela Scott is selling the Maniototo property her grandfather bought nearly a century ago and the pure traditional merino flock her father began breeding more than 50 years ago.

Fewer southern food and fibre producers are showing their businesses to the public and celebrating national open farm day as there is no rural-urban divide in the region, the event organiser says.

Central Otago cowboy Pat McCarthy is testing his new knee as he approaches 60 years in the rodeo ring.

Teaser rams are more effective for producing more lambs from hoggets rather than ewes, a Dunedin scientist says.

The Gardyne family are growing an oat trial crop named after their clan.

Foundation for Arable Research chief executive Alison Stewart will step down at the end of June.

Oat trials in Southland are "absolutely brilliant", Scottish agronomist and oat grower Gordon Rennie says.

Shareholders of long-standing Dunedin oat miller Harraway & Sons are preparing to vote on investing millions of dollars to increase capacity in the business.