Shawn McAvinue

Farmer Wilson Ronald celebrated his birthday docking sheep with his family in Western Southland last week.

In an occasional series, Shawn McAvinue travels highways in Otago and Southland and when something catches his eye, he stops for a chat with the people involved. For the first instalment he stops...

A Southern livestock agent is calling time on career of more than 50 years and will celebrate with a ginger beer on his final day this Friday.

A herd of dairy bull calves with the greatest potential to breed profitable and efficient replacement heifers sold for the highest prices in New Zealand this year, their breeders say.

An annual tour of the tulip fields will wilt this year if Southland remains in Alert Level 2, an event organiser says.

In an occasional series, Shawn McAvinue travels highways in Otago and Southland and when something catches his eye, he stops and talks to the person responsible for that something. For the first...

Vet John Smart has called time on a nearly 46-year career of caring for animals in South Otago.

A critical shortage of vets is set to get worse, heads of Southern practices say.

A North Otago teacher is giving retired working dogs a second chance at life.

Business is booming since a transtasman partnership bought an organic market garden in North Otago. Shawn McAvinue talks to Organic Solutions co-founder James Porteous about adding value to his...

Outbreaks of a pasture-damaging pest are more prevalent in the South because of drier summers, a scientist says.

Selecting a ram from figures in a database is a ‘‘bone of contention’’ for some older farmers, an East Otago stud breeder says.

Docking lambs on Fraser Farm at Waitaki Boys’ High School in Oamaru last week are farm manager Dave Ruddenklau and pupils (from left) Tamatoa Chapman,  Liam Mavor and Eli Johnson (all 16).

A spring storm which hit the South during lambing was ‘‘grim’’ but farmers were prepared and have battled worse conditions, the head of Federated Farmers Otago says.

A Southern jeweller continues to muster a new way to sell his shepherd’s whistle as his primary client base remains locked out.

Some freedoms returned to the South after moving to Delta Alert Level 2 last week. Shawn McAvinue got masked up to visit a sheep sale and a farmers’ market to see how everyone was coping with the...

Southern meat processing staff have ‘‘stepped up’’ to continue working during alert levels but global supply chain issues remain.