Yvonne O'Hara

Arable farmers in Southland and Otago have been asked to provide feedback on whether the industry should sign up to the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA).

The sheep milk industry has the potential to be a successful income earner for farmers, AgResearch senior scientist Dr Sue McCoard says.

Raewyn Officer, of Lake Roxburgh Village, intends to plant a 4.5ha block of land with about 30,000 grey pumpkin seeds, by hand, by herself, and she is happy to do so.

Anyone with an interest in the dairy industry has until November 12 to make submissions on the dairy herd improvement regulatory regime review.

Aronia berries, also known as black chokeberries, could become a commercially viable crop for Central Otago in the next few years.

Six pupils from Waiau Area School in Tuatapere spent two days last week visiting orchards and a vineyard in Central Otago, as part of a careers initiative developed by Seasonal Solutions.

One of the country's top dog triallists is to hold a training class for owners of heading and huntaway dogs at the Ida Valley Station woolshed later this month.

The Beef + Lamb New Zealand Southern South Island Farmer Council has a new chairman.

Seven southern Young Farmers club members competed in the Southland Young Farmers district contest and skills day near Riverton on Saturday.

Early 1900s technology is playing a role in movie-making, scientific research, and textile art, which is being sent all over the world.

Central Otago wines's successes in several recent national and international wine awards are not to be sniffed at, but rather tasted and savoured.

It is all about teamwork for Three Miners Vineyard owners Kirstin and Paul Wright, of Earnscleugh.

Fish no longer die and hours of labour have been saved each day after a new ''quantum leap'' piece of equipment was installed as part of the Galloway Irrigation Company's pumping system recently.

The man with a 'PhD' in fencing, world and national fencing champion Shane Bouskill, of Hawke's Bay, was at Fruitlands, near Alexandra, last Friday, demonstrating best practice fencing techniques...

John and Pam Chapman, of Como Villa Estate, near Alexandra, are hoping to have a replica blacksmith smithy on site by March next year, to complement their stables, restored stone cottage, and...

Rob McQueen, of Teviot, and Jared Ross, of Kurow, were co-opted on to Beef + Lamb New Zealand's Central South Island Farmers Council at its annual meeting in Wanaka last week.

A former road transport sales and logistics manager is the new Southern Dairy Hub farm manager, effectively looking after four distinct dairy farming systems.

The distinctive Speckle Park beef breed is becoming increasingly popular for both beef and dairy breeding.

More than 800 submissions are being reviewed as part of a proposal to increase a bee industry levy to combat the disease American foulbrood (AFB).

Apiculture New Zealand (APINZ) has ''tweaked'' its proposal to introduce a commodity levy on honey, following consultation with the industry during the past three months.