Rural Life

Making the most of NZ opportunity

Carol Booth spent an eight-month working holiday on dairy farms in West Otago six years ago.

Pastor Alex McLaughlin, of South Otago, reflects on his time in the district. PHOTO: MARY-JO TOHILL

From pasture to pastoral care

If you’d asked South Otago pastor Alex McLaughlin back in his Canterbury farming days if he was interested in becoming a minister, he’d have said, "Never, it’s just not me."

Rodeo promoter’s award came as complete surprise

Rodeo promoter’s award came as complete surprise

Lynne McCall had no idea she had been nominated for a New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association award until her friend sent her a video of the presentation.
NZRCA Secretary of Year award complete surprise

NZRCA Secretary of Year award complete surprise

Even though his only rodeo claim to fame is riding a sheep when he was 6, Mark Booth has been named the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Secretary of the Year.
Rug pulled from under trophy-hunt operations

Rug pulled from under trophy-hunt operations

Leithen Valley Hunts owner Rachel Stewart has had no clients and no income since New Zealand’s borders were closed.

Dairy

Dairy falls on fear of Covid rebound

Prices fell 5.1% in this week’s GlobalDairyTrade auction — the largest decline since December last year — as concerns about a resurgence of Covid- 19 spooked markets.

DairyNZ backs RMA changes

DairyNZ backs RMA changes

DairyNZ is backing changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) to deliver reduced compliance costs for farmers, increase efficiency and improve environmental outcomes.
Nominations open for Fonterra board

Nominations open for Fonterra board

Nominations are open for the Fonterra board of directors’ election.
Westland Milk CEO Toni Brendish to step down

Westland Milk CEO Toni Brendish to step down

Westland Milk, now owned by China's Yili, said the company's chief executive Toni Brendish would step down effective from Friday after four years in the role.

Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet

Red Meat

Why Govt bought 12,000 pig carcasses in lockdown

Concerns of a mass slaughtering of thousands of pigs by ill-equipped farmers spurred the Government to buy more than 12,000 pig carcasses during the height of Covid-19.

Pork surplus crisis averted by measures

Pork surplus crisis averted by measures

It could have been an unmitigated disaster for the pork industry.
$7.9m for SFF dividend, patronage

$7.9m for SFF dividend, patronage

Silver Fern Farms Co-operative has declared a dividend and patronage reward for shareholders totalling $7.9 million.
Alliance to spend $3.2m on upgrade

Alliance to spend $3.2m on upgrade

Alliance Group is to spend $3.2million on a further upgrade at its Lorneville plant, near Invercargill, to help improve operational efficiency.

Rural Events

Horticulture

Cherries are graded in Cromwell. Photo: Otago Images

Cherry growers ‘excited’ by airport plan

Central Otago cherry growers would expect to benefit from a new international airport at Tarras.

Campaign to boost food, fibre workforce

Campaign to boost food, fibre workforce

A new campaign launched on Monday will attract people to vital food and fibre sector jobs, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says.
Young viticulturists put to test

Young viticulturists put to test

Eight viticulture workers competed in this year’s Corteva Central Otago Young Viticulturist of the Year at the Otago Polytechnic’s Central campus, Bannockburn, last week.
Peregrine’s Angland wins regional contest

Peregrine’s Angland wins regional contest

A viticulture technician with a sheep and beef background is to represent Central Otago.

Clutha Environment Society sprang a surprise on rural landowners in the Upper Clutha Basin in early June. The two organisations came to an agreement that should clarify, and could tighten, subdivision and development rules in the rural zone.

Aerial top-dressing, deer among highlights of past century

Aerial top-dressing, deer among highlights of past century

In common with a record 70 families set to receive their Century Farm awards in Lawrence last month, the Mackies, of South Otago, were unable to share their story when Covid-19 intervened. Here they take the opportunity to do so.
Farmers farming for today, thinking about tomorrow

Farmers farming for today, thinking about tomorrow

Environmental care and protection is a topic never far from the forefront of public and media discourse.
Cotter passionate about supporting farmers in need

Cotter passionate about supporting farmers in need

Passionate about the rural sector and people’s welfare, Southland Rural Support Trust chairwoman Cathie Cotter says the best aspect of her role is being there for farmers.

Rural Events

Ploughmen compete

Twenty-three South Island farmers will aim to keep on the straight and narrow this weekend when they compete in the Upper Clutha ploughing competitions at Hawea.

Plans for shows moving ahead

Plans for shows moving ahead

The shows must go on in North Canterbury this spring.
Virtual field day of hub well attended

Virtual field day of hub well attended

A dairy field day without gumboots took place at the Southern Dairy Hub last week.
Interclub trial run at Mt Nessing

Interclub trial run at Mt Nessing

Everyone was looking for a fix at the Mt Nessing Collie Club earlier this month.

People

Debbie Rankin, programme manager, Southern Institute of Technology at the Telford campus, is...

Putting people into farm roles

Debbie Rankin has got many of the T jobs covered.

Isolation no bother for farmer

Isolation no bother for farmer

Isolation suits Chaslands farmer and community stalwart Dianne Miller.
Making the most of NZ opportunity

Making the most of NZ opportunity

Carol Booth spent an eight-month working holiday on dairy farms in West Otago six years ago.
NZRCA Secretary of Year award complete surprise

NZRCA Secretary of Year award complete surprise

Even though his only rodeo claim to fame is riding a sheep when he was 6, Mark Booth has been named the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Secretary of the Year.

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