Rural Life

Support wanted for A&P Shows

With many A&P shows cancelled, or not open to the public this year, the Royal Agricultural Society is calling for Government support.

A cowboy brings down a calf during the Waikouaiti Rodeo in 2017. The rodeo is among several...

Hard choices facing rodeo organisers

The southern rodeo season hangs in the balance as organisers weigh up whether they can operate under new Covid-19 crowd restrictions following a string of cancellations.

Chairman keen for council to continue modernising

Chairman keen for council to continue modernising

New Zealand Fish & Game Council’s Ray Grubb says it is time for the organisation to modernise. He explains his goals with Wanaka reporter Marjorie Cook.
Gunns dispatch Shingle Creek bunnies

Gunns dispatch Shingle Creek bunnies

In a series, Shawn McAvinue talks to southern farmers doing their part to control the rabbit population. This week he speaks to the Gunn family, of Coal Creek.
Show goes on despite drizzle, Covid

Show goes on despite drizzle, Covid

Neither drizzle nor the pandemic could dampen spirits at the South Otago A&P Show in Balclutha on Saturday.

Dairy

Milk prices expected to reach record levels

Milk price predictions continue to rise with ANZ bumping up its 2021-22 forecast by 60c yesterday to $8.80/kg ms.

Southland cows stars of NZ-first online auction

Southland cows stars of NZ-first online auction

Southland cows are set to be offered in New Zealand’s first online dairy herd sale.
‘M. bovis’ review; lessons learned

‘M. bovis’ review; lessons learned

An independent review of the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme acknowledges the disruption and stress caused to affected farmers and says lessons have been learned and improvements made.
Solution to pond emissions found

Solution to pond emissions found

Lincoln University scientists have found a way to remove methane from effluent ponds on dairy farms.

Red Meat

Meat exports surged 10%, led by beef, which partially offset the November decline in dairy...

Farmers face delays in getting stock to the works

Farmers are facing delays in getting stock to the works as the brakes well and truly come off the cattle kill.

Carbon farming worries B+LNZ

Carbon farming worries B+LNZ

Beef + Lamb New Zealand says the growing chorus of voices against unchecked carbon farming cannot be ignored and urgent solutions are needed before more damage is done to rural communities.
Another big contract for Scott Tech

Another big contract for Scott Tech

Dunedin’s Scott Technology has signed an $18 million deal to design, build and commission an automated beef-boning system — the first of its kind in the world.
Lamb prices may lift ram demand

Lamb prices may lift ram demand

High lamb returns are hoped to boost the bidding action at the Canterbury A&P Association’s elite ram and ewe fair on Friday.

Rural Events

NZ produces enough food to feed 40 million but might not grow enough vegetables for its own population. Bruce Munro looks back on a time when 24 Chinese market gardens flourished on the fertile Taieri plains.

Cherry-picking season about to begin

Cherry-picking season about to begin

The Central Otago cherry season is about to start in earnest with early ripening varieties available for picking from Saturday.
Destructive moth set to arrive in NZ

Destructive moth set to arrive in NZ

South Island farmers are being warned to brace themselves for the arrival of a destructive caterpillar over the next five years.
SGHS pupil embarking on forestry career path

SGHS pupil embarking on forestry career path

Southland girl Emma Plomp is branching out into a career in forestry.

Focus on Farming

School leavers at Telford Taster Camp considering a future in farming. PHOTO: NICK BROOK

Camp gives school leavers a taste of the primary industries

New Zealand produces food, and with booming local and global populations, the world is buying.

Working together for the health of land

Working together for the health of land

WAI Wanaka started with just three part-time volunteers but has expanded to a workforce of 44 people. Kerrie Waterworth reports.
Couple touting picking strawberries as fun family outing

Couple touting picking strawberries as fun family outing

From bulls to berries — they are polar opposites but Ben and Rebecca Trotter are hoping they attract.
Shearing his passion for six decades

Shearing his passion for six decades

Shearing — both the industry and the sport — has been a lifetime love for New Zealand Merino Shearing Society life member Graeme Bell.

People

Hannah Busby (7), of Myross Bush, admires her family’s rams at a Southern Texel Breeders’ Club...

Lay of the land

A sales pitch states a purebred Texel ram produces lambs with the ‘‘get up and go’’ and determination to ‘‘survive and thrive’’ in difficult environmental conditions. Shawn McAvinue asks Southern Texel Breeders’ Club members showing their rams at an open day in Gore last week what gives you the get up and go to continue to survive and thrive in the Texel breeding industry?

Chairman keen for council to continue modernising

Chairman keen for council to continue modernising

New Zealand Fish & Game Council’s Ray Grubb says it is time for the organisation to modernise. He explains his goals with Wanaka reporter Marjorie Cook.
Gunns dispatch Shingle Creek bunnies

Gunns dispatch Shingle Creek bunnies

In a series, Shawn McAvinue talks to southern farmers doing their part to control the rabbit population. This week he speaks to the Gunn family, of Coal Creek.
Investing in finer wool stud breeding

Investing in finer wool stud breeding

Steve Kerr and Russell Smillie first met when they were both working on a stud farm in North Canterbury many years ago.

Rural Events

Hard choices facing rodeo organisers

The southern rodeo season hangs in the balance as organisers weigh up whether they can operate under new Covid-19 crowd restrictions following a string of cancellations.

Twin sales are winners

Twin sales are winners

Bidding and the weather were hot at a double-header cattle sale in Central Otago last week.
Support wanted for A&P Shows

Support wanted for A&P Shows

With many A&P shows cancelled, or not open to the public this year, the Royal Agricultural Society is calling for Government support.
Show goes on despite drizzle, Covid

Show goes on despite drizzle, Covid

Neither drizzle nor the pandemic could dampen spirits at the South Otago A&P Show in Balclutha on Saturday.

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