Rural Life

Trek has kept him coming back for 29 years

Gold fever hits Otago and South Canterbury as the annual Otago Goldfields Cavalcade gets under way this weekend, finishing in Twizel on March 6. Among the participants is Catlins farmer...

North Otago chicken farm sharpens its focus

Anna Craig knew it was the right time to get cracking and launch a new brand to market the free-range eggs produced on her family’s farm in North Otago.

‘Pies’ keeps cattle flowing

‘Pies’ keeps cattle flowing

A South Otago drover nicknamed Pies continues to "keep the cattle flowing".
Beef breeders to get a taste of an ideal whitebait habitat

Beef breeders to get a taste of an ideal whitebait habitat

It will be a variation on "surf and turf" for visitors to Colin Phillips’ Fern Hill Limousin Stud at Tuatapere this month.
Roped in for life by rodeo

Roped in for life by rodeo

As the rodeo season continues around the country, Southland farmer and cowboy Greg Lamb has overcome a few hefty obstacles to get back in the saddle again. Business and rural editor Sally Rae reports.

Dairy

Research focus of field day

Research updates and outcomes will be the main focus during the Southern Dairy Hub field day on March 10.

Pleasure to show dairy cattle again

Pleasure to show dairy cattle again

Showing dairy cattle is a family passion shared by Peter Gilbert and his sons, Nick, Michael and Luke.
New skilled worker roles on dairy farms good news - Feds

New skilled worker roles on dairy farms good news - Feds

Farmers are welcoming the news that assistant farm manager and herd manager roles on dairy farms will be recognised as skilled positions for migrant workers.
Danone biomass boiler progressing

Danone biomass boiler progressing

The first steam from Danone Nutricia NZ’s innovative new biomass boiler plant in South Otago is expected in August.

Red Meat

Limousins produce small calves with low birth weights, which mean they were useful to dairy...

Beef breeders to get a taste of an ideal whitebait habitat

It will be a variation on "surf and turf" for visitors to Colin Phillips’ Fern Hill Limousin Stud at Tuatapere this month.

Red meat export value up for 2020

Red meat export value up for 2020

New Zealand’s red meat sector exported $9.2billion worth of products during 2020, an increase of 1% on the previous year, analysis by the Meat Industry Association shows.
Red meat exports up

Red meat exports up

New Zealand’s red meat sector exported $9.2billion worth of products during 2020, 1% more than the previous year, analysis by the Meat Industry Association shows.
Weather sets back hogget trial

Weather sets back hogget trial

The Red Meat Profit Partnership’s (RMPP) three-year trial to improve hogget lambing to 150% has had a weather-related set back.

Rural Events

Horticulture

Raspberry Cottage owner Sarala Tamang (left) and its previous owner Margaret Little crouch beside...

From working at the berry farm to owning it

Raspberry Cottage owner Sarala Tamang is farming with a twist, but not without some help.

Radiata pine advocated as carbon sink

Radiata pine advocated as carbon sink

North Canterbury farm foresters would like to see the benefits of pine trees recognised in efforts to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets.
Lasers used as bird deterrent

Lasers used as bird deterrent

Using lasers to control birds might sound like science fiction but Ewing Stevens hopes the technology will save his grapes from the peckish pests.
Workshops for wine industry

Workshops for wine industry

The wellbeing of vintners and the wider wine-making sector will be examined in workshops to be held in Central Otago next month.

Focus on Farming

Oamaru vet Celia Van Kampen enjoys the variety of her work. PHOTO: REBECCA RYAN

Making the most of a move south

Life is a balancing act for Celia Van Kampen. The Oamaru vet tells Rebecca Ryan how she successfully fits her busy sporting schedule in around her work.

New umbrella for catchment groups

New umbrella for catchment groups

The latest evolution in coordinated catchment activity in Otago has been getting its ducks in a row this month, thanks to $200,000 seed funding from the Otago Regional Council and a further $150,000 from MPI.
Sustainability, teamwork pays off for duo

Sustainability, teamwork pays off for duo

Anna Gillespie’s relationship with husband Ben could best be described as symbiotic. It works so well the Omakau farmers are multi-award winners. One thing you should never do is call Mrs Gillespie a ‘‘farmer’s wife’’
Lions pride of Clinton for work raising money for good causes

Lions pride of Clinton for work raising money for good causes

One unforeseen aspect of lockdown for the Clinton area of South Otago was a forced reduction in fundraising activity, but the district’s Lions service group has recently redoubled its efforts in an attempt to boost its community coffers.

Rural Events

Ali Brenssell, of North Otago, set a record for the highest price paid for a working dog at the...

Records fall at Lawrence dog sale

Farmers were loving bidding for working dogs as records were broken in South Otago on Valentine’s Day.

Research focus of field day

Research focus of field day

Research updates and outcomes will be the main focus during the Southern Dairy Hub field day on March 10.
Buster musters big cluster of admirers

Buster musters big cluster of admirers

At three-quarters of a tonne with one blue eye and one brown one, size 9 shoes and a liking for hats, Buster the 12-year-old Clydesdale was popular at the Mt Benger A&P Show at the weekend.
Association gets back to its roots

Association gets back to its roots

After the past year's challenges, the Kaikoura A&P Association is hoping to get back to grass roots.

People

Catlins farmer Marty Miller and Mist prepare to set off on a Goldfields Cavalcade preparation...

Trek has kept him coming back for 29 years

Gold fever hits Otago and South Canterbury as the annual Otago Goldfields Cavalcade gets under way this weekend, finishing in Twizel on March 6. Among the participants is Catlins farmer...

North Otago chicken farm sharpens its focus

North Otago chicken farm sharpens its focus

Anna Craig knew it was the right time to get cracking and launch a new brand to market the free-range eggs produced on her family’s farm in North Otago.
‘Pies’ keeps cattle flowing

‘Pies’ keeps cattle flowing

A South Otago drover nicknamed Pies continues to "keep the cattle flowing".
Roped in for life by rodeo

Roped in for life by rodeo

As the rodeo season continues around the country, Southland farmer and cowboy Greg Lamb has overcome a few hefty obstacles to get back in the saddle again. Business and rural editor Sally Rae reports.

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