Any colour, so long as it is red
A Mid Canterbury farmer has built up a collection of 50 tractors. Most of them are vintage and one colour, writes Tim Cronshaw.
Farming
Chemical, fertiliser price rise unease
Chemical, fertiliser price rise unease
Canterbury farmers are starting to get uneasy about rising agri-chemical and fertiliser prices.
Hopes new tech will attract top cherry pickers
Hopes new tech will attract top cherry pickers
Central Otago cherry producer Tarras Cherry Corp has implemented New Zealand-developed orchard management technology this season to attract and reward productive workers.
Forestry, horticulture returns lag
Forestry, horticulture returns lag
The ANZ World Commodity Price Index eased 0.2% in December as stronger prices for dairy, meat and aluminium were not sufficient to offset lower returns from the forestry and horticultural sectors.
‘We know that fruit will go to waste’
‘We know that fruit will go to waste’
Staffing shortages continue to bite for Central Otago orchardists.
Word on grapevine: everything just fine
Word on grapevine: everything just fine
Fine weather over Christmas and New Year has been a boon for Central Otago vineyard managers, both in terms of disease management and projected staff numbers for the coming harvest.
Sun helping cherries, but staff still scarce
Sun helping cherries, but staff still scarce
A year after heavy and persistent rain destroyed millions of dollars of Central Otago cherries, growers are thankful for this month’s sun, but are facing another sort of problem.
Public get their pick of farm’s raspberries
Public get their pick of farm’s raspberries
There were probably a few scratched arms and red-stained faces around Dunedin after a recent pick-your-own raspberries trial.
Season off to a berry good start
Season off to a berry good start
A Southland blueberry orchard manager says this season is one of the most promising in recent years.
Fruitful days lie ahead, say North Otago growers
Fruitful days lie ahead, say North Otago growers
Fruitgrowers in North Otago are looking forward to a bumper crop this season.
Garden staff propagate life from a corpse
Garden staff propagate life from a corpse
It is the sweet smell of success rather than that of rotting flesh which is perfuming the nostrils of Dunedin Botanic Garden staff after the successful propagation of their corpse flower.
Christmas strawberry shortage looms
Christmas strawberry shortage looms
Wet weather has decimated strawberry crops - meaning there could be a shortage for Christmas.
Jersey Benne grower in it for the long run
Jersey Benne grower in it for the long run
A North Otago market gardener has a thick skin from growing soft-skin potatoes for more than 40 years.
Cherry stone-spitting champs going ahead next week
Cherry stone-spitting champs going ahead next week
As other summer events fall because of Covid-19, at least one in Central Otago is standing strong.
Orcharding family celebrates centennial
Orcharding family celebrates centennial
A family that has left an indelible imprint on the fabric of Central Otago celebrated a century of harvesting summer fruit this year.
Raspberry business, cafe owners selling up
Raspberry business, cafe owners selling up
Leaving will be tinged with sadness for Graeme and Estelle Blanchard as they mark their final season at Monte Christo Raspberries and Cafe, near Clyde.
Why New Zealanders are eating less kale
Why New Zealanders are eating less kale
Kale has fallen out of favour with New Zealand consumers, with the country's largest grower of salad crops reporting a significant decline in sales.
Native trees attract better pollinators
Native trees attract better pollinators
Arable farmers are being challenged to put in more native trees and shrubs to attract good insects.
Plenty needs understanding with biopesticides
Plenty needs understanding with biopesticides
More is being found out about biopesticides as an alternative for chemical sprays to control crop diseases on arable farms.
Tricky scaring off intelligent birds
Tricky scaring off intelligent birds
Pesky birds are getting the full armoury against them to keep them from dining on arable crops.