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.
Farming
10 percent of Central Otago-grown fruit going to waste, report finds
10 percent of Central Otago-grown fruit going to waste, report finds
A new report has found more than 10 percent of the fruit grown in Central Otago is not being sold or eaten.
Avocado prices tumble: 'Everyone's going to run at a loss this year'
Avocado prices tumble: 'Everyone's going to run at a loss this year'
Avocado growers are having a tough run this season, with large volumes of fruit coupled with weaker than usual demand pushing down returns.
Little berries big passion for black currant growers
Little berries big passion for black currant growers
A South Canterbury husband-and-wife team are squeezing every return they can out of an organic crop, writes Tim Cronshaw.
Tulip tour in doubt, but beauty assured
Tulip tour in doubt, but beauty assured
An annual tour of the tulip fields will wilt this year if Southland remains in Alert Level 2, an event organiser says.
RSE workers arrive in Central
RSE workers arrive in Central
More than 80 of the first seasonal workers to come to New Zealand as part of the country’s one-way travel bubble with three Pacific countries have arrived in Central Otago.
Wheat planted to be ready for rally
Wheat planted to be ready for rally
Grain farmer Anthony Hampton has timed the final sowing of wheat on his Lauriston farm to perfection.
Partnership growing organically
Partnership growing organically
Business is booming since a transtasman partnership bought an organic market garden in North Otago. Shawn McAvinue talks to Organic Solutions co-founder James Porteous about adding value to his...
Lord of the Rings pine forest destroyed by storms
Lord of the Rings pine forest destroyed by storms
An unassuming pine plantation that put the small rural town of Tarras on the map of Lord of the Rings fans has been destroyed by alpine thunder-and-lightning storms worthy of a battle between Gandalf and the Balrog.
Fear forestry conversions impacting farming communities
Fear forestry conversions impacting farming communities
More Southern farmland is set to be covered in forestry.
Paddocks ablaze with colour as sales plummet for daffodils
Paddocks ablaze with colour as sales plummet for daffodils
Sweep into Clandon Daffodil's driveway on the outskirts of Hamilton you'll be treated to an unusually vibrant spectacle.
Grower’s mind on struggles up north
Grower’s mind on struggles up north
Locked-down flower growers in Auckland are having to turn their blooms to compost, and an Invercargill grower understands their pain.
Sale of Catlins station for forestry approved
Sale of Catlins station for forestry approved
Ingka Group — one of 12 different groups of companies that own Swedish furniture and homeware giant Ikea — has bought a 5500ha sheep and beef station in the Catlins for forestry development.
Family chips in with spuds for community
Family chips in with spuds for community
Peter Collins is the Santa of spuds.
Gardeners encouraged to plant bee-friendly species
Gardeners encouraged to plant bee-friendly species
A Southland beekeeper is asking southerners to take part in Bee Aware Month this September and plant for bees.
Group gets go-ahead to buy Catlins station for forestry
Group gets go-ahead to buy Catlins station for forestry
Ingka Group — one of 12 different groups of companies that own Swedish furniture and homeware giant IKEA — has got the green light to buy a 5500ha sheep and beef station in the Catlins for forestry development.
Growers glad for return of farmers markets
Growers glad for return of farmers markets
Dunedin growers of leafy greens are rejoicing as the drop to Alert Level 2 means the return of Farmers Markets where the majority of their produce is sold.
Flower farmers forced to bin or mulch harvest due to restrictions
Flower farmers forced to bin or mulch harvest due to restrictions
Under alert level 4 flower growers aren't able to sell or distribute their goods. This means months of work and beautiful flowers are going straight into the bin.
Farms split by alert level changes
Farms split by alert level changes
The boundary south of Auckland is the same one used in February this year and sits right in the middle of some vegetable growing operations and farms.
Produce having to be thrown away
Produce having to be thrown away
Rodger Whitson has had to start throwing away perfectly good produce as the reality of being a small business owner during lockdown sinks in.