Rural Life

Life’s journey leads from Zimbabwe to Central Otago

Leanne, 11 (left), Lesedi, 14, Karen, and Conrad Kamota pictured with their Boer goats in Central...

Life’s journey leads from Zimbabwe to Central Otago

From rural Zimbabwe to the rolling hills of Central Otago, Conrad Kamota’s journey has come full circle — from finance professional to aspiring farmer.

From Waimumu to the world

Southland farmer and inventor Grant Lightfoot is now supplying his edible jute bale net to...

From Waimumu to the world

Winning the 2024 Southern Rural Life Innovation Awards at Waimumu’s Southern Field Days was just the start for Grant Lightfoot.

Win sweet for St Hilda’s

St Hilda's Collegiate farmers club members (from left) Sophie Cameron, 17, Isla Wilson, 16, Ella...

Win sweet for St Hilda’s

Some female farming X-factor has led to St Hilda’s Collegiate School jointly winning an agriculture contest, herding the boys into the back paddock.

Identical bull triplets a surprise

Southland farmer Josephine Dodds with three extremely rare identical bulls. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

Identical bull triplets a surprise

There is a lot of bull being seen on a dairy farm just south of Gore.

Search for A&P queen resumes

Inspections of Balclutha's SH1 bridge will begin on Monday evening. File photo

Search for A&P queen resumes

The search for the ultimate southern belle resumes this summer, as a long-standing tradition returns to Balclutha’s showgrounds.

Rebate from proposed sale ‘insignificant’

Sheep and beef farmer and Alliance Group shareholder Ben Dooley, of Central Southland, is...

Rebate from proposed sale ‘insignificant’

Alliance Group released new information last Thursday including an "insignificant" rebate to its farmer-shareholders if they accept a proposal to sell a majority share of their red meat co-operative.

Farmers urged to give solar a go

More than 100 solar panels convert sunlight into electricity on Willowglen Farms in Ranfurly....

Farmers urged to give solar a go

Farmers are good at turning sunlight into energy, Maniototo sheep, beef and deer farmer Becks Smith says.

Sky’s the limit for use of drones

Sky’s the limit for use of drones

Unmanned aircraft are the future for agricultural spraying, engineer Scott Spooner says.

‘Virtual shepherd’ shows productivity benefits

A breeding beef cow wears a Gallagher eShepherd neckband on Omarama Station. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

‘Virtual shepherd’ shows productivity benefits

Waitaki Valley farmer Richard Subtil has put virtual shepherd neckbands on his beef cows to keep them out of waterways and has discovered many more benefits.

Town’s compost used on farm

Seaview Grange farm manager Thomas Stocker displays compost set to be spread on the South...

Town’s compost used on farm

South Canterbury sheep and beef farmers are "thinking outside the box" by applying compost created from garden and food waste collected from kerbside bins.

Wool ‘valuable fibre’ for economy

The NZ Merino Company is looking at trends ranging from ethical investors demanding suppliers...

Wool ‘valuable fibre’ for economy

Millennial and Gen Z shoppers who buy fashionable clothes for resale when they tire of them are among overseas trends towards longer-lasting garments being tracked by the NZ Merino Company (NZM).

Rural spending expected to increase

Federated Farmers national dairy chairman Karl Dean expects two double-digit payouts in a row...

Rural spending expected to increase

A tight grip on wallets is about to loosen as dairy farmers usher in another double-digit payout from Fonterra.

Hands-on agricultural experience

Celebrating a $5000 contribution to Waimate High School’s Aghub are (from left) principal Jo...

Hands-on agricultural experience

Waimate High School’s new initiative — the AgHub — is already cultivating excitement across South Canterbury.

Fencer gets into competitive side

Canterbury fencer Tom Rathgen once wanted to be a cabinet-maker of fine furniture, but now his...

Fencer gets into competitive side

Canterbury fencer Tom Rathgen’s decision to drop a cabinet-making career to work for the family business in Selwyn has paid off.

Europeans win ploughing laurels

Northern Southland ploughman Mark Dillon represents New Zealand in the conventional class at the...

Europeans win ploughing laurels

European ploughmen beat their southern counterparts at the 70th World Ploughing Contest in Prague this month.

Mighty work under way at salmon hatchery

Jackie Manning (left) and many others help out at the clipping day at McKinnon’s Creek Salmon...

Mighty work under way at salmon hatchery

Volunteer helpers have been busy over the past few months stripping and incubating salmon eggs from broodstock hatchery fish at the McKinnon’s Creek Salmon Hatchery on the Rangitata River.

Poll Dorset breeder starts young

Tim Wilson shows his "Sheep of the Show" at the Central Hawke’s Bay A&P Show — a two-tooth...

Poll Dorset breeder starts young

There is a new generation of motivated Poll Dorset breeders coming up the ranks in New Zealand, including Central Hawke’s Bay’s Tim Wilson who sold his first rams at 11.