Return to family farm reaps reward
For the first time, Sean McElrea has his name engraved on the trophy for the West Otago A&P Society ewe hogget competition.
Rural Events
Milk prices up after recent slide
Milk prices up after recent slide
A drop in milk volumes sold saw prices rise at the Global Dairy Trade auction, stopping the slide seen at the previous two events.
Place-getters seeking expansion
Place-getters seeking expansion
West Otago sheep and beef farmers Julian Kelly and Vicki Eason are ready to take the next step in their farm business.
Farmer standing for NZ First
Farmer standing for NZ First
Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick will stand for New Zealand First in the Southland electorate at the 2026 general election.
Chanel invests in high-country station
Chanel invests in high-country station
French luxury fashion house Chanel has bought a stake in a Central Otago high-country station.
Honey firm Miele hits the sweet spot
Honey firm Miele hits the sweet spot
Southland food producers are not resting on their laurels, producing new products that are catching national attention and surprising some of New Zealand’s top food industry professionals.
Doing the right thing key: chief exec
Doing the right thing key: chief exec
A Kiwi executive who went from being a troubled youth to president of Adidas North America is telling farmers to do the right thing, writes Tim Cronshaw.
Many tools available to aid bull buying
Many tools available to aid bull buying
New Zealand’s beef industry is booming with record prices being paid for weaners.
It’s Friesian out here
It’s Friesian out here
The first heavy frost of the season at Millers Flat late last month did not seem to impress this cow.
Cut-price US butter causing confusion on supermarket shelves
Cut-price US butter causing confusion on supermarket shelves
A cut-price American butter on supermarket shelves, which has been packed in Christchurch, is causing confusion among some shoppers because it's wrapped up like a Kiwi product.
Personal connections key, PGW chief says
Personal connections key, PGW chief says
PGG Wrightson chief executive Stephen Guerin likens the business as it exists today to a braided river, reflecting the various mergers that have occurred over the past 175 years.
Dairying couple calling time after 30 years in the field
Dairying couple calling time after 30 years in the field
Catlins dairy farmers Tim and Katy Button are leaving their farm to make way for sharemilkers.
Farmers fundraise to share story
Farmers fundraise to share story
A baby blue Bedford truck will be a vehicle to tell a biodiversity story about a dairy farm in South Otago.
Farmers grow out dairy-beef calves to reduce waste
Farmers grow out dairy-beef calves to reduce waste
Beef production is an integral part of a dairy farm business in Southland, its owners say.
Programme aims to grow sector
Programme aims to grow sector
Bobby calves present both a challenge and an opportunity, a southern animal scientist says.
Catlins farmers calling time after three decades
Catlins farmers calling time after three decades
After nearly 30 years dairy farming in the South, Tim and Katy Button are calling time on milking cows to transition to an easier life.
Lay of the land
Lay of the land
Beef calves from eight properties were offered at back-to-back auctions on five properties near Wānaka last week.
Friendly cat seeks pests, attention
Friendly cat seeks pests, attention
Biscuit the cat attends a ram auction at the Gore A&P Showgrounds earlier this year, watched by vendor Jason Smith, of Maniototo.
Claims still being settled year later
Claims still being settled year later
It had all the hallmarks of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Concerns over dependence on imported fertiliser
Concerns over dependence on imported fertiliser
While all eyes are on the prices at the fuel pumps around New Zealand, an Otago economist has exposed a dangerous blind spot — our dependence on imported fertiliser for farming.