1+ day, 11+ hour ago   (301+ words) Emily Ireland for LDR It was a scene from Bidding Wars as Masterton councillors allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local grant applicants this week. Masterton’s wool industry was given a boost with big grants awarded to the Shear…...

3+ day, 4+ hour ago   (524+ words) For many children, seeing where their food comes from or experiencing life on a working farm is becoming increasingly rare. Pātoka-based farmer and veterinarian Sally Newall hopes to help remedy that with a new on-farm learning facility that she plans…...

3+ day, 11+ hour ago   (772+ words) The Opportunity Party’s proposed land tax would leave most farmers significantly worse off and could suck around $700 million a year out of rural communities, Federated Farmers says. TOP is proposing an annual tax of 0.5% on the value of rural land,…...

4+ day, 6+ hour ago   (735+ words) By Aimee Pitcher. Pitcher is the volunteer coordinator at Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group. Every good morning starts with a coffee. Aromatic steam swirls from my favourite mug, she holds a full-bodied dark roast with subtle notes of caramel,…...

4+ day, 11+ hour ago   (355+ words) Toby Barkla, the owner of Plains Butchery near Edgecumbe, says he has been encouraged by what he describes as the positive sounds coming out of Ministry for Primary Industries about proposed changes to homekill regulations. “MPI is making very clear…...

5+ day, 11+ hour ago   (217+ words) Interim enforcement orders have been served against Southland slink skin operator NZ Agri Development and manager Da Cheng Zhi, known as Eddie Zhi. The orders come off the back of an ongoing battle between Zhi and Environment Southland and were…...

1+ week, 4+ hour ago   (521+ words) The weed Madagascar ragwort has the potential to become a significant problem for pastoral farmers in New Zealand, following its discovery in the Wairarapa region. Previously thought to be confined to Northland, early detection is critical to preventing the toxic…...

1+ week, 10+ hour ago   (393+ words) By Gianina Schwanecke of RNZ Daisy Groves was apparently renowned for her green thumb. At Marangai, a 1200-hectare sheep and beef farm near Tinui east of Masterton, there are reminders of her all around the garden. Perhaps ironically – given her…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago   (663+ words) At 23, Catlins farmer Robbie Jackson is happiest where there are few neighbours, plenty of animals and enough space to make as much noise in the workshop as he likes. The isolation of farming near Kaka Point is part of the…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago   (466+ words) Almost 4000 hectares of New Zealand farmland have been leased or sold to foreign-owned solar companies over the past four years without first being offered to New Zealand interests, under exemptions granted by the Overseas Investment Office. OIO records reveal multiple…...