Rural and farming news
'Humbling experience': Taihape's chief fire officer receives King's Service Medal
“It took me about a week to decide to accept it, I didn’t take it lightly.”
Rural community well represented in King's Birthday Honours
This year’s honours acknowledge contributors to New Zealand’s rural sector.
Liam Dann: Town v Country – Big cities left behind in economic recovery
OPINION: A two-speed economy is developing which could cause headaches for the RBNZ.
Students transform farm stream with native planting effort
“I didn’t know how much life there could be in one stream."
Butterfly experts urge people to look out for strange winter trend in monarch butterflies
Removing wasp nests from the garden can help monarch butterflies to survive.
The legacy of Rene Orchiston's flax collection
Harakeke holds significant cultural importance at Quaker Settlement
Dairy farming
Jeremy Baker asks how we double exports by 2034
Opinion: The food and fibre sector plays a vital role in New Zealand's total exports.
Liam Dann: Town v Country – Big cities left behind in economic recovery
OPINION: A two-speed economy is developing which could cause headaches for the RBNZ.
Moving Day: Farmers reminded to update NAIT records
Farmers must update NAIT records after moving herds on June 1.
The Country Radio Show
Rabobank Beef Quarterly preview on The Country
Stu Loe and Stu Duncan, Dr John Roche, Jen Corkran, Chris Brandolino, and Rowena Duncum.
The Country: Miles Hurrell on Fonterra's milk price
Miles Hurrell, Ian Proudfoot, Matt Black, Chris Russell, and Hamish McKay.
How Fonterra stole the show at Bakery China
Sponsored content: It’s difficult to steal the limelight at China’s biggest bakery show.
Premium
Liam Dann: Town v Country – Big cities left behind in economic recovery
OPINION: A two-speed economy is developing which could cause headaches for the RBNZ.
$15b boost to NZ economy: Fonterra sets milk price forecast and earnings
Fonterra forecasts a milk price range of $8-$11 per kg for the 2025/26 season.
Kiwi oat milk company lands major Australian supermarket deal
Founder says the expansion across the Tasman is a significant milestone.
A2 Milk silent on A$350m acquisition talk
Australian media report says the company will soon make a move for manufacturing assets.
Editorial: If freezing works close, rural towns die. We need a plan to save them
OPINION: The shape of traditional sheep and beef country has changed over the past decade.
An epic, wild 218 days: Meet the family of six who walked the length of NZ
An inspiring, astonishing adventure, including being mistaken for missing Marokopa family.
Horticulture
Students transform farm stream with native planting effort
“I didn’t know how much life there could be in one stream."
Cust School planting day helps biodiversity project
Cust School students planted over 350 native plants on Cust farmer Steve Tallott’s land.
Sheep and beef
Opinion: Emissions Trading Scheme hurting NZ's beef sector
Opinion: ETS distortions eat into beef viability, says Federated Farmers' Toby Williams.
Liam Dann: Town v Country – Big cities left behind in economic recovery
OPINION: A two-speed economy is developing which could cause headaches for the RBNZ.
How innovative land use could boost NZ's agricultural productivity
Lincoln University releases new report, The Future Use of Land and How to Fund It.
Technology
Could catnip wine be NZ's next big export?
'It’s a chance for New Zealand to do something fresh and unexpected - yet again.'
'Smells just like leather': Turning kiwifruit waste into opportunity
Leather alternative aims to find a use for 50,000 tonnes of rejected kiwifruit annually.
Rural business
Jeremy Baker asks how we double exports by 2034
Opinion: The food and fibre sector plays a vital role in New Zealand's total exports.
Liam Dann: Town v Country – Big cities left behind in economic recovery
OPINION: A two-speed economy is developing which could cause headaches for the RBNZ.
Primary sector unimpressed by Govt's horticulture reforms
Those in the primary sector say the new targets don’t go far enough.
Rural life
The art of composting with Andrea Coleman
Andrea Coleman knows a thing or two about composting. Kem Ormond finds out more.
King of the Grill: How Charles could win Kiwi hearts (and stomachs)
Opinion: His Majesty’s birthday feels as popular as a vegan sausage at a rural barbecue.
Vegetables only a mother could love
OPINION: They may be unattractive and difficult, but that doesn't mean they're not tasty.