Local Rural

Unleashing dairy and beef potential

Beef and dairy farmers don’t typically work together, but that will soon change if Bob Thomson gets his way. Thomson, an Agfirst agribusiness consultant of 50 years’ experience, is leading a project he hopes will…

Fonterra outlines plans

Waste water, carbon emissions, river pipeline and roading changes were some of the issues covered at Fonterra Hautapu’s annual meeting with its community last month. All bar a couple of seats at the factory’s training…

Mega-rural views sought

Future representation has become a big issue for rural residents who have an opportunity to have their say at two hall meetings. The first is tonight at Maungatautari and there residents from Kaipaki, Monavale, Horahora…

Well known auctioneer mourned

A man described as an iconic stock agent, Alan Douglas (Hizzy) Hiscox died at his Taumarunui home on May 2. In a career stretching back to the 1970s, Alan became a top Central North Island…

Tight rein on farm data

Logan Dawson used data driven decision making to double dairy farm revenue. Dawson, who with his wife Sian was runner up in the 2024 Dairy Industry Association Awards Share Farmer of the Year Award, is…

Born to be a farmer

Nithmount Farm Cow 494 affectionately nuzzles 2024 New Zealand dairy trainee of the year Kirwyn Ellis. The encounter in a paddock on Hamish and Sharee Germann’s 130ha dairy farm – nestled between Mt Pirongia and…

Don’t dish the dirt

A significant part of Waikato Regional Council’s catchment management programme involves helping landowners/managers to better manage erosion prone catchments, particularly in the steeper parts of the region. Loss of productive land in NZ hill country…

Guests get the genuine product

A Kaipaki dairy farm hosted 70 Vietnamese distributors last week as part of an exclusive insight into New Zealand’s dairy industry. The 200ha farm owned by the Bardoul family is home to 600 Holstein-Friesian dairy…

A champion’s year

Emma Poole’s tenure as FMG’s first female Young Farmer of the Year is nearing its end. Last July, the Pirongia farmer, already the Waikato Bay of Plenty Young Farmer of the Year,  became the first…

Plan: have your say

It’s Long-Term Plan time again at Waikato Regional Council. The LTP review happens every three years, falling within the second year of the council term. It sounds boring, but it’s an important planning document, which…

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