Rural and farming news

Summer questions: A year of change for dairy - Fonterra's Matt Bolger reflects

MD of co-operative affairs says the sale of Mainland will deliver value back to farmers.

Dairy expo returns to Bedford Park in February

The two-day expo runs at Bedford Park, Matamata, on February 18 and 19.

Latent demand returns: Big dairy price lift buoys hopes of market turn

Middle East buyers nearly doubled their share of GDT volumes to 21%.

'Our cows really surprised us': Why less is more on this dairy farm

The Burgesses' 320-cow Friesian herd now averages 700kgMS from 550kg cows.

The Country: Shearer Simon Goss on breaking world record

Wayne Langford, Mike McIntyre, Kate Scott, Simon Goss and Phil Duncan.

The Country: Who is Jamie Mackay's Ag Person of the Year?

On air today: Carson, Wyn-Harris, Rookes, Guy, Duncum, Wiggins, Brandolino, McKay.

The Country: Shane Jones' Ag People of the Year

Shane Jones, Alison Shanks, Todd Charteris, John McOviney, and Chris Russell are on air.

The Country: Who is the PM's Ag Person of the Year

Christopher Luxon, Miles Hurrell, Jane Smith, Hunter McGregor, and Jim Hopkins.

Farming with AI: Waipukurau farmer moves his stock while on holiday in Colombia

'It was just one of those light bulb moments like ‘holy s*** I need this.'

Chris Bray: 3 tech megatrends driving NZ's post-harvest revolution

OPINION: We need machine-driven agriculture, but with human oversight and innovation.

The newest farmhands are tiny and pink and love devouring a potent pollutant

Microbes at a California dairy farm cut effluent storage pond methane by more than 85%.

Scientist honoured for groundbreaking work in plant genetics

Dr Tony Conner led Southern Hemisphere's first field trials of genetically modified crops.

Summer questions: A year of change for dairy - Fonterra's Matt Bolger reflects

MD of co-operative affairs says the sale of Mainland will deliver value back to farmers.

Search our map: Swathes of NZ land bought by Ikea for forestry

Ikea's NZ land holdings will soon be the size of the entire Nelson region. See it mapped.

Teacher turns lockdown hobby into new distillery business

'The environment has played a key role in what we’re about.'

Fran O'Sullivan: Bipartisanship support for trade deals is crucial

OPINION: Why political parties need to prioritise the national interest on trade.

Farmer’s rare 1939 Ford truck finds new life in 'man shed'

The 3-tonne 1939 Ford flathead V8 was imported from the United States.

Shade: The best ways to chill out in your garden this summer

OPINION: Whatever you choose, remember that summer is for relaxing, not baking.

Pastures Past: How donkeys and mules carried kids, cargo and Kiwi troops

Six Ponui-bred donkeys were brought to Auckland Zoo in 1937 to give children rides.

Avocado growers brace for $150b shift

More than half of New Zealand farm owners will be 65 or older within a decade.

Six generations strong: Wairarapa farmers embrace change

'We knew we couldn’t keep on doing the same thing, because we would go out of business.'

Avocado growers brace for $150b shift

More than half of New Zealand farm owners will be 65 or older within a decade.

Core blimey: Apple grower's 'TikTok Tuesdays' take off

Kiwi Crunch's TikTok antics were widely read about on The Country in 2025.

Award-winning farmer chat: The Country's top shows of 2025

The Country's June 19 edition was the third most listened to (and read about) in 2025.