Latest from Farmers and waterways

Former Timaru meatworks site sold for undisclosed amount
Six hundred workers lost their jobs when the 139-year-old site closed last year.

'Strongest performers': Rural areas leading NZ's economic recovery
Rural economies were buoyed by better prices for dairy, meat and horticulture exports.

Dairy prices end NZ season on a flat note, will they stay high in 2026?
The Global Dairy Trade auction ends flat as prices support Fonterra's $10/kg forecast.

Lactalis, Bega Cheese eye Fonterra consumer assets in competitive race
Lactalis is seeking merger clearance to buy Fonterra's businesses in Australia.

'Chance to share our space': Farm lake brings community together
Oxford farmer Geoff Sparks says, 'I don’t believe in the rural-urban divide.'

Wairarapa farmer’s DIY lake brings ‘peace of mind’
Man-made lake provides water storage for farm and a recreational asset for the community.

Is Ashburton's water supply a health risk to babies? Council denies Greenpeace claims
Greenpeace tests have shown high nitrate levels in Ashburton's drinking water.

Silver Fern Farms records $21.8m loss
The company said it bore the brunt of the costs to retain high farmgate returns.

'It wears everyone out': Drought taking its toll on farmers
'As farmers, we love our stock and want to keep them going.'

Young Hunterville farmer wants to lower environmental footprint of family’s dairy farm
“I get most stressed when the cows aren’t performing well."

How Justine Daw has helped farmers to fence 900km
KMR is NZ's largest harbour restoration initiative and second-largest catchment group.

Teen breaks barriers with historic tractor-pull win
Ella Martin, 17, is the first female to win the Northland Field Days' tractor-pull title.

Stuart Neill wins Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards
Judges said Pukatea Dairy Farms chooses to do the right thing, rather than the easy thing.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council wants $225m water storage facility on Ngāruroro River tributary
The cost of the feasibility study will be about $3.2m, shared by HBRC and the Government.

Howling success: Edginton top dog twice at Matawai trials
Tolaga Bay triallist Leo Edginton made the top three in all four events.

Avian flu has hit US egg farmers hard
It's unclear how much the industry has spent on biosecurity.

100 years of town meets country in Katikati
The 100th edition of the Katikati A&P Show proved a big hit.

Rotten summer: Wairoa A&P Show cancelled for the third time in four years
'Another good thing that’s not happening': Wairoa's series of weather blows continues.

Smart collars 'an absolute game-changer' on hill country farms
James Parsons from Matauri Angus will talk 'virtual' fencing at the East Coast Farm Expo.

From trauma to teaching: How kids are changing farm safety
A former farmer says farm safety education should go up the family tree, rather than down.