Latest from Farming

Bright outlook tipped for farming

Alliance Group takeover talks end with Blue Sky Meats

Officials reject landfarming claims

Officials in New Zealand's leading oil and gas region are rejecting claims that cows are being allowed to graze on land polluted by waste from mining and fracking operations.

Watchdog signals action against banks over rural swap contracts

Three banks facing potential legal action from the competition watchdog over their sale of interest rate swap contracts to farmers say they will continue to co-operate with the commission.

Meat group gets on big processor boards

Farm-buyers face new rules

A private member's bill put forward by Labour MP Phil Goff would require foreign buyers of farmland to demonstrate their investment would benefit the economy more than a NZ buyer.

'Her indoors' moves outdoors on the farm

Many city-dwellers may still peg rural women as domestic types, but modern farming women are on the land or in the office, running big businesses and driving the exports that are the backbone of NZ's economy.

Pasta kings buy farm for $25m

Italy's Barilla family, founders of the world's largest pasta company, have paid $25m to buy a South Island dairy farm from Federated Farmers chairman Willy Leferink and his wife.

Aussies to follow Fonterra model

Australia's largest dairy cooperative Murray Goulburn (MG) looks set to follow Fonterra in adopting a specialised financial instrument to expand its capital base while retaining exclusive farmer ownership and control.

Weather a boost for beef farmers

A mild winter and a favourable spring have boosted confidence in the New Zealand beef industry after last summer's challenging drought, says Rabobank.

Farm value, share surge drives Ngai Tahu profit jump

South Island iwi Ngai Tahu almost doubled bottom-line profit from $68.9 million to $121.7 million after a sharemarket surge and farm revaluations.

MPI approves incursion programme after spillage

Ministry for Primary Industries officials have approved an incursion programme in mid-Canterbury following a spillage of one of Europe's most invasive arable weeds - black grass - found in a consignment of imported fescue seed.

Where there's muck there's brass and app

Spreading effluent on dairy farms is set to become a lot more high-tech thanks to smartphone-based technology now available for New Zealand farmers.

Hundreds turn out for tractor protest

Big NZ farm sold to US investors

North American investors are understood to have paid around $30 million for one of New Zealand's biggest farms.

Inspectors step up quad bike safety checks

Exclusive: Time to slow down, Speed

'I've got bruises like tyre marks up my leg," says Guy Speedy, vibrant and laughing just two days after being run over by his own tractor.

New lifeline for struggling Allied Farmers