Latest from HBT - Rural (inactive)

Organic farming keeps growing

Five years ago just 600ha of New Zealand vineyards were certified as organic.

Growth plans bear fruit

Grape production in the Gisborne district is set to increase substantially with two major companies expanding.

Young beasts top the list

Hawke's Bay-based Focus Genetics, New Zealand's largest red-meat genetics company, is seeing strong demand from farmers for yearling bulls.

System check essential

IrrigationNZ says farmers should be careful when starting irrigation systems after recent storms- even if damage isn't obvious.

Cheats ruin reputation

The Beekeepers' Association is concerned that drums of manuka honey are being exported then diluted and repackaged using original documentation for financial gain.

Poachers threat to safety

Mid-Canterbury's high-country farmers are battling poachers shooting wild animals on private property.

From pasture to profit

Having grown up on a Ruawai dairy farm, Dennis Wallace has always had a love of the land and strong attraction to dairying.

Bad fences cause trouble

In rural New Zealand, wandering stock are a serious public safety risk. They can also cause costly damage to other people's property.

Funding helps farmers

The Government is investing heavily in the red meat and wool sectors to try to make it a $14 billion industry by 2020.