Farming & Rural

Reliable fertiliser access underpins Southland's farming production base — and National says without a plan to secure it, that base can't hold.

Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says she's relieved that support is coming South for local farmers affected by the on-going wet weather. "The Government this afternoon announced that the extreme wet and cold conditions across Southland and the Clutha District have been classified as a 'medium-scale adverse

Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds has sent a message of support to the local farming community as rain continues to drench the Southland province. "I have to say, I've been stopped in my tracks by just how much water is sitting across local farmland. "The paddocks are

Fonterra farmers are getting $9.69 per kilogram of milk solids for the season just finished, with the co-operative posting its strongest result in years after a period of significant change. The co-op reported total group operating profit of $3.4 billion for FY26, up 97.6% on the prior

A delegation from China's Hubei province flew into Balclutha Airport in July and came away calling it one of the best flights of their lives. The visit — a charter run by Queenstown operator Air Milford — has drawn fresh attention to what a small regional airfield can do for

Four candidates have been named to contest two seats on the Fonterra Board of Directors, with voting opening next month. Incumbent director Cathy Quinn is seeking re-election alongside three new contenders — Jessie Chan, Mark Cox and Peter Moynihan — all announced Monday as independently assessed candidates for the 2026 election. Quinn

Fonterra has lifted its forecast milk price for the 2026/27 season, raising the midpoint from $9.25 to $9.50 per kilogram of milk solids. The co-operative also narrowed its forecast range, moving from $8.00–$10.50 per kgMS to $8.50–$10.50 per kgMS. The revision,

A student's watercolour painting is now flying above Telford's Balclutha campus as the institution's official new flag. Olivene de Jong, who is studying the New Zealand Certificate in Rural Animal Healthcare Assistance (Level 4) at Telford, won a student design competition to create the