Farming & Rural

A Southland dairy farmer is heading to New Plymouth next week to chase the same national farming title his father won 26 years ago. Tom Slee, 29, is one of seven grand finalists in the FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition, running July 2–4 in New Plymouth. The

Fonterra has lifted its profit forecast and narrowed next season's milk price range as strong demand offset global shipping disruption. The dairy co-operative posted year-to-date operating profit of $1.8 billion, up $103 million on last year. Underlying earnings per share rose to 57 cents from 53 cents.

The Government will pump an extra $79 million into wilding pine control over three years, nearly doubling current funding to tackle what farmers call an ecological disaster spreading across New Zealand's high country. The Budget 2026 commitment takes total wilding pine funding to $109 million — a significant increase

Danone will fund three annual scholarships for Telford students in perpetuity, targeting agriculture, animal health, farm systems and equine programmes. The global food company's partnership with Southern Institute of Technology marks a significant investment in Southland's agricultural education sector. Three scholarships — covering academic excellence, practical skills

The highly anticipated fifth season of Clarkson’s Farm is officially just around the corner, and Prime Video has given fans plenty to celebrate with its newly announced June 2026 release schedule. The tractor-sized chaos kicks off on June 3, 2026, with a massive drop of the first four episodes,

Two hunting organisations have launched a coordinated push to funnel more wild venison to Southland families struggling with food costs. The Game Animal Council and Wild Game Recovery Trust unveiled Game Changer NZ this week, combining donation coordination with a digital tracking system that follows meat from hillside to dinner

Southland farmers have been given an 18-month reprieve on freshwater farm plan deadlines as the government overhauls what it calls a flawed system. The original May 2026 deadline for submitting farm plans under regional rules has been pushed back to November 2027, giving farmers breathing room while new national standards

A Southland farming couple has claimed top honours at New Zealand's premier dairy industry awards, taking home more than $28,000 in prizes and cementing their reputation as leaders in the sector. Scott and Stacey Mackereth from the Southland/Otago region were named 2026 New Zealand Share Farmers