farming

The Government will receive a $10 million special dividend from Landcorp Farming Limited today, State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown announced. The payment brings Landcorp's total dividend contributions to the Crown to $25 million for the 2025/26 financial year. "We expect our state-owned enterprises to operate

South Island farmers will get more freedom to diversify their operations under new regulations for Crown pastoral land announced by the government. Land Information Minister Chris Penk and South Island Minister James Meager said the changes would allow pastoral lease holders to add activities like horticulture, beekeeping, tourism and hospitality

Dairy giant Fonterra has appointed Richard Allen as its new chief executive, taking over from Miles Hurrell in May 2026. Allen, who has worked at the cooperative for 16 years since joining as a graduate in 2008, currently serves as President Global Ingredients where he oversees the company's

A Gore-district farming family has been named the Southland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for transforming two neighbouring properties into a thriving, diversified operation. Tony and Michelle Roberts, alongside daughter Kate Roberts and her partner Mark Lieshout of Top Deck Trading, have built the combined 269ha

Fonterra Co-operative Group has today completed the sale of its global consumer and associated businesses, Mainland Group, to Lactalis. Chairman Peter McBride says the completion of the sale is a significant milestone which sets the Co-op up for the future. “With the divestment complete, Fonterra can return capital to its

New Zealand’s local government structure has become an increasingly messy patchwork, and Federated Farmers says it’s time to clean it up. "The way councils are currently organised is a major factor in how effectively they serve their communities," Federated Farmers local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says.

A Southland farmer who invented edible bale netting has his eyes set on the international markets and the British royal family. Orepuki deer farmer, Grant Lightfoot is the creator of Kiwi-Econet, a non-polluting baleage netting that animals can eat, rather than traditional plastic. Baleage is a way of storing forage

Fonterra Co-operative Group has reported a solid financial performance for the first half of FY26, with revenue rising to $13.9 billion, up by $1.3 billion on the same period last year. The Co-op also posted an operating profit of $1,231 million and a profit after tax of