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The Farming Fast Five: where we ask a farmer five quick questions about agriculture, and what farming means to them. Today we chat to Culverden dairy farmer Allie King.   1. What did your journey into farming look like? I was born and raised in Christchurch, having no knowledge or experience of farming let alone the fact that Canterbury Dairy Farming was quite literally on our doorsteps! My family and I lived in the suburbs of Christchurch, with Dad being a banker and mum a L

It feels like life is geared these days to be frictionless. Thanks to advances in technology and AI, almost everything we need is at our fingertips — from grocery shopping and workouts to TV shows and music. We can stream what we want, when we want. We rarely have to wait for anything. And AI is only speeding that up. While technology and AI are making their way into farming, the work itself is still hard yakka. But outside the farm gate, life is becoming increasingly automat

Each issue we ask a farmer five quick questions about agriculture, and what farming means to them. Today we chat to Sefton farmer and owner of The Good Cow Tammy Acton-Adams.   1.      What did your journey into farming look like? I grew up on a small farm on the other side of Sefton that was very diverse.  Between leaving school and when my secretary course started, I joined a shearing gang for the summer.  Oh, how I wanted to stay doing that!  But was told I had to do the c

Storytelling has been in my bones for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was seven, I’ve wanted to write. When I was 15, my father bought me my first proper camera - a second-hand Olympus 35mm that I treasured and still have today.  I’d wander around our farm taking photos, jotting down every camera setting in a notebook so I could figure out what worked and what didn’t. Agriculture has always been my anchor.  I have the deepest respect for the people who work the land a

A few years ago, I decided to get some chickens to help tidy up the vege garden over winter. The last thing I wanted was for some of my former colleagues to come knocking on my door, so I spent a few hours digging through district plans knowing the rules can be very different depending on whether you’re in Christchurch, Rolleston, or Ashburton. Simplifying planning makes sense. Provided everyone follows the rules and is considerate. But there’s always that ONE person who sets

My social media is overflowing with Elf-on-the-Shelf antics, Silver Bells echoing through every mall, and the supermarket looks like Santa threw up. Christmas is definitely on its way. With the holiday season comes the annual rush: “Let’s get this done before Christmas!” and “Before you head off for the holidays, could you just… [insert task that could probably wait until January].”  Even governments aren’t immune, scrambling to release documents for public consultation befor

We ask a farmer five quick questions about agriculture and what farming means to them. Today we chat to Southland dairy farmer Gregor Ramsay.   1.What did your journey into farming look like? I grew up in a very rural village in Scotland. My mum is a teacher, and my dad was part of his family’s engineering business. My older brother and I loved farming however and found jobs on local farms from a very young age. I worked during weekends and holidays on a beautiful little fami

There’s something wonderfully imperfect about a rural Christmas. It never unfolds with the polished ease of a magazine spread - and that’s precisely what makes it special. While the rest of the country might be worrying about table settings or matching serviettes, our version tends be a bit messy, a bit loud and very kiwi. It’s kids racing around on motorbikes, the smell of sunscreen and silage mingling in the heat, dogs circling the ham with tactical precision, and someone r

As the year winds down, it’s worth taking stock of what’s gone right for New Zealand farmers.   Strong returns for our meat and dairy show the world wants quality protein – produced with good grass-fed practices, high animal welfare standards, and environmental care.  With those boosted export prices, farmers have been able to re-invest in their businesses, retire debt and maybe take on an extra team member or two – all good news for the New Zealand economy.  I do acknowledge

As we head into the festive season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the year that’s been and share my heartfelt thanks to all our farmers and rural communities across New Zealand. This year hasn’t been without its challenges, but your hard work, resilience, and ingenuity have kept our primary sector strong and thriving. You are the backbone of our economy and the heart of so many communities, and I’m incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved.   From dealing with unpredic

There’s an old saying that 80% of people think they’re in the top 20% of performers. It’s human nature. But are farmers any different? Fonterra tells us we’re the most efficient producers of dairy protein in the world. Yet recent water quality results suggest there’s still room to improve. So how efficient are we, really? The tricky thing about “data” is you can make it say what you want. Take the often-quoted link between nitrates in drinking water and bowel cancer. It’s fre

When we launched our South Island Country Pub of the Year competition last month in association with Service Foods, it was about far more than just finding the best place for a cold one or a good feed. Country pubs are an integral part of rural communities. They are unassuming, unsung, and quintessentially Kiwi. We wanted to highlight that. While only one pub could take out the top spot in our South Island Country Pub of the Year Competition, every single one nominated is a w

When I think of the women who shaped New Zealand’s rural story, I often come back to Jane Deans.  In the 1850s she found herself widowed, with a young child and a farm to manage in a new country with the barest of resources. Instead of retreating, she rose to the challenge. She kept Riccarton farm running, lobbied for schools and health services, and fought to protect Riccarton Bush – a stand of native forest that still exists today because of her determination. Jane’s story