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Where  and what are you farming? I’m working as a shepherd on Cattle Flat station, beef & sheep farm down in Southland, near Balfour.    What year, make, and model is your trusty ute? 2009 Mitsubishi Triton   What’s your favourite feature (or quirk) about your ute? Call it what you want, but my triton is the real MVP- gets me from A to B and hauls the float around like it’s nothing!   What song is always on your playlist when you’re behind the wheel? Zach Bryan for the feels,

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

Having come from a long line of Scottish dairy farmers, dairy farming is in Lynnes blood. Supplied. Ten years after stepping off a plane from Scotland, Lynne and Gregor Ramsay are about to pay the deposit on their first New Zealand dairy farm, a 200-cow, 105-hectare property near Gore. It marks the culmination of a decade of determination, long hours and careful planning for the Southland couple. Lynne grew up in a long line of Scottish dairy and sheep farmers, while Gregor i

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

Mary Blain with her book, “Explore with me Mid Canterbury.” Anisha Satya When Mary Blain’s first son was born, she was given a children’s book about New Plymouth.   “I read that to him, and he wanted to hear it a hundred times, so I came to know all the places in New Plymouth,” she said.   “When I visited, I knew all the places I wanted to go.   “I thought, ‘why don’t we have one here?’.”   That series of events is what led to Blain writing, illustrating and producing “Explor

Angel Nobel, with sons Charlie (left) age 18 months and Archie (four), launched Little Rides in May after attending a charity gala focused on encouraging young people into trades. Supplied. Children from Ashburton to Ashley can now enjoy a ride-on experience they will never forget, thanks to a new Canterbury business that uses digger hire to fund free rides for children who might otherwise miss out. Little Rides, launched in May by Christchurch mother and banking professional

Recipe courtesy Nadia Lim These Vietnamese-inspired meatballs are packed with flavour. Ideally cooked on the BBQ for that smoky char, they’re lifted to new heights by the addictive Peanut Chilli Crack — a spicy, salty, crunchy topping that brings heat and texture to every bite. Serve with noodles and lettuce cups, or straight from the pan with a cold beer. A true crowd-pleaser. SERVES 4–6 Prep time: 45 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes PEANUT CHILLI CRACK ½ cup roasted peanuts1 c

Open days are a great way to explore and understand what agricultural tertiary pathway to pursue and how to prepare for life at university. Supplied. Many Year 12 and 13 students are beginning to map out their futures - but for those eyeing a career in agriculture, what does preparing for the industry actually look like? According to Tom Maxwell, Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University, the ag sector is hungry for capable, skilled graduates - particularly for roles such as rura

On top of water quality data collection, landowners are also expanding their knowledge of environmental management and where to make strategic investments to have the greatest environmental impact. Supplied. The Heakeo Hinds Hill Country catchment group have been collecting water quality data, carrying out eDNA (environmental data testing), and planting more natives through the catchment group. On top of this data collection, they are also expanding their knowledge of environ

Good dogs, great yarns, and a day out worth leaving the farm for - the Hurunui Flock Tours are back, bringing the district together one paddock at a time. The top flocks from each area then go on to the Champion of Champions Day, which sees eight farms visited in one day, followed by a community prizegiving and dinner. Supplied. Each March, the hills and valleys of Hurunui come alive with the sound of dogs, utes, and good conversation as farmers open their gates for the annua

With Mental Health Week just having past, it’s great to see awareness building on the topic – an issue that has always existed, but with more visibility and acknowledgement, comes a perception that problems are increasing. If you don’t struggle with your mental health, that is great. You lucked in when mental health issues were being randomly assigned to around a quarter of the population, or roughly half of us over the entirety of our lives.   But if you haven’t had the misf

Name: Ella Thomas What is the name of your club, and how long have you been a member? I'm part of the Mackenzie Young Farmers Club and have been a member for almost two years now.   What has been the highlight for you of joining Young Farmers? What are the benefits and experiences that you feel have helped you most? Definitely the people. When I first moved to the area, I didn't know anyone, and now it feels like I know everyone. The friendships, connections, and opportunitie

Name: Holly Sandoe Where  and what are you farming?  I'm a self-employed casual shepherd based in Fairlie working on a range of farms, from High Country to low-land cream country working with sheep and beef. No day is the same, it's a pretty sweet gig if you ask me! What year, make, and model is your trusty ute? My trusty battler is a mighty fine 2007 Toyota Hilux What’s your favourite feature (or quirk) about your ute?  Due to past modifications to the motor, the Lux needed

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

Entrepreneur Taylor McConnell has branched out into tallow skincare – a niche market that has seen a surge in popularity. Supplied. Mushrooms and skincare might seem like an unlikely combination, but it’s a winning one for North Canterbury entrepreneur Taylor McConnell. When Taylor McConnell walked away from running a car yard almost a decade ago, he knew one thing for certain: he didn’t want to work for anyone else again. What he didn’t know was that a chance encounter with

A competition for the “biggest splash” added to the fun of the event. Supplied Images courtesy of Velocity Photography When Darfield’s Emma Burke heard someone mention the term “passenger princess,” she didn’t laugh it off.  Instead, it sparked an idea that would see women from across Canterbury stepping up, taking control, and learning practical skills behind the wheel. “The words passenger princess were used, and I went ‘what?’” Emma said. “Our boys are very involved with t

Neville Caldwell selects for growth rate, meat yield and constitution. Fertility is considered a given. Supplied. Just a few minutes inland from the Moeraki Boulders on the North Otago coast, third-generation farmer Neville Caldwell runs a Coopworth-based ram breeding operation where constitution and performance outweigh eye appeal. Caldwell established his stud about 15 years ago after attending the Gore Stud Sale and deciding he wanted more control over the quality of rams

North Canterbury farmer Roger Johnson says it makes little sense for New Zealand to rely so heavily on imported nitrogen when a rich natural source already exists within farm systems. Supplied. Āmua, a Canterbury start-up based on a farm near Waiau in the Hurunui district is developing world-first wearable technology for cows that could change how farmers manage nitrogen on farm. For Āmua co-founder and chief executive Roger Johnson, a North Canterbury farmer, the idea grew f