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Lincoln Young Farmers vice-chair Hillary Cooper says greater investment in young farmers is essential to secure the future of New Zealand agriculture. With New Zealand now in an election year, political debate is beginning to sharpen. Inflation, infrastructure, health and the ever-rising cost of living weigh on the public mind. But for young farmers, there is another set of questions looming just as large: who will take over the farms, who will support young people entering a

Professor Matthew Wilson on the left and researcher Xander Cai on the right, holding the prototype sensor, which will be mounted to a pole above fence height and linked to a computer system which runs the AI technology. Amy Riach A brand-new venture for GPS signals: moonlighting for a water management system on New Zealand farms. Using artificial intelligence and satellite technology, a new research project designed to measure soil moisture may help to guide Kiwi farmers mak

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined the competitors on stage in New Plymouth to congratulate the 2026 winners. From left, runner-up Jack Taggart, overall winner Tom Slee and third-place finisher Cam Clayton. Methven has plenty to celebrate after three local competitors delivered podium performances on the national stage. Former Mount Hutt College student Jack Taggart finished runner-up in the 2026 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final, while current students Emma Kinze

"Absolutely shocked!" From right, Michelle, Tony, and Kate Roberts, thrilled to celebrate their unexpected win at Ballance Environment Trust Awards. From Merino Downs, the Roberts' were named winners of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase in Christchurch on July 2. Supplied. Michelle and Tony Roberts didn't inherit the farming business they have today. Instead, they began with a passion, a move south, and a willingness to build their future fr

Mid Canterbury farmer and industry leader Kate Acland has been named the inaugural Rural Woman of the Year. Chairperson of Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), Acland received the honour in Auckland on June 23, at the 2026 Primary Industries New Zealand Awards. “I’m very grateful, and very humbled,” Acland said. “It is very humbling. The two other finalists, Sandra Faulkner and Sarah Donaldson, are both such incredible women, who have done so much for their communities, so this w

Methven men are being encouraged to “take their health seriously”, at a free Men’s Health Night, hosted by the Methven Lions Club and Medical Centre. “Most blokes know full well that they should get checked up and never do anything about it, until they get a nasty shock,” said Methven Lions member Mac McElwain. “This event is about putting the opportunity in front of local men, giving them a chance to understand that if they are worried about something, they’re not alone.” Th

The Brown Shavers are Emily's "army", a breed known for their consistent egg-laying. It looks like something lifted from the pages of Little House on the Prairie. Or maybe, a scene from ‘The Good Life’. There are chickens scratching in the yard, tomatoes ripening in tunnel houses, herbs hanging to dry in the kitchen, and shelves lined with jars of preserved fruit, pasta sauce, and pickles. A rescue cat patrols the deck while dogs lounge in the sun, unconcerned by the hens wa

Agright Operations Manager, Mathew Bryant, marks the occasion with a group of very excited Chertsey pupils. All with a basketball each, because playing a game with just one ball is boring! Amy Riach Bright blue astroturf and a brand new set of basketballs have made the children of Chertsey School into very proud athletes. A new, multi-use sports court at Chertsey School was officially opened on May 27, and it’s already making a difference for local pupils, said principal Clai

Can a chicken climb stairs? Do a high jump? Achieve total spherical excellence? Chickenstock 2026 provided an official verdict: yes, they can (mostly.) Not quite Woodstock, and with far too much personality for regular chicken stock, Chickenstock 2026 is Canterbury’s “premier poultry athletics event”, delivering the kind of passionate crowd usually reserved for international sporting finals. Organised by Mark Chirnside, barista by day, musician by night, and curator of elite

Rabobank Farm2Future students, taking part in the 2025 programme at Rakaia Island Dairy Farm. Supplied. Rural education for young urbanites in Canterbury will return for a ninth year this winter, with applications now open for the 2026 Rabobank Farm2Future camp. The free three-day, two-night programme gives 25 Year 12 students the opportunity to explore the many career pathways available across New Zealand’s food and fibre sector, from farming and food production to consultin

Record crowds gathered at the 2026 Methven machinery auction, much to the delight of organiser Alastair Clemens. There’s no gavel in sight. Just an auctioneer with a keen eye, and a clipboard to bang. But auction day was a huge success for the Methven Lions Club, who hit record numbers at the Methven Machinery Auction on Friday, May 15. With 224 lots on offer, the annual machinery auction has continued to grow in popularity, after beginning in 2024 with just 90 lots up for sa

Ignacio Perez, herd manager at Mount Rivers, with his partner Yanina Ferro. With cattle moving taken care of, they get to see a lot more of each other at home. From Ashburton New Zealand, all the way to Osorno Chile: herding cows via satellite from 12,000 km away. In Valetta, near Mayfield, Mount Rivers is the latest in a growing community of Kiwi farms to adopt an innovative approach to farming, connecting family and technology, and stretching all the way from rural New Zeal

Farmers across Mid Canterbury are encouraged to step away from the pressures of the paddock this weekend, and focus on connection, wellbeing, and a bit of friendly competition at the upcoming Tennis for Farmers event. Hosted by the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust, the event will be held on Sunday, May 17, from 3-7pm at the Ashburton Trust Tennis Centre. Organisers Tom Matteucci and Crystal Jewell are both third-year scholarship students from Lincoln University, and inspire

The nation’s most decorated living war hero has something to say about arable farming, and last month, he visited Ashburton to deliver the message. Willie Apiata, to date the only recipient of the Victoria Cross in New Zealand, was recognised for carrying a wounded soldier to safety under fire in Afghanistan, and now he has delivered a series of talks to Canterbury farmers. His memo was simple. “Don’t be a dick, ask for help.” Apiata was clear. Whether on the battlefie

Petrol drive-offs have increased by 100 thefts a week, since the price of fuel surged earlier in the year. Since the beginning of March, 2026, police have laid over 370 charges for petrol drive-offs, and burglaries where diesel was targeted. In a statement, assistant commissioner of road policing and district support ,Tusha Penny, said that police are taking their response to this type of crime “seriously”, and added, “we are expecting that the number of charges will continue

“We’re just getting back into equilibrium,” says dairy farmer Mark Cressey. Kiwi dairy farmers have received one of the largest cash injections in the history of the industry, but for Cressey, the payout is more about restoration than gain. Fonterra’s recent sale of its consumer brands, to French dairy giant Lactalis, has returned $3.2 billion to New Zealand farms. Cressy, a Methven local, told the Guardian that the payout is “better described as a return of capital than a fi

From left, John Chapman, CEO of MATES in Construction; Lucy Waterreus, CEO of ClubsNZ; Barbara Kuriger, MP for King Country and Taranaki, deputy speaker of the house, and Patron of the Whatever with Wiggy Charitable Trust; and Craig Wiggins, meeting in Parliment in 2025. Supplied. Rising fuel costs are placing fresh pressure on rural New Zealand, adding to the growing burden of many local farmers. And Craig Wiggins, founder of the Mid Canterbury ‘Whatever With Wiggy’ mental h

Giving the finals a red hot crack The Woodbury Domain erupted with applause, when Coldstream local Jack Taggart was announced as the winner of the Aorangi Young Farmers regionals. “This is Jack’s year”, said Aorangi Chairman Mitch Aldrigre, cheering along with the crowd. “He really deserves this, we’re all rooting for him.” 26 year-old Taggart, a young dairy farmer from the Hinds Young Farmers Club, usually spends his days at Skibbereen Farm in Coldstream, where he manages th

Coldstream dairy farmer Jack Taggart was crowned Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year on Saturday evening, earning himself a place in the 2026 Grand Final. Supplied. Under the hot Canterbury sun, the sound of a cheering crowd carries over the noise of chainsaws and drills. Fence posts are hammered into the ground with loud, echoing thuds. Sheep shears buzz, and a tractor whirs to life. Humming over it all: the sound of joy, excitement and proud support. “I’m just so stoked,”