Collective community action is well supported locally, as was demonstrated at this Enviro Collective workshop hosted by Somerview Farm The nature of collective community action typically starts small and gradually spreads outwards. Individuals, farm owners and farm teams, catchment groups, and in the case of Mid Canterbury - a catchment collective. Ensuring there is a district-wide vision requires leadership and collaboration as locals can come together around a common goal.

“We know the average outcome of El Niño, but no El Niño is average.” That is the message from Earth Sciences New Zealand Chief Scientist Weather and Seasonal Forecasting Chris Brandolino, as farmers begin preparing for what could be one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Earth Sciences New Zealand has confirmed El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and expects the climate driver to strongly influence New Zealand’s weather through spring, summer and

Canterbury and Otago farmers and growers are being encouraged to check their irrigation systems and water-use plans now, as El Niño increases the likelihood of drier conditions across eastern parts of New Zealand. Earth Sciences New Zealand has confirmed that El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are expected to strongly influence New Zealand’s weather into 2027. Irricon principal environmental consultant Sarah Rickard says the outlook is a timely remi

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

"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

No matter which government comes to power after the 2026 New Zealand general election, it may make little difference to farmers if the people speaking on their behalf are not getting it right. That is the view of Groundswell spokesperson Jamie McFadden, who says the biggest issue facing the sector is not just policy, but a growing disconnect between farmers, advocacy groups and government. “The biggest challenge is the disconnect,” McFadden said. “It’s a disconnect from the r

Kerry and Paul Harmer continue with riparian planting 560 carex secta plants within the Ashburton Lakes catchment on Sunday 22 March. Gathering science/facts has been an ongoing focus for the Ōtūwharekai Ashburton Lakes Catchment Group, we then use these facts to drive catchment-wide and on-farm management decisions to minimise our farming footprint. Our monthly water testing results of waterways travelling through our properties from several different sites show samples take

As with most parents, my mornings and life blood are fuelled by the beautiful brown elixir that is coffee. We even splurged on our own machine and our Covid panic buy was not extra toilet paper, but 20 kg of green beans and an at-home roaster. Owning a home coffee machine comes with both advantages and challenges. The water tank requires frequent refilling and it’s easy to overfill when in a rush. After one particularly sleepless night, I did exactly that, but instead of the