Country-Wide is New Zealand’s only dedicated pastoral and arable farming magazine. It is a trusted farm management publication, delivering content on red meat, wool and arable farming topics.
Each issue gives independent, credible and often exclusive information to help them run your farm businesses better.
Episode 59 – How the Government can support catchment-level solutions
In this episode, Sarah delves into an in-depth discussion with Geoff Simmons, Chief Economist for the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. The conversation focuses on the report Going with the Grain: Changing Land Uses to Fit a Changing Landscape, which was published in May 2024. Geoff highlights the importance of adopting a catchment-level approach to land use changes, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all national regulation.
A collective voice
The newly formed Aotearoa New Zealand Catchment Communities aims to give a collective voice to catchment groups across the country, with a goal of providing security of funding for the future, and sharing the good news stories of farmer stewardship of the land. Words Rebecca Greaves.
Crowdfunding to help our national icon
Farmers have a long history of helping world-class conservation enterprise Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, and now the call has gone out to crowdfund two side-by-side vehicles needed to support its inspirational kiwi translocation programme.Words Rebecca Greaves, Photos Christine Cornege.
Predator Free 2050 – fantasy or reality?
Predator Free 2050 is an ambitious goal for New Zealand to achieve in just 25 years. As part of the Lincoln University Excellence Series, Professor James Ross shared his insights on predator free by 2050 – is it merely a fantasy or could this become our reality? Words Rebecca Greaves.
Farming for the future
With an eye to the future, North Canterbury farmers Jock and Pip Foster see NZ Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP) Plus accreditation as an opportunity to access markets and generate a premium for what they produce. Words SandRa Taylor, Photos Kelly Shakespeare.
Enhancing the environment with dung beetles
Are dung beetles your new farm worker? Working round the clock, and paid in dung, dung beetles could be a valuable addition to the toolbox when it comes to improving soil health and water quality on our farms. Words Rebecca Greaves
Tackling drench resistance in cattle
Drench resistance is a critical issue for New Zealand farmers and state-owned Pāmu is facing the challenge head-on. At Rangitāiki Station in the Central North Island, feeding and growing young cattle has been the key to continuing their dairy beef programme, while protecting the lucrative bull beef finishing component of the operation. Words Rebecca Greaves.
North Otago dairy farmers hosting Dairy Beef Progeny Test
Eager to add value to their non-replacement dairy calves, Hayden and Robyn Williams have put their hands up to host Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Dairy Beef Progeny Test. Words Sandra Taylor.
Farm technician’s dream job
Bella Taylor is living her dream. Based in Manapouri, Bella works as a farm technician for Pāmu, collecting data from the stud breeding and research programmes under way on four of the 13 Pāmu farms in Southland’s Te Anau Basin. Words Sandra Taylor.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Award Winners 2024
The winners in the 2024 Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards were announced at a gala dinner at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton on 10 October.
During the evening, which celebrated the depth of the talent within this country’s red meat industry, the winners of the eight Award categories and B+LNZ Regional Leadership Award were announced.
The rural woman’s balancing act
Kate McBride is a fifth-generation farmer from Western NSW. She is a vocal advocate for rural Australia and continues this while working on her partner’s sheep station.
The competitive edge
Nigel Woodhead runs a sheep, beef and production forestry farm near Milton in Otago with his wife Leanne and children Sienna, six and Finn, four.
Reflections of a travelling Kiwi
Roger Barton, Carterton, Wairarapa, with his wife Barbie, farms a glorified lifestyle block (480ha total) amongst the rocks at Woodside, west of Greytown. They have four adult children, two of which are farming on their own blocks.
In search of unlikely heroes
Gavin Tait is a cattle fertility vet who also runs a beef and sheep farm in the Eastern Scottish Borders, United Kingdom, with his wife Julia and sons Archie, 7, and Rory, 6.
The battle scars of farming
Charlotte Rietveld manages Middle Rock, the family’s intergenerational sheep farm in mid-Canterbury’s Rakaia Gorge, where she lives with husband Vince and their three young children
She’ll be right mate!
What would happen if a key person in your farming business was no longer around, or unable to work? Getting your financial house in order helps avoid unnecessary stress at a difficult time. Here’s what you need to know. Words Carissa Fairbrother, Financial Advisor, RIVAL Wealth.
Investing off farm What’s the right strategy?
Selling a farm is a significant milestone, particularly if the farm has been in the family for generations. Words Angus Marks, Andrew Austin and Harriet Jones, Wealth Management, Jarden Wealth
Capturing deforestation data
The deadline for the European Union deforestation law has been delayed by 12 months, but New Zealand will still need to prove that a number of commodities, including beef, have not been produced on land deforested after 2020. One Kiwi company may have a tech solution to help us map our progress. Words Rebecca Greaves.
Investing off-farm seeking advice
Words Angus Marks & Andrew Austin, Wealth Management, Jarden Wealth.
Rural insurance market insights
An online survey of 518 people was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 with those who work or live on farms to understand their insurance needs, perceptions and behaviours.
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Quick succession
One of the most common issues that I deal with as a counsellor is the distress caused by farm succession. Words Kathryn Wright.
The Best Ever Pikelet Recipe
Pikelets are not just for smoko in our house. In fact, sometimes when there is no bread in the house, and the Weetbix box is just crumbs, we make pikelets for breakfast. Words & Photos Philippa Cameron.
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Ataahua Blooms
Staring at Pancake the pony’s paddock with two uninterested children, Kimbolton farmer Gemma McDougall threw in her nursing career to convert the paddock and follow her heart towards her flower farm dream. Words Rebecca Greaves, Photos Sarah Horrocks.
Mechanical weeding makes a comeback
A worrying increase in the prevalence of herbicide resistance as well as consumer pressure to reduce chemical use is resulting in mechanical weeders making a comeback as an alternative weed control in arable crops. Words Heather Chalmers.
New strategy seeks to grow arable returns
Arable growers are taking action to capture more value from their crops, writes Heather Chalmers.
