Charles Yule had barely had time to get his boots dirty when he took the role as manager of Whakamarumaru Station, diving headfirst into an intensive development programme. His enthusiasm, attention to detail and ability to deliver results bagged him the title of Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year for 2026. Words Rebecca Greaves, Photos John Cowpland.

Like many mixed arable farmers, tight cropping margins have led the Worsfold family of Central Canterbury to increase the livestock component of their farming operation.Words Heather Chalmers.

For more than 150 years, New Zealand’s hop industry has weathered peaks and troughs, but the craft beer revolution drove an expansion unlike anything before it. Words Anne Hardie, Photos Tim Cuff.

Second-generation growers, Harry and Annie Fraser, are optimising production systems on their 16.7ha Mākaraka orchard, focusing on high-quality citrus yields while diversifying revenue streams to ensure long-term commercial viability in a volatile market. Words Kim Parkinson.

New Zealand has long assumed its future lies in premium chilled beef. Standing in a Colorado processing plant, 2025 Nuffield scholar Dani Darke realised the biggest opportunity was sitting in the trim vats beside her and that New Zealand’s dairy herd holds the key to supplying it. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms have collaborated on a programme to drive beef-on-dairy mating decisions for non-replacement calves. But it’s not easy to meet the demands of each party. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

As their tenure as Beef + Lamb New Zealand Monitor Farmers comes to an end, Te Pahu farmers Elliot Kent and Heather Gilbert are seeing that the benefits of their three-year intensification programmes are more than just financial. Words Sandra Taylor.

A four year programme between DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand brings the dairy and beef sectors together in a collaborative effort to improve dairy-beef sustainability and profitability. Words Rebecca Greaves.

Succession is talked about a lot in agriculture and horticulture, yet for many farming families it remains unclear. William Crofskey, a Masters of Agribusiness Management graduate from Lincoln University, and Chris Coughlan, a Succession Consultant for Rural Coach, share how one of the simplest ways to make a complex and lengthy process easier is to have open communication with everyone in the family. Words William Crofskey & Chris Coughlan.

With 40 years of farm consultancy experience, Kerry Dwyer has sat on both sides of many tables. He shares some advice on leasing farms and some basic principles. Words Kerry Dwyer.