Hawke’s Bay farmer and stud breeder, Ben Dawson, won the Bioeconomy Science Institute Emerging Achiever Award at this year’s Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards held in Christchurch on 20 May 2026. He won ahead of the two other finalists, Graham Johnson and Alice Wilson. Words Sandra Taylor.

With a keen eye for innovation and a deep respect of the land, the team behind Kiwi Heights in Te Puke are successfully integrating kiwifruit orchards, drystock grazing and native forests as they balance profit and sustainability. Words Helena O’Neill, Photos Alan Gibson.

A Canterbury farming business has allowed their land to play to its strengths by investing in infrastructure to finetune their operation. Words Anne Lee, Photos Hamish Hobbs.

Three years ago, Jason Rentoul and Chelsea Hudson drew up a farm plan for Wye Hills in Marlborough based around their life goals. Words Joanna Grigg, Photos Jim Tannock.

New Zealand’s dairy sector cannot grow in the same way it has in the past. So what is the plan to increase the value of exports whilst improving dairy’s environmental footprint? Words Campbell Parker.

Oat growing and the Gardyne family of eastern Southland have been closely linked for more than 100 years. Words Heather Chalmers.

War in the Middle East has reignited interest in what on farm electrification could really look like. As fuel prices hit record highs, the conversation about energy resilience has gone beyond townies charging vehicles to the real economics of farmers generating a cheaper form of energy that powers profits.

Taranaki dairy farmers had been reluctant to install solar panels for electricity generation until a project helped identify significant energy efficiency opportunities.

Dairy Trust Taranaki (DTT) is poised to make a second, more substantial investment in solar energy capture and storage to strengthen the operational resilience during power outages and reduce electricity costs of its farms.

The Government has set an ambitious target to double the value of New Zealand’s primary sector exports over the coming decade whilst lifting environmental performance. Chair of DairyNZ, Tracy Brown, believes dairy will play a central role in achieving that aspiration. Words Tracy Brown.