Archive

February

• Feds Aim To Bring Down The Death Toll

  Two recent quad bike accidents, in Northern Canterbury and at Tokomaru Bay, have heightened awareness of farm safety.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 February 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Women Call For 20kph School Bus Campaign

  Rural Women New Zealand is calling for a campaign by Southern District Police to enforce the 20 kph speed limit past school buses to go national.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 February 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Wairarapa Farm Sales A Titanic Opportunity - Feds

  A top Hollywood director is making New Zealand his home – and he’ll be donning gumboots too.   

  Posted: Thursday, 2 February 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Moves To Soothe Farmer TAF Concerns

  Fonterra has held another round of farmer meetings this week, seeking to sooth shareholders’ concern over the Trading Among Farmers capital proposal.

  Posted: Friday, 3 February 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Greens: Treasury Cuts Put Agriculture In Harms Way

  The Green Party is warning that Treasury’s cost-cutting advice to the government could see biosecurity at the border reduced if adopted, but Federated Farmers say the greens are barking up the wrong tree.

  Posted: Friday, 3 February 2012 By: Country 99 TV

January

• Wet Weather Just What The Economy Ordered

  While the unseasonably wet weather over the traditional Christmas period may have made it a bleak break for many New Zealanders, for agriculture it was just what the economy ordered.

  Posted: Monday, 16 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Wholesale Price Of Milk To Fall End Of January

  Fonterra will be reducing the price of wholesale domestic milk at the end of January, following falling international commodity prices. 

  Posted: Monday, 16 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Tough New Ute Turning Heads

  One of the latest utes on the market for farmers is turning heads – and not just in agricultural sectors but with serious automotive journalists around the country. The new Ford Ranger has just picked up arguably the most prestigious vehicle award in New Zealand – the Autocar 2011 Car of the Year. Benedict Collins takes the Ranger for a spin to see how it stands up.

  Posted: Monday, 16 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Shortage Of Agri-Experts Leads To Offshore Search

  New Zealand is now officially looking offshore for agricultural experts to import due to a lack of qualified Kiwis to do the work. 

  Posted: Tuesday, 17 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Is TAF Really A Trojan Horse? - Lachlan McKenzie

  Several of Fonterra’s farmer suppliers have spoken out against Fonterra's Trading Among Farmers capital raising proposal, questioning whether it is simply a Trojan horse for getting the co-op onto the NZX.

  Posted: Tuesday, 17 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Receiver's Deadline Looms For Crafar Farm Sale

  With just two weeks remaining for Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin, to go unconditional on its offer to buy 16 Crafar farms from receivers KordaMentha, for around $210 million, there is still no indication of when, or if,  the Overseas Investment Office will give its approval.

  Posted: Tuesday, 17 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Business Confidence Puts On The Brakes

  With a less than expected business boost from the rugby world cup, business owners fear New Zealand is heading straight for a recession.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Exciting Research Unravels Mysteries Of Bovine Fertility

  Exciting new research out of Dairy NZ is helping unravel some of the mystery behind the fertility of cows.Dairy NZ scientist Caroline Walker has just published research which the industry believes will eventually help it improve fertility in the national herd. Country99TV reporter Benedict Collins met with Ms Walker to hear about her work.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• New Corn Could Help Fight GE Contamination

  A new hybrid of corn may help in the fight against GE contamination and help to maintain New Zealand’s green clean image.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Legal Action On Cards In Race To Buy Crafar Farms

  It is being reported that legal action against the Overseas Investment Office could be on the cards as the race to buy the Crafar farms goes down to the wire.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• World Shearing Record Falls

  It may have stood for 16 years but on Wednesday a world shearing record fell, in front of a frenzied crowd, packed into a King Country woolshed near Benneydale.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Olympian Dressage Hopeful Does It Her Way

  The 2012 London Olympics are just months away and New Zealand’s top equestrians are packing their bags and heading off on the quest for Olympic glory. Emma Jones caught up with dressage rider Vanessa Way, just before she and her steed KH Arvan, boarded the plane for England, and the beginning of their gruelling Olympic campaign....

  Posted: Thursday, 19 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Conspiracy To Save Face Over Crafar Farm Deal - Mallard

  Labour MP Trevor Mallard believes a conspiracy may be afoot with the government trying to save face while at the same time deliberately stopping the Chinese buying up the Crafar farms.

  Posted: Friday, 20 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Sets A New Record For Dairy Exports

  Every 2.7 minutes during December, Fonterra closed the doors on an export container of New Zealand dairy product – a staggering number of 546 containers a day.

  Posted: Friday, 20 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Olympic Shearing Idea Goes Viral

  The idea that the sport of sheep shearing should be an Olympic sport has gone viral. The media response to the idea, mooted by Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson, Jeanette Maxwell has caused an international frenzy.

  Posted: Friday, 20 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• OIO Stays Mum Over Crafar Farms' Sale Decision

  After taking the best part of a year to assess Shanghai Pengxin’s bid to buy the Crafar farms, the Overseas Investment Office has now made its recommendation to the government.

  Posted: Monday, 23 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Desk Top Exercise For Foot And Mouth Outbreak

  The country’s ability to cope with an outbreak of the deadly foot and mouth disease will be tested in March when the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry leads a desk-top exercise.

  Posted: Monday, 23 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Cops Warn Farmers - Take Care With Your Guns

  The New Zealand Police are launching a new campaign reminding farmers and others with firearms to follow the seven golden safety rules for guns.  And gun security is top of the list. Reporter Benedict Collins met with senior police from the Waitemata District to hear what farmers can do to keep themselves and their guns safe.

   

  Posted: Monday, 23 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Healthy Men Have New Potatoes In Their Trolley

  Online dating may be all the rage but is it something closer to home, something a little more ‘earthy’, that could help find the perfect mate? Emma Jones went along to her local New World supermarket to find out more...

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Open Country Dairy Changes Payment Schedule

  In a move which is attracting interest from other dairy co-operatives, Open Country Dairy unveiled a new plan to pay its farmer suppliers more regularly for their milk during the year.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Desperation In The Orchards Leads To A Goldrush

  Potentially illegal actions from some stricken kiwifruit growers in the Bay of Plenty are worrying Zespri. The export marketing giant has reported about 13 hectares of a new, potentially Psa resistant  variety of kiwifruit have been grafted onto existing infected orchards.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Cannot See Government's Milky Way

  Fonterra says farmers are angry that their 1500 submissions on the Government's review of farmgate milk pricing have been ignored and it it is clear the proposed changes to the Raw Milk Regulations are a backward step. Drew Chappell caught up with Fonterra Chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden...

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Milk Pricing and Regulations Consultation Begins

  The consultation period has begun on the Government’s proposed response to reviews of Fonterra’s farm gate milk price setting and the Raw Milk Regulations.

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Reaction To Milk Price Scrutiny swift, and not all positive.

  Reaction to the Government's preferred options for amendments to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) and the Raw Milk Regulations has drawn a swift, and often uncomplimentary response.

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Police Call On Farmers In Fight Against Cannabis

  The New Zealand Police are calling on farmers to keep an eye out for the tell-tale signs of cannabis plots as the latest growing season gets into full swing. With the warm wet conditions over the summer, police say the 2012 cannabis crop will be a bumper one and they’re determined to find as much of it as they can. But not everybody agrees that their efforts are worthwhile. Reporter Benedict Collins has more.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• David Shearer On The Sale Of Crafar Farms

  New Labour Party leader David Shearer is speaking out against the potential sale of the Crafar farms to Chinese buyers. With government Ministers currently considering the Overseas Investment Office’s recommendation on the Shanghai Pengxin bid Mr Shearer, on his way to a two-day caucus in Taupo, visited a Crafar farm and called for them to stay in New Zealand hands. Country99TV spoke with Mr Shearer and asked why he chose to visit the farm.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Chinese Get The Green Light To Buy Crafar Farms

  The Crafar farms are going to the Chinese. The government has confirmed that the 16 Crafar farms will be going to the Shanghai Pengxin group which the Labour Party says is aligned with the Chinese government.

  Posted: Friday, 27 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Event Attracts Hundreds To Feilding

  Hundreds of cattle enthusiasts gathered this week in Fielding for the fourth Dairy NZ Event. The very best presented New Zealand cattle were on display  and for breeders it was the culmination of years of breeding and preparation. Reporter Benedict Collins was there...

  Posted: Friday, 27 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Halal Trade With Malaysia Takes Off Again

  After seven years of improving New Zealand's meat processing systems it seems the halal beef trade with Malaysia may be about to take off again.

  Posted: Friday, 27 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• O'Connor: Peasants In Our Own Country

  There continues to be a huge range of reaction to the Crafar farms' sale to the Chinese company, Shanhai Pengxin Group, from the disgusted to the supportive.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Skimmed Milk Could Be The Answer To Gout Pain

  A new study, driven by Fonterra’s Premium Ingredients division and published in the British Medical Journal, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, has shown that a daily dose of skimmed milk, enriched with two value add ingredients naturally found in dairy products, may offer relief to sufferers of gout.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

• Future Dairy Cow Judges Learn From The Best

  Hundreds of cattle enthusiasts gathered in Fielding last week for the fourth Dairy NZ Event. For breeders it was the end result of years of breeding and months of preparing their animals for the show. Dozens of future judges gathered to learn from one of the best - Canadian cattle judge, Brian Carscadden. Benedict Collins has the story...

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 January 2012 By: Country 99 TV

December

• David and Goliath Struggle For Comvita Stalls

  The David and Goliath battle for the control of a honey based health food company has reached a stalemate, with neither party willing to budge.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Innovation Summit Hears Of Angel Investors

  A Dairy Innovation Summit has been held in Auckland where delegates heard from a variety of industry experts. Those at the conference learned of the latest developments in dairy based sports nutrition, and all about the angel investors who are backing dairy sleep-enhancing product start—ups. Reporter Benedict Collins was there...

  Posted: Thursday, 1 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Young Kiwi Chefs In Classic Kitchen Cook-Off

  Young Kiwi chefs were cooking up a storm in Auckland as part of Fonterra's Proud to be a Chef competition. The Ten chefs, from Otago to Northland served up their finest fare in a bid to make the top four, and head to the Australian leg of the competition. Reporter Benedict Collins went along to check out the flavour of the competition...

  Posted: Thursday, 1 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra - 18 Months To Fix The Fences

  Fonterra is making the fencing off of rivers compulsory for its suppliers in a bid to force the industry’s slackers to play ball. 

  Posted: Friday, 2 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Synlait Puts Canterbury Farmland Up For Sale

  Nearly 5000 hectares of prime, irrigated Canterbury farmland is up for sale as the Board of  the independent South Island dairy company, Synlait Limited, look for an investment partner.

  Posted: Friday, 2 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• HortNZ Pressures Government On Biosecurity

  The horticulture industry is promising to keep the pressure on the incoming Government over bio-security standards. 

  Posted: Friday, 2 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Palm Kernel Emissions Greater Than Previously Realised

  The carbon emissions from New Zealand dairying are far greater than previously thought – with new research showing the use of palm kern oil emits far more carbon than previously thought.

  Posted: Monday, 5 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Clean Stream Accord Goes Down Well

  Fonterra’s move to make it compulsory for its farmers to fence off all waterways within 18 months has gone down well with some.

  Posted: Monday, 5 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Yoghurt Company Has Global Sales Culture

  A New Zealand yogurt company is flat out, busy filling orders from around the world. Owned by 330 Westland co-op farmers, EasiYo is a truly innovative company, which has set itself apart from the competition. Benedict Collins visited the EasiYo plant in Albany... 

  Posted: Monday, 5 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Palm Kernel Issue A Lot Of Hot Air Say Feds

  The dairy industry’s environmental footprint may have just got a lot deeper. New research by Greenpeace suggests the dairy industry’s newfound love affair with palm kernel expeller is leading to a phenomenal increase in this country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cavalier: Background To Scourer Negotiations

  Cavalier Wool Holdings has issued a media statement in a response to what it describes as ‘some of the incorrect statements that have been made’, over the company’s efforts to acquire the wool scouring assets of rival scourer, New Zealand Wool Services International.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Sharemilker SurveyThinks Ahead

  Federated Farmers is thinking ahead. With the support of DairyNZ the federation has begun to survey its members about progression and succession within the country’s dairy farming sector.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Radical New Proposals For New Zealand Rivers

  Radical new proposals would see New Zealand’s most significant rivers treated in the same regard as if they were National Parks and a government body established specifically to protect them.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• WSI Shareholders Demand Answers

  New Zealand Wool Services International bosses came under pressure at its annual meeting in Christchurch this week as shareholders raised questions about the future of the company.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmy Army's John Hartnell Up For Hero Award

  Whithin hours of the devastating Christchurch earthquake, Federated Farmers board member John Hartnell was organising help.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Council Stunned By Flak Over Dairy Farm Idea

  The Horizons Regional Council has been left stunned by the flak it has copped for investigating investing in the dairy sector.

  Posted: Thursday, 8 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Call For Solution To Fragmented Wool Industry

  A farming leader is calling for the Alliance and Silver Fern Farms meat companies to unite to form a marketing company for wool.

  Posted: Thursday, 8 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Scientist Writing Rural Stories For Charity

  Emma Jones meets Katherine Tozer, an agricultural research scientist who has transformed her tramping and photographic hobbies into a series of tales from the country - and all for charity.

  Posted: Thursday, 8 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Forty Jobs Go As Another Sawmill Closes

  As yet another sawmill shut up shop for good this week one of the country’s major unions has accused the government of sitting on its hands while New Zealand’s wood processing industry suffocates.

  Posted: Friday, 9 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Psa-V Now In 900 Kiwifruit Orchards

  Kiwifruit Vine Health, the organisation set up to manage the Psa crisis has confirmed 20 new Psa-V positive results this week, bringing the total number of  orchards with infected vines to 909.

  Posted: Friday, 9 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Hostile Cerebos Bid Puts Spring in Comvita Step

  With the hostile takeover bid for honey healthcare company Comvita almost certain to fail, the company the company says it will now focus on returning value to shareholders.

  Posted: Friday, 9 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• A Year To Nut Out Food Labelling

  New Zealand and Australian food safety authorities have given themselves a year to nut out improved nutritional information on packaging for food.

  Posted: Monday, 12 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Christen Hayde on Tandarra Sweet As In Super League Lead

  This year’s National Three day event held at Puhinui over the weekend was a show stopper.

  Posted: Monday, 12 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Lilly Tootill's On Her Way To Hong Kong

  New Zealand’s equestrian scene is thriving. Our international riders are making their mark with Jonathan Paget placed at Burghley, Clark Johnstone taking out the FEI World Eventing Championships, and  Mark Todd repeating history with his 5^th Badminton win. But what does it take to reach such a high level of achievement? Emma Jones went to visit a talented newcomer about to make her mark in Hong Kong, at the FEI World Children Classic, in January.

  Posted: Monday, 12 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Super Ministry Gets Carter

  On Monday Prime Minister John Key announced his new cabinet. David Carter, Agriculture Minister for the past three years, has kept his portfolio which includes Biosecurity and Forestry.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds On Alert For Cannabis Growers

  Federated Farmers is asking its members to assist the police in combating cannabis cultivation.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• HortNZ Looking For Answers On Strawberry Bio Breach

  HortNZ wants to know when MAF will come up with answers to the biosecurity lapse that allowed un-checked Strawberry kits into the country.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Lifts Payout Forecast by 20c

  Fonterra has lifted its payout forecast by 20 cents. The co—op announced on Tuesday that it was lifting its 2012 forecast to between $6.90 and $7 per kilo of milk solids.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Irrigation And Biosecurity Are Top Priorities For MInister

  David Carter is now the Minister for Primary Industries. Mr Carter says his new title is effectively just a new name for the Minister of Agriculture but the Government has brought food safety into MAF, and brought the Ministry of Fisheries into MAF too.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Sir Michael Says His Crafar Bid Is Being Kneecapped

  Crafar Farms bidder,Sir Michael Fay, says state-owned Landcorp’s negotiations with Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin are ‘nothing more than an attempt to sanitise a deal that stinks in the minds of most New Zealanders’.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Top Of The South Floods And More Rain On The Way

  Farmers in Golden Bay have had nearly 600mm of rain the in last 48 hours but it appears it is the urban areas in the Nelson region that have been hardest hit.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Says A Quarter Of Kiwifruit Orchards Have Psa

  The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has just released a report that shows the devastatiion the deadly bacterial disease Psa-V has wreaked on the country’s Gold Kiwifruit industry.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Plan To Reduce Death And Injury Stats

  The Department of Labour has come up with a new plan to drastically reduce the number of deaths and injuries in the agriculture industry.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Road Closure Means Farmers Must Spill Milk

  Forty-three Fonterra farmers cut off by the road slips following flooding in the Tasman District have been told to spill milk once their vats reach capacity.

  Posted: Friday, 16 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Green Party Wades Into Crafar Saga

  The Green Party is surmising the Overseas Investment Office will deliberately wait until the Christmas holidays, when most Kiwis are distracted by the festive season, to make its announcement about the sale of the 16 Crafar Farms.

  Posted: Friday, 16 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• It's The Start Of The Psyllid Season

  The approaching festive season is, unfortunately, also a sure sign that it is the tomato/potato psyllid season again.

  Posted: Friday, 16 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Launches Milk For Schools

  Fonterra unveiled its Milk For Schools programme on Friday. As of 2013 every primary school child in New Zealand will have fresh milk for free, every school day of the year. While Fonterra is not mentioning the likely cost, the co-operative has made a bold statement about where it sees itself in New Zealand society.  Benedict Collins was there...  

  Posted: Monday, 19 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Milk For Schools - Who Is Going To Pay?

  Every primary school child will have free milk at school in 2013 under an ambitious new Fonterra programme Milk for Schools. And while many are praising the initiative – some Fonterra suppliers are questioning the move.

  Posted: Monday, 19 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Psa Prompts MAF Review Of Import Standards

  MAF is calling for an independent review of its own importing standards in the wake of the PSA-v outbreak.

  Posted: Monday, 19 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• WoolCo Pulls The Plug On Capital Raising Venture

  WoolCo has thrown in the towel. The failed capital raising venture will be returning cheques to farmers who bought into their proposal to buy Wool Services International to prevent a wool scouring monopoly in New Zealand.

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Review Seeks Answer To Psa Pathway

  Kiwi fruit growers are welcoming an investigation into how the deadly kiwifruit vine killing disease, Psa first got into New Zealand.

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• School Has Hands On Approach To Learning

  A small Far North school is turning heads and winning national awards with its hands on approach to learning. Oturu School in Kaitaia took out first place in the New Zealand schools category of the NZ Gardener’s Awards this week. Reporter Benedict Collins headed North to see the gardens for himself and meet the kids who plant and harvest them. 

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Waikato Cheese Factory Up For Sale

  Kaimai Cheese is selling its Waharoa property in a bid to stay afloat. The Waikato specialty cheese producer announced a loss of $2.9 million, on revenues of $6.4 million, to the end of March, and its directors are openly discussing placing it in the hands of receivers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Scientist Calls MAF Psa Report A Whitewash

  A bacterial plant pathologist has dismissed MAF’s report into how the kiwifruit vine killing bacteria Psa-v became established in the country as a whitewash.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Indonesia To Cut Down On Beef Exports

  Reports circulating out of Indonesia and Australia last week could have devastating consequences for New Zealand beef exports to Indonesia.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Questions For MAF Over Pollen Imports

  Organisations are lining up to question MAF’s scientific rigour after it allowed in imported kiwifruit pollen infected with PSA-v.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Effluent Breaches Rise In Bay Of Plenty

  The number of dairy farms failing to comply with their consents for disposing of effluent in the Bay of Plenty is on the rise, and so too the number of cockies appearing in the Environment Court there.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmer Confidence Teeters Over Global Uncertainty

  A recent confidence survey by Rabobank has found that New Zealand farmers remain relatively confident about the agricultural economic outlook.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Scientists Say MAF Psa Report Ignored Evidence

  For many Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers the news only gets worse, as the latest statistics from Kiwifruit Vine Health show, in the week before Christmas, there have been another six positive Psa-V results. This means there are now 933, or 28%, of New Zealand’ kiwifruit orchards affected by the deadly vine-killing disease.

  And while scientists and those in the sector desperately seek a solution, the answer as to how Psa-V first entered the country, just over a year ago, may be closer to hand. It now seems increasingly likely that the Psa bacteria  entered New Zealand on imported pollen, although a MAF publication, the PSA – Pathways Tracing Report, issued a week ago, has scientists shaking their heads.

  Some say MAF ignored international scientific evidence that bacteria can be easily spread by pollen, and placed New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry in danger, by allowing it in. Benedict Collins has this story.

  Posted: Friday, 23 December 2011 By: Country 99 TV

November

• Comvita Shareholders Told Don't Do Anything

  Don’t do anything. This is the advice manuka honey health company Comvita is giving to its shareholders following a $2.50 per share offer from Cerebos New Zealand, to take over the company.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Reality Sets In For Te Puke Kiwifruit Growers

  As Spring progresses and the PSA virus works its way relentlessly through Bay of Plenty orchards, many kiwifruit growers are beginning to realise their vines simply won’t support a crop this year.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Election 2011: Politicians And The Agricultural Issues

  The 2011 General Election is four weeks away and politicians are turning up the heat. The Campaign is on. Country99TV asks how the Election will affect farmers and agribusiness? What do the political parties see as the most important issues facing the primary sector? See what David Carter, Damien O'Connor, Kevin Hague and Don Nicolson have to say about NAIT.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Manifesto A Blueprint For Farming

  Federated Farmers unveiled its General Election manifesto in Wellington this week – a blueprint for what it believes the country needs to support farming. The manifesto included a call for more investment in irrigation schemes, a reduction in both red tape and compliance costs and a reduction in government spending. Benedict Collins filed this report...

  Posted: Thursday, 3 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fewer Farms Infected With TB

  It has been an exceptional year for protecting the country from Bovine Tuberculosis (TB), according to the Animal Health Board.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Survey Shows Kiwis Are Against Foreign Farm Ownership

  A North Island farmer group headed by Sir Michael Fay, that has thus far been thwarted in its attempt to buy the 16 Crafar farms currently in receivership, has commissioned a survey that shows the majority of Kiwis are opposed to foreign ownership of New Zealand farmland.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• More Orchards Infected With Psa - Latest Statistics

  The latest Psa statistics released be Kiwfruit Vine Health this week show that more than a fifth of the country’s kiwifruit orchards are infected with the vine-killing bacteria.

  Posted: Friday, 4 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Factory Closed

  Fifty people have lost their jobs in Tauranga as Natural Dairy’s Greerton milk factory in Tauranga shuts its gates for good.

  Posted: Friday, 4 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• First For Kiwi Dressage Team

  New Zealand’s dressage team has made history by qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London after the final leg of the regional qualifier in the Netherlands this week.

  Posted: Friday, 4 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fear Turns To Relief For Kerikeri Kiwifruit Growers

  Last week a positive PSA reading from a KeriKeri kiwifruit orchard alarmed growers who feared the deadly  vine killing disease had spread all the way from the Bay of Plenty.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co Extends Capital Raising Deadline

  Wool Co has extended its capital raising deadline and dramatically reduced the minimum buy in it is asking from farmers in its bid to buy Wool Services International. 

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Election 2011: Politicians And The Agricultural Issues

  The Campaign is on. The 2011 General Election is less than four weeks away. But how will the result affect farmers and agribusiness? What do the political parties see as the most important issues, as far as the primary sector is concerned? Country99TV has put five questions to the main parties, an opportunity for their spokespeople to call it as they see it,

  Question number three asks where the parties stand on ETS, The Emissions Trading Scheme, designed to incentivise the reduction of carbon emissions?

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Competition Bangers Behind The Scenes

  The humble sausage tends to be over looked when it comes to gourmet meals. But nothing beats a good banger, on a good day. Bangers and mash might be a classic, wholesome, favourite dish, but not a particularly glamorous one. Once again the annual Devro Sausage Awards are about to challenge all that. With final judging at the end of this week, Emma Jones had a sneak peak at preparations behind the scenes...

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• High Country Farmer Stood Head And Shoulders Above His Peers

  The highly respected farming and South Island High Country community leader, John Aspinall, has died aged 60. 

  Posted: Monday, 7 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Best Bangers At Sizzling Sausage Final

  The annual competition for New Zealand sausage makers has ended and the results are in. The 2011 Devro Sausage Awards at Auckland’s Fish Market saw celebrity judges and sizzler fans pick the Supreme Award from 470 entries, finally nominating an Italian Casalinga Port sausage from Ashby's Butchery in Christchurch. Emma Jones went along to find out more…

  Posted: Monday, 7 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Controversial Cross Country Course Opens In Dunedin

  Dunedin’s controversial cross country course opened at Wingatui race course over the weekend. Organised by the Taieri District Pony Club, the two-day opening event attracted more than 170 riders from Otago, Southland and Canterbury, who braved frost bite to compete.

  Posted: Monday, 7 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Game Industry Gears Up For Export Season

  The game season kicks off in earnest this month and the country’s deer farmers will soon be sending their animals to slaughter. With the deer industry largely dependent on the Northern European market for success, Deer Industry New Zealand is doing everything it can to promote the virtues of venison, both there and at home. Reporter Benedict Collins has the latest on the sector...

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Relief For Kerikeri Kiwifruit Growers

  Good news for Kerikeri kiwifruit growers as eagerly awaited laboratory results have been unable to confirm a positive Psa-V test from two weeks ago.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fresh Vegetables Left To Rot in The Field

  Apparently we haven’t been eating our fresh vegetables. According to Horticulture New Zealand, quick and easy take-aways and lazy choices have seen fresh fruit and vege demand decline heavily during the festivities of the Rugby World Cup.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Issues Rolled Out At Broadband Conference

  While there’s no doubt agriculture is the engine which drives New Zealand’s economy, rural communities continue to have their true potential siphoned by the lack of decent high speed internet.  Dozens of industry delegates are attending a rural broadband symposium in Taupo this week to discuss the latest efforts to roll out rural broadband. Reporter Benedict Collins was there...

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Taieri Pony Riders Brave Frostbite For New Course

  A new cross country course for horses opened at Dunedin’s Wingatui race course over the weekend. Taieri District Pony Club hosted the 2 day event with over 170 riders from Otago, Southland and Canterbury fighting frost bite to compete. Country99TV reporter Emma Jones was there...

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Psa Priority Zone Extended To Waihi Beach

  Kiwifruit Vine Health announced yesterday that the Psa-V priority zone in the Waihi area has been extended and now includes the Waihi Beach area.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Canterbury A & P Show - A Big Day Out

  A lot of animals, a lot of schoolchildren and a whole lot of fun are among the abiding impressions of  the Canterbury A & P Show. Benedict Collins was there...

  Posted: Thursday, 10 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• National Promises $400 Million For Irrigation

  With promises of money for irrigation and keeping agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme, for the time being, the National Party announced its environment and agricultural policies in Nelson on Wednesday.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• KVH Rationalises Psa-V Test Payments

  Kiwifruit Vine Health has stopped paying for Psa-V testing of orchards in the Te Puke Priorty Zone.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 200% Increase In Quad Bike Helmet Sales

  Farmers are responding well to a government organised quad bike safety campaign.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Man Takes The Reins At Fieldays

  New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays has a new boss. He is Waikato business leader Jon Calder who has been appointed CEO of the National Fieldays Society, founders of the Mystery Creek Events Centre.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Anonymous Investors Back Crafar Attempt To Redeem Farms

  Reporoa farmer Allan Crafar believes he may be able to get his farms back. It was revealed yesterday that a group of anonymous investors, fronted by Bay of Plenty-based lawyer, Vinay Deobhakta, says it can raise the money for Mr Crafar to redeem his debt.

  Posted: Friday, 11 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PM Casts A Line At Nelson Seafood Conference

  The Prime Minister took some time out from a busy election campaign this week to sample a little seafood – and speak to some of those celebrating in one of our fastest growing primary industries, at the Aquaculture NZ conference in Nelson. Drew Chappell was there.

  Posted: Friday, 11 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Venison Game For Any Occasion

  With the game season shortly due to kick off in earnest the country’s deer farmers will soon be sending their animals to slaughter. Most of our venison heads up to Europe, and is heavily marketed by the New Zealand deer industry, using the culinary wizardry of our top chefs to promote the delicious meat.

  Reporter Benedict Collins, who fancies himself as a bit of whizz in the kitchen, recently met master chef Alan Brown who was happy to show him just what the industry is so proud of.

  Posted: Friday, 11 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Horticultural Landscape Could Change Forever

  What a difference 48 hours makes. There was unprecedented change in the New Zealand horticultural sector last week with BayWa launching a bid for Turners and Growers, and kiwifruit exporters, Satara and Seeka, announced a merger.

  Posted: Monday, 14 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Return Of The Minister Of Rural Affairs

  A Labour Government would reinstate the position of Minister for Rural Affairs, if elected. Releasing the party’s rural affairs policy on Friday, Rural Affairs Spokesperson Damien O’Connor said National had eliminated the portfolio, and in doing so 'wiped out a powerful voice for rural communities around New Zealand'.

  Posted: Monday, 14 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Significant Rise In Fertiliser Sales

  Fertiliser sales are up significantly for the first time in five years, says Fert Research, and farmers are reinvesting part of their good financial returns in fertiliser.

  Posted: Monday, 14 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Beekeepers Turn Detective To Catch A Thief

  Northland beekeepers have turned detectives and uncovered a professional beehive stealing ring.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers A Bit Green When It Comes To Grass

  New Zealand farmers are missing out on being paid a premium for their stock because we’re failing to market our meat as being packed full of health benefits.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Tough New Rules On Dairy Conversions Irk Feds

  Tough new rules on dairy farm conversion have stirred up feelings in Southland. A draft policy to make all new dairy farmers prove they can comply with resource conditions, before the conversion goes ahead, has got Federated Farmers in a stew.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Could Reap Big Rewards From Free Trade Deal

  Kiwi farmers could be reaping the economic benefits of a proposed new free trade deal within 12 months.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds And Police Sign Up For Good Public Order

  Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Police have signed a Letter of Agreement designed to promote a ‘collaborative working relationship between the police and rural New Zealand’.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Young Tomato Grower Flushed With Success

  The Young Horticulturist of the Year for 2011 is blushing tomato grower Ben Smith, from Pukekohoe, who won the prestigious title in an exhausting two-day battle of skill and wits, against five other finalists, at Auckland’s Botanical Gardens last week. Emma Jones was there...

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• WWF Says ETS Delay Could End Up Hurting Farmers

  The National Party’s proposed climate policy changes will neuter the Emissions Trading Scheme and leave it impotent, and New Zealand agriculture will be worse off as a result.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Questions Over The Future Of Rural Health Support

  Rural Health care workers around New Zealand are questioning the future of rural health support for kiwis.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Best Ham In The Land

  A boutique butchery in Christchurch has won the inaugural 100% New Zealand Ham Competition, and the right to claim the title ‘The Best Ham In The Land’.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra AGM A Meeting With Surprises

  Dairy farmers from around the country attended Fonterra's AGM in Whangarei this week and while the event is usually a forum for discussing the last year’s performance, and the vision for the future, this year there were a few big surprises. Reporter Benedict Collins was there...

  Posted: Friday, 18 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Thanks For Stepping Into The Lions Den Mr Goff

  ‘Thanks for stepping into the lion’s den’ Phil Goff was told after he addressed a Federated Farmers conference in Wellington.

  Posted: Friday, 18 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Farmers Buying Into Sustainability

  New Zealand’s dairy farmers are rapidly buying into sustainability. According to Fert Research nearly half the country’s dairy farmers operate a nutrient management plan, and nearly all of them, more than 98%, have a nutrient budget.

  Posted: Friday, 18 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 25% Of Country's Kiwifruit Orchards Now With Psa-V

  Latest statistics from Kiwifruit Vine Health show there were 48 new Psa-V positive results last week, bringing the number of orchards with infected vines to a total of 839 so far, of which 729 of those are in the Te Puke region. This means 25%, or a quarter of New Zealand’s orchards have infected vines. The organisation says that most of the week's new positive results are from green Kiwifruit orchards.

  Posted: Friday, 18 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Strawberries Make MAF Officials Blush

  MAF doesn’t know how 7000 Chinese strawberry growing kits were imported into New Zealand and sold without ever going through quarantine.

  Posted: Monday, 21 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cheap Asparagus Gives Way To Dairy

  While asparagus might be as cheap as chips in the shops at the moment in the future prices may not be so good for consumers.

  Posted: Monday, 21 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Mystery Creek A Haven For Horse Lovers

  This weekend Mystery Creek near Hamilton has been a haven for horse lovers of all types, who came from around the country for the first ever Equidays, a three-day equestrian extravaganza, a celebration of all things horse. Emma Jones went along, of course...

  Posted: Monday, 21 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wood Chopping World Mourns Loss Of A Champion

  Champion axeman David Bolstad died suddenly on Saturday after winning a competition in Waiuku. He was in his early forties and leaves a wife, Michelle, and two children.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Green Party Wants To Be In Charge Of Water Cleanup

  The Green Party wants to take charge of cleaning up New Zealand’s polluted rivers and lakes after the Election, no matter who wins.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fracking A Cause For Concern In Taranaki?

  A controversial oil and gas drilling process is concerning some farmers in Taranaki.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Beekeepers Crack Hive Rustling Ring

  A sophisticated beehive-stealing ring has been smashed in Northland in the last few weeks. Hundreds of beehives, valued between $700 and a thousand dollars each, have vanished in the dead of night. Frustrated with what they perceived as a lack of police action, members of the Whangarei Bee Club decided to do some investigation of their own...

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Appeal For Strawberry Growing Kit Return

  Federated Farmers has joined in the chorus with Horticulture New Zealand and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, in an appeal for the return or destruction of Buzzy branded strawberry growing kits, sold through the Warehouse.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Comvita Shares Valued Higher

  Comvita, the honey-based health food company, whose shareholders have been advised to reject a hostile takeover bid by conglomerate Cerebos New Zealand, has had the value of its shares increased by 60 per cent.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• West Coast Drenching An Adverse Event Say Feds

  Federated Farmers West Coast branch is hoping a medium size adverse event will be declared in the area in order to get help to those who have been badly affected.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Psa Discovered In Pukekohe

  The relentless scourge of Psa is nibbling at kiwifruit orchards on the southern fringes of South Auckland.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• $60million Bank Fund For 'Lost Generation'

  The ANZ Bank is warning of a ‘lost generation’ of Kiwis who are turning their backs on agriculture, as the cost of getting onto a farm ‘soars beyond the reach of young investors.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Step Into Farmgate Milk Sales Issue

  Federated Farmers has stepped back into the fresh milk issue. The Federation believes farmers and consumers should  have the option of selling and buying raw drinking milk from the farm gate.

  Posted: Friday, 25 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• High Court Ruling Opens Door For Wool Monopoly

  The Wellington High Court has dismissed an appeal by the country’s biggest carpet manufacturer, Godfrey Hirst, to stop Cavalier Wool Holdings buying rival wool scourer, NZ Wool Services International.

  Posted: Friday, 25 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Bank Loans for 'Lost Generation' Gets Thumbs Up

  Federated Farmers is delighted with ANZ Bank’s $60 initiative for new farmers saying it is a massive vote of confidence in farming’s future.

  Posted: Friday, 25 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Candidate Questions Fonterra Election Process

  Questions are being raised about the impartiality and integrity of Fonterra’s board of director’s election process. Several of the candidates who stood unsuccessfully for Fonterra’s Board of Directors this month have told Country 99TV that they don’t believe they got a fair go. Reporter Benedict Collins has spoken with several of the unsuccessful candidates...

   

  Posted: Friday, 25 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Business Booming For Top Ham Maker

  Business is booming for a Christchurch butchery which has just taken the title of Best Ham of the Year in the inaugural 100% New Zealand Bacon and Ham Competition. Reporter Benedict Collins visited Cashmere Cuisine to find out what sets this ham apart from the rest.   

  Posted: Friday, 25 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Infant Formula Works For Synlait Milk

  Independent South Island dairy company Synlait Milk opened a new processing facility in Dunsandel in South Canterbury this week. The company, with 135 dedicated Cantabrian farmer suppliers, is focussing its efforts on exporting infant milk formula to feed the seemingly insatiable demands of the Chinese domestic market. Synlait Milk’s majority shareholder, Shanghai’s Bright Dairy, is helping roll the infant formula product out, throughout the country. Reporter Benedict Collins was there...  

  Posted: Friday, 25 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Election Result Sits Well With Farmers

  Federated Farmers says rural New Zealand has chosen to stick with what it knows during tough economic times.

  Posted: Monday, 28 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Timber Industry Endures 'The Perfect Storm'

  With the demand for timber being lacklustre both here and abroad, the New Zealand timber industry is in the eye of what it is calling the perfect storm.

  Posted: Monday, 28 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Kiwifruit Has Italy Seeing Red

  A New Zealand company is celebrating the arrival of a new kiwifruit variety, which it grows in China and sells in Italy.

  Posted: Monday, 28 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Psa-V Reaches Pukekohe

  Kiwifruit Vine Health has confirmed that an orchard in Pukekohe south of Auckland has tested positive for Psa-V, the virulent form of the vine killing disease sweeping through the New Zealand kiwifruit industry.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Joint Venture Livestock Company Formed

  Allied Farmers is restructuring its livestock business and is planning to start  afresh in the new year with a company called New Zealand Farmers Livestock Limited.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NAIT Seeks Views On Proposed Levy System

  Farmers’ views are being sought on a proposed levy system which would fund the National Animal Identification and Tracing System which comes into effect next July.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Man With $60m To Spend On New Farmers

  The ANZ Bank has launched a new farming lending package aimed at young people starting out in the industry. With the evolving dynamics of agriculture meaning farms are getting larger and more sophisticated the cost of starting out is getting more and more. ANZ fears New Zealand agriculture could be staring down the barrel of a lost generation of Kiwi farmers – with young people simply abandoning the industry due to the expense.  Reporter Benedict Collins met with ANZ’s agri manager Graham Turley to hear what the start up package is all about... 

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Southland Farmers Upset By New Conversion Regs

  Dairy farmers in Southland will have to prove they are competent custodians of the land before they can convert more land to dairying, under new rules proposed by the Southland Regional Council.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fewer Lambs For Slaughter Cut Into Worker Hours

  Livestock agents are saying it is the slowest start to a season in 30 years and in Nelson meatworkers are short of shifts, as farmers hold onto their lambs, rather than send them to the works.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Industry Taps New Vein Of Gold

  Embattled kiwifruit growers around the country are hoping that a gold kiwifruit cultivar could be the answer to their prayers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 November 2011 By: Country 99 TV

October

• High Agricultural Debt Is A Problem

  While the downgrading of New Zealand’s sovereign credit rating has been pinned largely on the Christchurch earthquakes, high agricultural debt has also been singled out as a problem.

  Posted: Monday, 3 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Iconic Vineyard Sold For $11 Million

  One of the Wairarapa’s iconic vineyards has been sold  for $11 million.

  Posted: Monday, 3 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy And May Wang Look To Pacific Islands For Business

  Natural Dairy and May Wang are now looking to the Pacific Islands for farming opportunities. A business delegation of Natural Dairy representatives, including May Wang and All Black legend Michael Jones, recently visited numerous Pacific Islands.

  Posted: Monday, 3 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Board Candidates Confirmed

  The candidates standing for election to Fonterra’s board of directors have been confirmed.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Animal Welfare Organisations Line Up Against Colony Cages

  On Monday the RNZSPCA and SAFE announced they were joining forces to tackle the Government over the plan to use colony cages instead of battery cages for layer hens.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmer Fears TAF Will Take Away Control

  Farmers concerned about the implications of Fonterra’s capital raising vehicle, Trading Among Farmers or TAF, say the dairy giant now admits it’s shifted the goalposts.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rustlers Target Ribbonwood Station

  Hundreds of sheep are missing after rustlers targeted a South Island station last month.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Hort Fears RWC Fans Could Cause Bio Breach

  Horticulture New Zealand says the government has dropped the ball by lowering our border inspection standards for the Rugby World Cup and they fear an incursion will ruck the economy.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Record Spring Milk Flows Surprise Fonterra

  Fonterra says a good autumn and a reasonable winter have contributed to record milk flows to processing sites throughout New Zealand.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Apple Exporters Face Hardcore Aussie Quarantine Tactics

  Australian senators will be visiting Hawkes Bay apple packhouses later this month to see for themselves the quarantine standards that are being applied to exports to Australia. 

  Posted: Friday, 7 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Support For Another Farmer Vote On TAF

  There is a crescendo of support for another Fonterra farmer vote on Trading Among Farmers.

  Posted: Friday, 7 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Low Ticket Sales Scotch Plans For Farm Tours

  The plan to expose Rugby World Cup visitors to rural Waikato’s sights and smells while in the company of rugby greats has been canned due to a spectacular lack of interest.

  Posted: Friday, 7 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Price Rises But Pain Felt In Carpet Industry

  While farmers are reaping higher returns from wool for carpet manufacturers it’s the opposite for workers in the carpet industry where the pain of redundnancy is being felt. 

  Posted: Monday, 10 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Quad Bike Helmets A No-Brainer

  Every year 850 people are injured while riding quad bikes on farms around New Zealand. Of these 160 will not return to work, and four or five will die.

  Posted: Monday, 10 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wine For Ireland Stranded On A Reef

  How about this for a piece of bad luck and coincidence! The 236 metre container ship Rena, stuck fast on the Astrolabe reef five kilometres off the Tauranga coastline since last Wednesday, is carrying a shipment of wine from a Blenheim wine company with the same name as the reef.

  Posted: Monday, 10 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Debt Levels On The Rise

  The latest Reserve Bank figures show farm debt levels are on the rise again.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• High Price Of Wool Is Good For New Zealand

  The National Council of Wool Interests says that while the domestic wool processing sector is struggling because of the high price of wool, New Zealand will cash in, in the long run.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Can Shape The Cows Of The Future

  Farmers from Kaitaia to Invercargill are going to have the chance to shape the cow of their dreams.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Top Agribusinesses in Genetics Data Spat

  Dairy NZ and Livestock Improvement Corporation are embroiled in a very public spat over the development of an industry-good genetics database with both accusing the other of derailing the process.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pipfruit Growers Go It Alone

  A sharp fall in the dollar has come too late to provide any relief for stressed New Zealand pipfruit growers, facing their third consecutive season with empty pockets.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Conference Looking For Answers

  Looking for answers. A kiwifruit industry conference focussing on the devastating bacterial disease, PSA, will be held in the Bay of Plenty over the next two days.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fay Files For Information On Landcorp And Crafar Bidder

  Sir Michael Fay is trying to find out the full extent of the relationship between the leading Chinese bidder for the Crafar farms and Landcorp.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Concerned About Chemical Survey

  Federated Farmers members have been asked to complete a survey of 83 chemicals used to protect plants from pests.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co Open Letter Calls For Support

  Wool Co, the newly formed entity  set up to raise finance to buy the country’s largest independent wool scouring and exporting company, New Zealand Wool Services International Limited, has sent out an open letter to all New Zealand sheep farmers.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Anger and Frustration In The Bay Of Plenty

  Anger and frustration is spilling over as waves, black with oil from the wrecked container ship, Rena, continue to wash up on the Bay of Plenty foreshore.

  Posted: Friday, 14 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Yet More PSA-V Infections Confirmed

  43 new cases of the virulent PSa-V Kiwifruit vine disease have been recorded in the past week, lending weight to the real fear that this could see the end of the gold kiwifruit industry in Te Puke in the not too distant future.

  Posted: Friday, 14 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Gets The Go-Ahead To Top Up Its Tankers

  A government agency has come to the party to help Fonterra deal with the recent surge in milk production around the country.

  Posted: Friday, 14 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Growers Realistic In The Fight Against PSA

  Kiwifruit growers gathered at an industry conference in the Bay of Plenty late last week to hear about the latest from the frontline in the war against PSA. Experts and industry spokespeople outlined their predictions for the industry’s future and growers heard of the recent scientific developments as the sector struggles to hold up.Reporter Benedict Collins was there...

  Posted: Monday, 17 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Sustainable Winery Plans On Track For Next Year

  Plans to make all New Zealand Wineries and Vineyards sustainable by next year are on track.

  Posted: Monday, 17 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sales Up As Banks Ease Lending Squeeze

  Its spring and the sap is rising. And so too are the number of farm sales, up 56.7 per cent on this time last year.

  Posted: Monday, 17 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Opotiki Mussel Beds Can Cope Says Expert

  While the nation waits anxiously to learn of the full impact of the disasterous MV Rena stranding on a reef just outside the port of Tauranga, it appears the Bay of Plenty’s aquaculture industry may escape relatively unharmed.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fish Disease Found In Trout Hatchery

  In a worrying but not unexpected development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed that the same disease causing illness and death in Kanakana eels in the Mataura River in Southland, has been identified on a juvenile trout in a hatchery on the Taieri River in Otago.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Sector Scrambles For Solutions

  With more and more kiwifruit growers waking up each day to find signs of the nightmarish PSA-V infection in their orchards, the industry is scrambling for solutions. Copper sprays, antibiotics, and pruning programmes are among the methods being touted to slow its spread and fight infection.

  However, according to one expert on the subject, the industry bodies charged with confronting the menacing disease are leading growers astray, with advice which succeeds only in damaging their orchards further. Reporter Benedict Collins has more...

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Matters Turn Sour For Natural Dairy

  Natural Dairy is in a state of disarray after its front people, Jack Chen and May Wang, were charged with corruption by Hong Kong authorities.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• T&G Suspends Court Action Against Zespri

  Turners and Growers says the pressure PSA is putting on the kiwifruit industry means it will now not go ahead with its challenge against Zespri’s kiwifruit export monopoly.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Blast Labour's High Country Policy

  Federated Farmers has come out with all guns blazing against Labour’s South Island High Country Policy.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Want Four Crafar Farms Returned

  Federated Farmers says its time New Zealand got back the four farms they say Natural Dairy purchased illegally.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Andrew Nicholson Gallops Home On Cruise Control

  In the last international leg of grand slam for eventing, kiwi rider Andrew Nicholson has galloped home to take second place in the prestigious CIC 4 star international three day event, at Les Etoiles de Pau, in France, over the weekend.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• McVean And Beatson Are Hot Favourites

  This Friday world champ team-mates Maurice Beatson and Katie McVean will start as hot favorites in the opening round of the NZ World Cup Show Jumping Series in Hawke’s Bay.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour Promises To Crack Down On Foreign Ownership

  With just over five weeks to go until the General Election, Labour has unveiled its agricultural manifesto and the party is promising to crack down on foreigners buying farmland.

  Posted: Friday, 21 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wills Asks Is Doha A Dodo?

  Is Doha a Dodo? And could New Zealand be the global trade go-between that kick starts international trade policy into action?

  Posted: Friday, 21 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• TAF Proposal Will Undergo Thorough Scrutiny

  Fonterra’s Shareholders Council has written to farmers to remind them they will be closely examining Fonterra’s Trading Among Farmers proposal.

   

  Posted: Friday, 21 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• AgriOnShow @ the Cloud

  The Rugby World Cup has drawn visitors in their thousands. Supporters from many nationalities have descended on the country, marvelling not only at the skills on the rugby field, but at the richness and beauty of this bounteous country as well. And as these international visitors descend on Auckland for the Grand Final this coming weekend, a final opportunity to learn more is on display in a showcase of New Zealand’s agricultural might, at the Cloud, on Queens Warf.

  Emma Jones was there...

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Food Innovation Showcase

  In food terms, eighty per cent of what we produce in New Zealand is exported. Much of our country’s world-wide success in exported goods comes from our international reputation for high quality and innovation which was on display at the NZ Food Innovation showcase at Auckland’s Viaduct Event Centre. Emma Jones was there...

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ten Years On And Fonterra Shouts A Big Day Out

  What a weekend for Kiwis. The partying didn’t stop after the All Blacks triumphant World Cup win on Sunday night, as with many a sore head, thousands of people headed along to one of seven Fonterra birthday bashes, organised from Northland to Southlandaround, to celebrate the co-operative's tenth anniversary. 
  Emma Jones was at the Hamilton Lakes in the Waikato, where nearly 8000 guests caused a run on the sausages...

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour In Hot Water With Farmers Over New Policy

  The Labour Party announced its water policy over the weekend and already farmers are steaming.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmgate Milk Sales Review Will Help Farmers

  As the law stands at the moment farmers can sell up to 5 litres of fresh milk a day per customer from the farm gate, an historical situation that made milk available to rural families who did not have ready access to milk.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Gas Leak Forces Farmers To Dump Milk

  A gas leak in the main supply line north of Taranaki forced Fonterra to shutdown 15 of its milk processing plants in the North Island, costing the company around $20 million a day in spilt milk.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Farmers' Confidence Takes A Dive

  Concerns about a deteriorating global economy and the outlook for the agricultural commodity process have put a dent in New Zealand farmer confidence, says a new bank survey.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Novel Love In The Backblocks

  How does a life-long city dwelling journalist in her mid forties find love in the back blocks of New Zealand’s Kiapara Harbour? Well, at a rural dating service meeting, of course! Love At The End Of The Road is one woman’s account of falling in love and landing herself a farmer and his 400 ha sheep and beef farm, not to mention the historic house that goes with it.  Emma Jones went to find out more...

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Asparagus Season Sprouts Again

  The first of the season’s fresh asparagus has been arriving on the shelves. Labour Weekend is traditionally the time that supply really starts ramping up and prices for consumers begin to fall. However, it seems cold weather during the nights has slowed production this year, particularly in the Waikato. Benedict Collins travelled to the region recently and filed this report.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Limited Gas Supply Not Enough To Save Spilt Milk

  The gas leak in the Maui pipeline north of New Plymouth has hit Fonterra and its dairy farmers hard.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Beekeepers In a Hurry To Shift Hives

  Hawke’s Bay beekeepers are in for a busy weekend as they rush to remove thousands of bee hives from orchards which are about to have their first spray of the season.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Albertland Settlers Now Historic Treasure

  Next year marks the 150^th anniversary of the Albertland settlers, who arrived from England on the expansive shores of the Kaipara Harbour in the 1860’s. The movement was a significant step in the history of New Zealand, and especially for the development of the agricultural industry. In a new book about the Albertland settlers, using the remarkable photographs of William Harold Marsh, journalist and author Paul Campbell has created a unique historic treasure to share with generations to come. Emma Jones has more…

  Posted: Thursday, 27 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Copes But Farmers Cry Over Spilt Milk

  ‘We are in a much better position, going forward’ says Steve Murphy, Fonterra’s General Manager of Milk Supply, as the cooperative manages the fallout from the break in the Maui gas line in Taranaki, earlier in the week.

  Posted: Friday, 28 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• A Bar Of Judges Up For Air New Zealand Wine Awards

  It’s that time of year again and New Zealand’s most prestigious wine event is here. Now in its 25th year, the Air New Zealand Wine Awards has attracted judges from all over the world, who have gathered in Auckland to nose out the champions. Emma Jones was onto this story like a shot...

  Posted: Friday, 28 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA-V Infects Green Kiwifruit Orchards

  The Bay of Plenty is doing it tough. The region holds its collective breath, hoping the Rena doesn’t break up on the Astrolabe Reef, the coastal clean-up continues, and forty three new cases of the virulent PSA-V kiwifruit vine disease have been reported this week.

  Posted: Friday, 28 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Found In KeriKeri Orchard

  It appears the best efforts to contain PSA-V have been in vain with an orchard in Kerikeri, Northland now showing signs of infection.  

  Posted: Monday, 31 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• First Biological Farming Conference A Sellout

  Sold out weeks in advance, New Zealand’s first ever biological farming conference took place in Rotorua last week, bringing together  delegates from all possible aspects of agribusiness. Reporter Drew Chappell was there.

  Posted: Monday, 31 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Election 2011: Politicians And The Agricultural Issues

  The 2011 General Election is four weeks away and politicians are turning up the heat. The Campaign is on. Country99TV asks how the Election will affect farmers and agribusiness? What do the political parties see as the most important issues facing the primary sector? See what David Carter, Damien O'Connor, Kevin Hague and Don Nicolson have to say.

  Posted: Monday, 31 October 2011 By: Country 99 TV

September

• Industry Scientist Disputes Use Of Copper Spray For PSA

  Claims by the Green Party that kiwifruit growers should stick to copper sprays in their fight against PSA because it has proven to be successful overseas have been slammed by an industry scientist.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• $2.5m Boost To Help Save The Whio

  Efforts to save the rare,  endangered Whio, or blue duck, have doubled with the formation of a new partnership between the Department of Conservation and Genesis Energy.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• HortNZ Says Seasonal Workers Scheme Is Working Well

  Each year up to 8000 workers from countries around the Pacific Islands arrive in New Zealand for seasonal work.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA - The Elephant In The Room

  Kiwifruit growers throughout New Zealand have been attending a series of Zespri meetings this week. Known as the August Road Show, Zespri officials have been discussing production and market forecasts. But it goes without saying that the elephant in the room at these grower meetings is PSA, and the havoc it is wreaking. In Katikati this week, Benedict Collins got the latest on the outbreak from Zespri and Kiwifruit Vine Health officials...

  Posted: Friday, 2 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Andrew Nicholson Top Kiwi At Burghley Trial

  Day one is done and dusted for competitors at the prestigious Burghley
  Horse Trial in Lincolnshire, and Andrew Nicholson and his captivating grey,
  Avebury, hold the top kiwi position in second place.

  Posted: Friday, 2 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Foliar Fertilizer Ups Crop Yields

  The first C02 foliar fertilizer, Lithovit, a biogro organically certified product, with a base ingredient of calcium and magnesium, has produced yield results that have astounded aTe Puke kiwifruit grower.

  Posted: Friday, 2 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Riders Shine At Burghley Horse Trial

  Kiwi eventers have dominated the top twenty placings at the prestigious Burghley Horse Trial this year, taking out three of the top five spots.

  Posted: Monday, 5 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Looking For Changes To Milk Regulations

  Fonterra is seeking to make changes to the Raw Milk Regulations which oblige it to supply other dairy industry players with certain volumes of milk.

  Posted: Monday, 5 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Confirms 2012 Milk Payout Likely To Be Lower

  Fonterra has confirmed its 2012 forecast seasonal milk solid payment is likely to the lower than this year’s record payout.

  Posted: Monday, 5 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Services International Piles On The Profits

  Christchurch based Wool Services International Limited has announced an annual profit, six times high than last year.

  Posted: Monday, 5 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NAIT Announces Date For Cattle Tracing Scheme

  The previously deferred national animal identification and tracing scheme, or NAIT, will now go live for cattle on July 1, 2012.

  Posted: Monday, 5 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Red Meat Sector High On Confidence

  Representatives from the $8 billion Red Meat sector gathered in Rotorua on Monday to discuss ways of making the most of recent high returns, in an event organised by Beef and Lamb NZ and the MIA. Drew Chappell reports...

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Avocado Industry Wrestles With Biennial Harvest

  The avocado industry is expecting a bumper crop this year. But while there’s lots of fruit on the trees there are many challenges facing the industry – both at home and abroad. Benedict Collins visited one of the key avocado growing regions to discuss the state of play...

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Calls For NAIT Education

  

  Federated Farmers is calling on the organization implementing the National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme, or NAIT, to step up its farmer education programmes.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Hive And Seek For Hawke's Bay Beekeepers

  Beekeepers in the Hawkes Bay have launched a search and destroy mission hunting down the hives of cowboy beekeepers in the wake of an American Foulbrood outbreak. 

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Growers Meet To Figure Out How To Save The Spud

  The potato psyllid is a tiny insect that is wreaking havoc in New Zealand’s potato sector. It has cost the industry $120 million since it was first discovered in 2006, last year alone the figure was  $28 million. Anxious growers have been at meetings throughout New Zealand this week, organised by industry body, Potatoes New Zealand. Reporter Benedict Collins was at one of the meetings in Pukekohe, one of the worst affected areas...

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Don Calls NAIT A Lemon

  The ACT party’s Don Nicolson has called the proposed National Animal Identification and Tracing  scheme a ‘lemon’ and ‘the ultimate bureaucrats dream’.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Shareholders Warn Fonterra They Want 100% Control

  It is all or nothing. Fonterra’s Shareholder’s Council has warned the dairy giant’s board  of directors that plans for the Trading Among Farmers share trading scheme are of the table unless farmers have complete control of the $16 billion company.

  Posted: Thursday, 8 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Apple Growers Disagree On Quality Export Standards

  Apple exporters have killed off a Pipfruit New Zealand proposal to impose minimum quality standards on apples heading to Australia.

  Posted: Thursday, 8 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussies Kick Kiwi Cheese Contract Into The Ditch

  More than 9000 tonnes of NZ cheese has been dropped from Australia’s Coles supermarket chain in favour of a new “Australian First” policy.

  Posted: Thursday, 8 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Apple Exporters Deliver 'Slap In The Face'

  New Zealand Pipfruit says the decision by apple exporters not to support the industry’s push to have exports to Australia come under the Horticultural Export Authority is a slap in the face for the sector.

  Posted: Friday, 9 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Green Party Bee Petition Buzzes Parliament

  The Green Party has presented a 6,500 signature strong petition to Parliament’s Environment Select Committee calling for a review of the use of neonicotinoid insecticides in horticulture.

  Posted: Friday, 9 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Apple Body Gets The Pip With Turners & Growers

  The apple industry body is not impressed with Turners and Growers who, it says, sold the interests of its own growers down the river in order to make a quick buck.

  Posted: Monday, 12 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Spring Rain Spells Relief For Northland Farmers

  Northland farmers are breathing a sigh of relief after much needed rain arrived over the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 12 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Opportunity To Showcase NZ Agbiotech Capability

  An unprecedented opportunity to showcase New Zealand’s agbiotech capability occurs in September next year, when the world’s top international agricultural biotechnology conference takes place in Rotorua.

  Posted: Monday, 12 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Women Sock It To English Rugby Team

  Rural Women New Zealand have been able to sock it to the English and Australian rugby teams.

  Posted: Monday, 12 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Supplies Company Names A New CEO

  Rural supplies company RD1 has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer. She is Sarah Kennedy, who succeeds John Lea when he steps down at the end of November, after seven years at the helm.

  Posted: Monday, 12 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Tractor Death Brings Renewed Calls For Safety

  The tragic death of a two year boy over the weekend, has prompted calls for the need to raise awareness of children safety on tractors, and around farms.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Farmers See Through Thirty Pieces Of Silver - Leferink

  How long would Fonterra remain a New Zealand Company if it was listed? That is the question posed by Federated Farmers Dairy Chairperson Willie Leferink in an opinion piece published in the business magazine Idealog.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• DairyNZ Unhappy With Water Report

  Dairy NZ is accusing Environment Southland of using too broad a brush to paint an unfairly negative picture in a recent water quality report.

   

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Green Party Concern Over Dairy Expansion Plans

  The Green Party is concerned about Fonterra’s plans to treble production at its Darfield Plant in Canterbury saying the region’s environment won’t be able to cope.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wood Processing Industry Wants More Job Action

  A Union representing forestry workers is questioning whether the Minister of Forestry, David Carter, is doing enough to help the domestic wood processing sector.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Milk Inquiry Swamped With Submissions

  Parliament’s commerce select committee has begun the massive task of sifting through more than 1000 submissions on the Government’s review of the price of milk in New Zealand.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fresh Start For Fresh Water Begins At Parliamant

  The Government has released what it calls a ‘high level response’ to the Land and Water Forum’s April report titled ‘Fresh Start For Freshwater”, which contains 53 recommendations on the need to improve New Zealand’s fresh water management.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rugby Horses Are The Mane Attraction

  Heard about Ritchie McCow? Well, have a look at this.The South Auckland village of Clevedon has adopted the England rugby team as their second team, and Clevedon Animal Farm is pulling out all the stops for a rugby game that could become the mane attraction...

  Posted: Thursday, 15 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Bidder In Pitch For Wool Scourer

  There is a new player in the game. Wool Services International Limited, the county’s biggest wool  processor and exporter has a new bidder.

  Posted: Friday, 16 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Report Recommends Delaying Agriculture's Inclusion

  An Emissions Trading Scheme review panel report released on Thursday is recommending agriculture, energy, transport and industry be phased in to the scheme gradually, despite being earmarked for inclusion in 2015.

  Posted: Friday, 16 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• South Island Pylon Saga Continues

  

  South Canterbury farmer, Jeremy Talbot, says Federated Farmers has finally started supporting farmers in their fight for compensation from Transpower for work on their land. 

  Posted: Monday, 19 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Milk Thefts Alarm Waikato Farmers

  Reports of milk going missing from vats in the Waikato and Coromandel region are alarming farmers.

  Posted: Monday, 19 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Tough New Rules For Stock Access To Waterways

  Canterbury Regional Council has released tough new rules on stock access to waterways.

  Posted: Monday, 19 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Running Of The Lambs In Waipukurau

  Talk about counting sheep. Central Hawke’s Bay was transformed into Lamb Central over the weekend as nearly a thousand ewes ran down the main street of Waipukurau...

  Posted: Monday, 19 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Council Outed Over River Pollution

  Questions are being asked as to why the Palmerston North City Council has got away scott-free with polluting the Manawatu River for the last seven years, while farmers are dragged through the courts.

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Community To Weed Out Mexican Feather Grass

  An invasive plant known as Mexican Feather Grass has been spotted in the Taihape area and the call has gone out for community action to weed it out

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Avocado Picker Is Just The Job

  A bumper year for avocado growers could be just the boost a Katikati engineering firm needs to promote sales of  its new avocado picking machine. The All Terrain Platform promises to go where few avocado pickers have gone before. Benedict Collins has more...

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Freshwater Experts Gather In Rotorua

  A leading New Zealand Scientists has told world freshwater experts that the country's waterways are generally in better condition than those overseas, but we do have a recognised pollution problem, and we need to solve it.

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Welcome For Ag Vehicle Transport Review

  The government’s announcement of a review of the contentious rules and regulations affecting agricultural contractors and vehicles has been widely welcomed by the industry.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Crafar Farms Bid Undercuts Chinese Offer

  A new bid has been tabled for former Reporoa dairy farmer Alan Crafar’s 16 farms, but it falls well short of an existing offer from Chinese interests. 

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Stress Relief For Kiwifruit Growers

  Stress management programmes have been launched for kiwifruit growers who, because of the sudden and devastating effects of the deadly virus   PSa –V, are facing huge uncertainty over the fate of their orchards, and their industry.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ballance Awarded Millions For Fertiliser Research

  Fertiliser company Ballance Agri-Nutrients has been granted $9.75 million to invest in a research programme to find a way to transform fertilizer use and reduce the amount of nitrate run-off on dairy farms.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Announces Record Payout - $8.25

  Fonterra has announced a record financial result for 2011. The company says a bumper year for dairy exports, and strong contributions from overseas businesses, have boosted the payout, before retentions, to $8.25.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Need For Change In Agricultural Transport Industry

  On Tuesday the associate transport minister announced a review of the contentious and controversial agricultural traffic laws, much to the relief of the industry. Nathan Guy  acknowledged the need for a shakeup, saying the review reflects that. Drew Chappell spoke with him...

  Posted: Thursday, 22 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Record Payout Announcement From Fonterra HQ

  Fonterra has confirmed a record payout for its 10 and a half thousand dairy farmer shareholders. The official payout figure is $8.25 before retentions, the cash payout to farmers is $7.90 per kg/ms – up a $1.53 on the previous year. Reporter Benedict Collins was at Fonterra Headquarters when the announcement was made...

  Posted: Friday, 23 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra CEO Leaves At The Top Of His Game

  It’s Fonterra CEO Andrew Ferrier’s last week on the job. He leaves the 10,000 farmer strong dairy cooperative in top condition with stellar production figures and a record payout – and understandably, he’s pretty damn happy about it. Benedict Collins caught up with Mr Ferrier and asked how it feels leaving the co-op at the top of its game...

  Posted: Friday, 23 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fluffy Alpacas Flourish In Hawke's Bay

  Around the world New Zealand is recognized for its sheep and beef farming success. But after a fluffy pet got them thinking, a Hawke’s Bay family decided to try something a little different. Emma Jones went to find out more...

  Posted: Friday, 23 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA-v Confirmed in Green Kiwifruit In Waihi

  Further testing has proved kiwifruit growers’ worst fears – PSA-v has now been confirmed in a green kiwifruit orchard in Waihi.

  Posted: Monday, 26 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• TAF Day At Office For New Fonterra Boss

  It’s the first day on the job for Fonterra’s new CEO, Theo Spierings – and among his first tasks will be reassuring farmers that the company’s capital plans won’t see them lose control of the cooperative.

  Posted: Monday, 26 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• AgResearch Behind Top End Fashion Show

  Recognised worldwide for their innovative work in the Agricultural industry you might also be interested to know those clever people at leading research organisation AgResearch are also involved in the business of fashion. Emma Jones went along to The Waikato Event, organized by the Agribusiness Showcase team, to find out more…

  Posted: Monday, 26 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Sir Michael Turned Down By The Crafar Receiver

  Receiver KordaMentha has rejected the Sir Michael Fay-led consortium’s $171.5 million bid for the 16 Crafar Farms, saying the price was unacceptable.

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Agriculture Sector Exports Save The Day

  Economists are warning that it could be the end of the golden weather with commodity prices about to falter.

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Brand New Angus Burger For McDonalds

  A brand new burger hitting McDonalds menu’s across the country is being welcomed by New Zealand’s Angus beef farmers who trust the new patty will do even more to promote rising sales of the premium meat. Emma Jones went to meet the burger meisters...

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Strikes Again - Seeka To Lay Off Staff

  The impact of the vine disease PSA on the kiwifruit industry has started to bite, with the country’s largest grower and packer looking to lay off staff.

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Water Report Angers Federated Farmers

  The latest report on the health of New Zealand’ streams, rivers and lakes has angered Federated Farmers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Spring Start To Dairy Awards

  The new dairy season is getting underway with Spring, and with it, the start of the annual industry awards. Drew Chappell headed to a special presentation held by Dairy NZ to kick off the awards, and talk to those with their fingers on the dairy pulse.

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra's New CEO Sets Lofty Targets

  New Fonterra CEO Theo Speirings made his first public appearance at the helm of the co-operative on Wednesday, outlining his vision for the company which has grown into the nation’s largest and most successful. As Drew Chappell reports, Speirings has set the company some fairly lofty targets.

  Posted: Thursday, 29 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ruapuke Farmer Battles Rustlers

  Gun shots and a dramatic police chase near Raglan are a reminder that rustling is a perennial problem, especially in the more remote areas of the country. Emma Jones meets a farmer for whom rustling is an all too familiar scenario...

  Posted: Thursday, 29 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Westland Dairy Co-op Raises Revenues By 21%

  The Westland dairy cooperative has announced a payout of $7.58 per kilo of milk solids – its second highest payout ever.

  Posted: Thursday, 29 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Gloom for Kiwifruit Sector As Zespri Looks At Layoffs

  The massive toll PSA is taking on the kiwifruit industry is becoming ever-more obvious as Zespri announces it is being forced to lay off workers.

  Posted: Friday, 30 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Says Consumers Should Shop Around

  Fonterra fronted the parliamentary milk price inquiry this week and defended the price of milk in New Zealand saying there are bargains to be had if consumers shop around.

  Posted: Friday, 30 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 800 Farmers Checked In Health Pit-Stops

  Two thirds of New Zealand’s dairy farmers are at risk of heart disease, fifty percent have high cholesterol, eighty per cent don’t wear bike helmets on the farm, and thirty per cent have suffer pain that interferes with work or sleep.

  Posted: Friday, 30 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Horse Favourite In Paris Classic

  This weekend a home-bred stallion from Cambridge is a favorite to win the world’s third richest horse race.

  Posted: Friday, 30 September 2011 By: Country 99 TV

August

• Fonterra Warns Farmers: Don't Count Your Chickens Yet

  It seems some of the world’s key economies are in the balance. As a result of global financial uncertainty, the Kiwi dollar is hovering over 87 US cents, and it’s taking a toll on New Zealand exporters. Fonterra chief financial officer Jonathan Mason is warning farmers not to count their chickens before they’ve hatched. Benedict Collins has more...

  Posted: Monday, 1 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Report Says Freshwater Policy Is Fatally Flawed

  A report commissioned by Fish and Game has painted a bleak future for New Zealand’s waterways and says the government’s freshwater policy is fatally flawed.

  Posted: Monday, 1 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Chairman Of Top Genetics Company Appointed

  BNZ Director Andy Pearce has just been appointed independent chairman of the country’s top genetics businesses, Focus Genetics, a company created recently, from the amalgamation of Rissington Breedline Ltd and Landcorp Farming Ltd’s genetics division.

  Posted: Monday, 1 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rugby World Cup Visitors In For A Treat

  The Lotteries-funded ag/hort promotions organisation, Experience Waikato, is promising overseas Rugby World Cup visitors they are in for a treat.
  
  To showcase the region, Waikato Experience is promoting four tours that include the heady mix of rugby, dairy farming and horticulture.
  
  Rugby greats including Sir Colin Meads, Sir Brian Lochore, Ian Kirkpatrick and Richard Loe have agreed to take part.
  
  Emma Jones reports...

  Posted: Tuesday, 2 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Commerce Commission: No Basis For Milk Price Inquiry

  After months of investigation the Commerce Commission has said it doesn’t have the right legislative teeth to bite into the issues surrounding the domestic milk market.

  Posted: Tuesday, 2 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra To Reduce Emissions By 30 Per Cent

  Fonterra is aiming to reduce is greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

  Posted: Tuesday, 2 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Foodies Line Up For Auckland Show

  Four thousand hungry foodies stormed the gates of Auckland’s ASB show grounds on Thursday, as the 2011 Auckland Food Show opened for what was to be, a very busy weekend. Emma Jones went to find out more...

  Posted: Tuesday, 2 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Reaction To Milk Pricing Inquiry Decision

  Fonterra dairy farmers say the Commerce Commission’s decision not to hold a milk price inquiry is sound, and that people should stop asking dairy farmers to subsidise the general public. 

  Posted: Wednesday, 3 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Local Farmers Get Helping Hand To Get To Market

  At last weekend’s Auckland Food Show, the best of what New Zealand’s farmers and growers have to offer, met the end-consumer. But not without a helping hand, in some cases. Country 99TV discovered several regional authorities who were also at the show, actively helping to get their local farmers to market. Benedict Collins has more..

  Posted: Wednesday, 3 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Apple Growers Facing Another Nightmare Season

  The high Kiwi dollar is turning what looked like a promising season for apple growers, into yet another nightmare.

  Posted: Thursday, 4 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Kids Face Greater Risk Of Cancer

  Perhaps now is a good time to touch wood. Because new research from public health scientists suggests growing up on a farm may be linked with an increased risk of developing blood cancers as an adult.

  Posted: Thursday, 4 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Squeezy Yoghurt Tub Worth Millions

  Say goodbye to spoons! A new way of eating yoghurt from a tub, has found international acclaim. The ingenious new technology, a Kiwi creation, means yoghurt can simply be squeezed into the mouth. Emma Jones has more...

  Posted: Thursday, 4 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Controversial Climate Skeptic Visits Auckland

  One of the world’s most prominent, and controversial, climate change skeptics, has been in New Zealand this week. Lord Christopher Monkton, the 3rd Viscount of Brenchley, is here as part of a world lecture tour promoting climate change denial. Reporter Benedict Collins met Christopher Monkton in Auckland, and while the Viscount might not believe in global warming, it didn’t take long for the interview to heat up...

  Posted: Friday, 5 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Growers Are Facing A Nervous Spring

  Kiwifruit growers are holding their breath that spring does not bring them another dose of the vine-killing disease PSA.

  Posted: Friday, 5 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Bee Petition Buzzes The Beehive

  The Green Party has tabled a petition in Parliament calling on the Government to protect New Zealand’s honeybees.

  Posted: Friday, 5 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Apples: Years To Fully Develop Australian Market

  Apple growers are being advised that it will take years to fully develop the Australian market which is preparing to allow in the first Kiwi apples in more than 90 years.

  Posted: Monday, 8 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• TB Testing Time For Service Bulls

  It costs nothing and its time to get those service bulls TB tested. The Animal Health Board is reminding dairy farmers to ensure service bulls are tested for bovine tuberculosis before they arrive on the farm this year.

  Posted: Monday, 8 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Eventers Shine At Gatcombe Park

  Kiwi eventers have scooped the pool at the biggest event on the British calendar this year, the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Frustrated Waikato Farmers Protest At By-Law

  Frustrated Waikato farmers gathered outside the district council chambers in Ngaruawahia on Monday, to protest against livestock movement by-laws forcing farmers to have permits for stock movements and having to build expensive underpasses. Emma Jones was there.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• TB Vet Honoured At Government House

  One of the country’s top vets has been honoured for his contribution to veterinarian science.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmy Army Donating Sunday Roast Packs

  The Farmy Army is at it again. This Friday, between 1:30 and 3:00pm, 600 needy families in Christchurch’s earthquake-ravaged eastern suburbs, will benefit from a Farmy Army ‘Sunday Roast Pack’.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Young Farmer Contest To Be Held In Dunedin

  Hang on to your pitchforks Dunedin, your are about to be overrun with young farmers. At least you will be in May of next year when the The National Bank Young Farmer Contest Grand Final 2012 comes to town – for the first time since 1986.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Select Committee Inquiry Into Price Of Milk

  Agriculture Minister David Carter says the government has ordered a Select Committee investigation into the price of milk to determine whether New Zealanders are paying a fair price.

  Posted: Wednesday, 10 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ozzie Termites Terminated

  After a surveillance operation lasting five years, MAF has declared a Nelson garden rid of Australian subterranean termites.

  Posted: Wednesday, 10 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cancer Research Timely Reminder Of Farm Safety Practice

  Federated Farmers says recent research, linking growing up on a farm with an increased chance of developing blood cancers as an adult, should act as a reminder for the need for good farming practices.

  Posted: Wednesday, 10 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Farmers Point Finger At Retailers

  It’s official. Dairy farmers have had a gutsful of being made a public scapegoat over milk prices, and now they’re openly pointing the finger at retailers.

  Posted: Thursday, 11 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 20-Year Old Germplasm Seeds New Tree Trust Programme

  Poplar and Willow tree germplasm that has been nursed for 20 years by Crown Research Institute, Plant & Food Research, is to be used to seed a new tree breeding programme, based at Massey University in Palmerston North.

  Posted: Thursday, 11 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Winter No Cure As Virulent PSA-v Continues To Spread

  The kiwifruit industry is reeling with the virulent strain of PSA spreading like wildfire over the winter in the Bay of Plenty, and more worryingly, has now crossed the Papamoa hills into Matapihi.

  Posted: Friday, 12 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Board Meets For First Time

  Federated Farmers has a new Board, elected at its AGM in Rotorua at the end of June. Reporter Drew Chappell met the new team, together for the first time, in Wellington...

  Posted: Friday, 12 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Heavy Snow Warning: Farmers On Alert

  Weather forecasters are warning farmers to be prepared for a heavy snow, even though their computer models don’t all agree.

  Posted: Friday, 12 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Coldest Front To Hit New Zealand In Living Memory

  Farmers throughout many parts of the country are doing it tough after one of the coldest fronts to hit New Zealand in living memory.

  Posted: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Orange Growers Battle On Two Fronts

  New Zealand Navel orange growers are battling on two fronts. An influx of cheap oranges from Australia is causing havoc with retail price returns, and and the unusual problem of too many fruit falling off trees.

  Posted: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Andrew Nicholson Scores On Mr Cruise Control

  Hot on the heels of his success at the British Open Championship at Gatcombe Park a week ago, Kiwi eventer Andrew Nicholson’s winning streak has continued.

  Posted: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Government Milk Price Inquiry Underway

  The Government’s Select Committee inquiry into the price of milk is underway and it is calling for the public's submissions.

  Posted: Wednesday, 17 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Apple Growers Waiting For An Aussie Spanner

  New Zealand apple growers are holding their breath to see whether their Australian counterparts throw a legal spanner in the works at the last minute.

  Posted: Wednesday, 17 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Horticultural Producers Need To Face Up To Evolution

  Horticultural producers in New Zealand and Australia are having to come to terms with an ongoing evolution of consumers, grocery retail market dynamics and global trade, according to a new industry report released by Rabobank.

  Posted: Wednesday, 17 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• End Of The Apple Wars - Yeah Right

  It’s over. After more than 90 years of fighting for the right to export to Australia, Kiwi apples will soon be over the ditch.

  Posted: Thursday, 18 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Industry Arguably In Its Darkest Hour

  While apple growers are celebrating the opening of a new market it seems kiwifruit growers are filled with dread.

  Posted: Thursday, 18 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Young Kiwi Riders To Compete In Abu Dhabi

  Equestrian Sport New Zealand Endurance has named its team to compete in the Junior/Young Rider World Endurance Championships in Abu Dhabi in December this year. 

  Posted: Thursday, 18 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• ACC Warns Winter Is A Dangerous Time On Farms

  A farmer or agricultural worker is injured almost every half hour in New Zealand. And with the unusual snow and extreme weather conditions of the moment, ACC is stressing safety should be a concern for those out on the farms this winter.

  Posted: Friday, 19 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Will Engage With IRD On New Tax Rules

  Federated Farmers has announced  it will engage openly with Inland Revenue on new rules for the tax treatment of livestock.

  Posted: Friday, 19 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Clarke Johnstone Poised To Make History In France

  New Zealand’s equestrian history is about to be made. Kiwi eventer Clarke Johnstone is poised to take out the 2011 Eventing World Cup, in France this weekend. 

  Posted: Friday, 19 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Clarke Johnstone Wins FEI World Cup In France

  kiwi eventer Clarke Johnstone has ridden into equestrian history books by becoming New Zealand’s first FEI World Cup Series champion.

  Posted: Monday, 22 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Green Party Launches Fresh Water Plan

  The Green Party has launched a plan to clean up New Zealand rivers and lakes, and wants to pay for it by charging for irrigation and other commercial use.

  Posted: Monday, 22 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussies Could Be Biting Kiwi Apples Later This Week

  Aussies could be biting into Kiwi apples as early this week. Packhouse in Hastings are going through the necessary pre-export biosecurity procedures which will enable them to send their apples to Australia. And while Australian growers are not impressed with having competition for the first time in nearly a century, the New Zealand apple industry says they stand to benefit too. Benedict Collins has more...

  Posted: Monday, 22 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Blindsides Organic Dairy Farmers

  New Zealand’s organic dairy farmers are heartbroken by the news that Fonterra plans to drastically reduce the organics side of its business. 

  Posted: Tuesday, 23 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Proposed Water Tax Upsets Fruit and Veggie Growers

  The old adage that greens are good for you isn’t necessarily ringing true for fruit and veggie growers around the country.

  Posted: Tuesday, 23 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Restore Bank Balance Says Report

  Farmers are restoring their bank balances after experiencing a lift in profitability, according to a recent report.

  Posted: Tuesday, 23 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Organic Dairy Farm Decision Had To Be Made: Fonterra

  Fonterra says the move to slash the number of organic dairy farms which supply it organic milk was a tough decision, but one the company simply had to make.

  Posted: Wednesday, 24 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cattle Put Down On West Coast Farm

  More than 30 malnourished and dying cattle on a West Coast farm have been put down by MAF officials, after a member of the public raised the alarm.

  Posted: Wednesday, 24 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pork Industry Takes MAF To Court Over PRRS

  The pork industry goes head to head with MAF in the High Court in Wellington this week in a bid to restrict the importing of uncooked meats.

  Posted: Wednesday, 24 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Organic Dairy Meetings Spark Understanding And Sympathy

  The last of Fonterra’s meetings regarding the future of the organic milk industry in the country was held in the Waikato on Wednesday.

  Posted: Thursday, 25 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Small School, Big Idea: Gets Minister Up From Wellington

  A small rural school has come up with a unique idea to put their town on the international map - an idea so interesting Tertiary Education Minister Stephen Joyce travelled all the way from Wellington to hear about it. Emma Jones was at Dargaville High school...

  Posted: Thursday, 25 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Keen Young Farmers Compete In A Big "Mac Off"

  When you think of Young Farmer challenges, fence-mending, ATV racing and Sheep Shearing competitions probably come to mind. But Scotty Heasley, Northern Chair of New Zealand Young Farmers, had a different plan in mind, and the Young Farmers of Northland gathered in Wellsford, for the great Northern Regions Young Farmers “Mac Off” Challenge. Emma Jones has more…

  Posted: Friday, 26 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Scientists Succeed In Mapping PSa Genome

  Scientists at the University of Otago have succeeded in mapping the genome of the PSA bacteria hitting New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards – and the breakthrough has already turned conventional thinking about the disease in this country, on its head.

  Posted: Friday, 26 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• To Spray Or Not To Spray, That Is The Question

  While kiwifruit growers outside of the Bay of Plenty region may be celebrating the news that they don’t in fact have PSA – for those in the Bay of Plenty the nightmare continues.

  Posted: Friday, 26 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Beekeepers On Alert For Kiwifruit Spraying

  Beekeepers in the Bay of Plenty are anxiously watching the kiwifruit industry to see whether it will approve a powerful antibiotic, streptomycin, for use in the battle against PSA-v.

  Posted: Monday, 29 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Don Nicolson Ranked Fourth On ACT Party List

  Federated Farmers past president, Don Nicolson, has been ranked fourth on the Act Party list. And Mr Nicolson, a Southland sheep and beef farmer, says his high placing on the party list is an indication that Act is indeed a pro-farmers’ party.

  Posted: Monday, 29 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wine Conference Ends On A Cheerful Note

  New Zealand’s wine industry held its biggest annual grape growing and wine sector conference last week at the Ellerslie Convention Centre in Auckland. Wine lovers, grape growers and trade exhibitionists flocked to the Romeo Bragato Conference over three days, to network and discuss how to squeeze a profit from an industry that has had its challenges these past few years. Emma Jones has more...

  Posted: Monday, 29 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Potato Psyllid Chews $28m Out Of The Kiwi Crop

  In just a few months the tomato potato psyllid pest wiped out a fifth of the value the country’s potato industry’s farm gate value – and now New Zealand potato growers say they need urgent help if they are to survive.

  Posted: Tuesday, 30 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Greens Urging Kiwifruit Industry To Abandon Spray Plans

  The Green Party is urging the kiwifruit industry to abandon plans to begin spraying a powerful antibiotic on its vines later this week. 

  Posted: Tuesday, 30 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Greater Wellington Area Dairy Farmers Are Heroes

  Listening to, and acting upon sound advice, are two of the main reasons dairy farmers in the lower North Island are calling themselves heroes.

  Posted: Tuesday, 30 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pipfruit Boss Says Aussie Apple Claims Are Ridiculous

  Media reports in Australia that imply imported New Zealand apples have made their way to over the ditch with leaf matter and insects are utterly ridiculous says New Zealand Pipfruit chief executive Peter Beaven.

  Posted: Wednesday, 31 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• UN Warns Deadly Bird Flu Virus Spreading Again

  The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, or FAO, is warning that the bird flu virus is spreading again and some strains have mutated and are immune to known vaccinations.

  Posted: Wednesday, 31 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Can Caroline Make It Two In A Row?

  The prestigious Land Rover Burghley Horse Trial is about to begin in Lincolnshire, in England, and New Zealand fingers are crossed top eventer Caroline Powell and trusty steed, Lenamore, can keep the top title they won there last year. Can they make it two in row?

  Posted: Wednesday, 31 August 2011 By: Country 99 TV

July

• Farmers And Politicians Descend On Rotorua For Feds AGM

  Farming and political leaders have descended on Rotorua, where the theme of the Federated Farmers Annual General Meeting has been agri-evolution. Country99 reporter Benedict Collins has been covering the event.

  Posted: Friday, 1 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• World Demand For New Zealand Breeding Cattle

  New Zealand breeding cattle are fast becoming one of the international market’s most sought after commodities, as larger countries look to secure their dairy futures.

  Posted: Friday, 1 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Freight Partnership For Land And Sea Operations

  Two of the country’s largest exporters are set to sail with a new freight partnership, in an attempt to cut rising long haul transport costs.

  Posted: Monday, 4 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers: New National Board

  Federated Farmers has a new national board, elected at its Annual General Meeting in Rotorua last week.

  Posted: Monday, 4 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Willpower Wins Young Farmer Of The Year Contest

  The 43rd  Young Farmer of the Year is 25 year old Canterbury dairy farm manager Will Grayling, who  won  the National Bank Young Farmer Contest in Masterton at the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 4 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Banks To Hold More Capital Against Farm Loans

  The Reserve Bank’s new capital requirements for farm lending are now in place, meaning the four largest banks in New Zealand need to hold more capital against a loan.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Taupo Farmers Have Six Months To Comply With New Rules

  If Lake Taupo farmers do not comply with new consent rules that come into force on Thursday, they will be farming illegally.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Otago Farmers' Market Voted No 1

  A poll of more than 7000 farmers’ market fans has discovered the best market in the land.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Food Scientist Says NZ Must Start Testing For Bacteria In Exports

  A New Zealand food scientist says increasing numbers of E.Coli outbreaks around the world mean New Zealand needs to seize the initiative and begin investigating ways to test our exported fresh produce for bacteria.

  AUT food microbiologist, Professor John Brooks, says it is only a matter of time before testing regimes are forced upon us by our trading partners – and it pays to be prepared.

  Benedict Collins met up with Professor Brooks to get his thoughts on the issue...

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Active Honey Association Changes Its Name

  The Active Manuka Honey Association, the AMHA, is changing its name to The UMF Honey Association.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Farmers Closing Country Stores

  

  Allied Farmers is getting out of the rural merchandising game and will either sell or close its poorly performing rural stores.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Prices Lowest Since March Record Highs

  Average prices of dairy products posted their biggest decline since March in Fonterra Cooperative Group’s latest online auction, indicating commodity prices are easing from record highs, as global growth slows.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Australian Plans Last-Ditch Attempt To Stop Kiwi Apple Imports

  Surprise! Surprise! An Australian politician is planning a last-ditch attempt to keep New Zealand Apples from entering the country.

  Posted: Thursday, 7 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Battle Against PSA Heads Offshore

  The battle against PSA has now headed offshore, with Zespri forming a partnership with a United States company that produces viruses that kill bacteria.

  Posted: Friday, 8 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Farmers Have A Key Role In Man's Greatest Challenge

  An Australian agricultural and science journalist says that mankind is about to face its greatest challenge in history, and that Kiwi farmers have a key role to play. Julian Cribb says that with human population growth showing no signs of slowing, and ever-increasing demand for food, its time the world took a second look, at how we farm, and what we eat. Benedict Collins met Julian Cribb...

  Posted: Friday, 8 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Croppers To Benefit from Blackcurrant Shortage

  Climate factors in Eastern Europe are creating the possibility of a world shortage of blackcurrants, and that could be good news for New Zealand’s blackcurrant industry.

  Posted: Friday, 8 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Searching For The Super Spuds

  The search is on for the super spuds. With two billion people worldwide reliant on potatoes for food there’s no doubt they play a vital role in keeping people going.

  Posted: Monday, 11 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Mites Are Fighting Back

  The mites are fighting back. Beekeepers are being urged to look into new ways of combating varroa, as the mite’s resistance to the common chemicals used to fight it, spreads throughout New Zealand.

  Posted: Monday, 11 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• High Speed School Now Back To The Future

  The frustration of slow dial-up speeds on the internet will eventually be a ‘thing of the past’ for rural schools around New Zealand. The Government’s $300 million initiative to roll out high speed internet to all rural areas in the next five years, has begun. Emma Jones reports from one of the lucky ‘first’ schools to get broadband...

  Posted: Monday, 11 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Chinese Demand For Kiwi Logs Drives Up Exports

  Strong Chinese domestic demand has contributed to New Zealand exporting $4.4 billion worth of logs in the year to March 31 – up $800 million on the previous year. 

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Regions Clean Up Their Act

  New Zealand's main dairying region, the Waikato has seen a dramatic drop in the number of farms breaching dairy effluent management rules, according to the latest results from the Waikato Regional Council annual aerial survey.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• It's A Don Deal. Nicolson Gets His Act Together

  Freshly retired from his stint as president of Federated Farmers – Don Nicolson has formally announced he will be entering national politics.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Milk Rort In China

  The safety and security of China’s food supply is again in question, with new evidence that milk processors over there, are again adding harmful protein-boosting agents to milk. There is growing consumer concern in China about the safety of milk powder, and that unease is filtering back to New Zealand exporters. Benedict Collins reports...

  Posted: Thursday, 14 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Food Prices Hit Consumers At The Checkout

  Food prices have soared because of natural disasters and winter storms. Milk has soared 9.3 per cent in the year to April, and at the pump, petrol prices are on the rise, again. Forecasters are predicting no change, at least until the end of the year. Emma Jones reports...

  Posted: Thursday, 14 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Names New CEO

  

  Fonterra has a new CEO. He is 46-year-old Dutchman, Theo Spierings.Mr Spierings, a former executive board member of Dutch dairy co-operative, Royal FrieslandCampina, will take over from Fonterra’s departing CEO Andrew Ferrier, on September 26, after the announcement of a record financial year for Fonterra.
  
  

  Posted: Friday, 15 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour's Tax Plan Means Farmers Will Pay More

  The Labour Party has outlined its alternative direction for New Zealand’s economy that it will implement, should it get in to power this year – and if it does, farmers will be paying a lot more tax.

  Posted: Friday, 15 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Eventers To Ride Against World's Best At Aachen

  This weekend New Zealand's equestrian Olympic hopefuls will battle it out against the best eventers in the world, at the prestigious Aachen International Festival, in Germany.

  Posted: Friday, 15 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Phil Goff And The Capital Gains Tax: Studio Interview

  The General Election is just four months away and heat is on. Last week the Labour Party unveiled new economic policies it said would lead to a fairer New Zealand, including a 15 percent tax on capital gains, which would hit farm sales. Benedict Collins asked Mr Goff to explain the rationale behind CGT, and what he thought the impact on New Zealand farming would be...

  Posted: Monday, 18 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Eventers Take Silver At Aachen

  In a heart-stopping weekend, New Zealand's top kiwi eventers pulled off a fantastic result at the Aachen International Festival in Germany.

  Posted: Monday, 18 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA - Now A Ban on Moving Machinery In Te Puke

  The PSA-managing body, Kiwifruit Vine Health, has introduced a ban on the movement of machinery and equipment in the Te Puke region, in a bid to control the bacteria’s spread.

  Posted: Monday, 18 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Vulnerable To Inflation Says Bruce Wills

  

  Inflation in New Zealand is higher than it has been in 21 years, and both farmers and consumers are feeling the squeeze as a result.

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Proud South Island Co-op Bucking Recession Trend

  

  While many business have struggled through the global recession of the last three years, one proud New Zealand company has been bucking the trend.

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Construction Begins On New Milk Powder Facility

  

  Construction is about to start in Hamilton on the country's first independent facility for developing new milk powders.

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Design Company In China To Explore Eco-Friendly Idea

  

  Wellington Design Company, The Formary, wants to blend New Zealand wool with waste products to create eco-friendly fabrics.

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Canada's Viterra To Join New Zealand Wool Industry

  One of Canada's largest businesses, Viterra is about to join New Zealand's wool industry.  

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra To Establish Chinese Farm Number 3

  

  Fonterra’s foray into Chinese dairy farming continues unabated, with the dairy giant announcing its plans to establish another farm in Hebei Province. The new 40 million dollar farm means Fonterra will now have a triad of dairy farms in China.  

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Minister Calls For Revue Of Raw Milk Regulations

   

  

  Fonterra’s Global Dairy Trade auction saw milk prices drop more than five percent. Skim milk powder was down 5.2 percent, while whole milk powder was down four percent.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Viterra's NZ Wool Plans Receive A Mixed Response

  

   A Canadian company’s expansion into the New Zealand wool industry has received a mixed response.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Minister Says Labour's Tax Proposal Will Punish Farmers

  Agriculture Minister David Carter has come out swinging against the Labour Party’s proposed Capital Gains Tax saying it is simply an instrument to punish farmers which the party hates.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Images From Fonterra's Chinese Dairy Farm

  Fonterra announced its plans this week to begin work on a third dairy farm in China. Already the New Zealand dairy giant has one farm in Hebei Province up and running and another will be coming online later this year. And Fonterra is planning many more as it seeks to become a truly global milk producer. Reporter Benedict Collins spoke to the boss of Fonterra’s Chinese farming operations, and asked how things were going.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Bird Lady Of Rothesay Bay

  You wouldn't expect to see penguins waddling around Auckland’s suburbs, but a trip down to the local rock pools is a daily occurrence for Sylvia Durrant and her marching penguins. Emma Jones meets The Bird Lady of Rothesay Bay...

  Posted: Thursday, 21 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Farmers Welcome Revue Of Raw Milk Regulations

  Dairy farmers are welcoming the government’s official review of the Raw Milk Regulations which dictate how much raw milk Fonterra must supply to independent processors.

  Posted: Friday, 22 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• O'Connor: Carbon Tax Was Preferable To ETS

  The Labour Party says that Federated Farmers is squarely to blame for New Zealand agriculture being included in the Emissions Trading Scheme.

  Posted: Friday, 22 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ag-Hub Wins Top Innovation Award

  Kiwi farming and technology company Ag-Hub has swept the board at the 2011 TUANZ Innovation Awards.

  Posted: Friday, 22 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers A Little More Optimistic About The Economy

  The latest Federated Farmers confidence survey shows farmers are a little more optimistic about the state of the economy, and it also reveals nearly half of all surveyed farmers intend to spend less in the coming year, than they did the year before.

  Posted: Monday, 25 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Launches PR Offensive Over Price Of Milk

  Fonterra has launched a public relations offensive as concern over the price of retail milk in New Zealand continues. The dairy giant has begun issuing media statements, and has dedicated a new section of its website to defending the price of milk.

  Posted: Monday, 25 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Surveillance Traps Catch Nothing Of Concern

  Surveillance traps set for fruit flies and gypsy moths over the past year have turned up nothing of concern, MAF has reported. It seems that in this case, no news is good news.

  Posted: Monday, 25 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Nelson Apple Orchards More Valuable Without Trees

  The future of Nelson’s apple industry could be in doubt. One of the country’s top businessmen is predicting that within five years the region won’t have a viable apple export industry.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Calls For Inquiry Into Kiwifruit Industry Deregulation

  The Business Roundtable has come out in support of the Turners and Growers argument against Zespri, saying it is high time there was deregulation in the kiwifruit export market.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Bringing The Farmyard Into The Classroom

  New Zealand’s official cowbassador, Rosie the Cow, may soon be appearing at a school near you. Dairy NZ’s is stepping up its efforts to get all of New Zealand to understand the role the dairying sector plays, by heading into the country’s classrooms

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• June Trade Surplus A Record $230 Million

  New Zealand’s trade surplus for June was a record $230million. According to Statistics New Zealand, figure show a 4.5 per cent increase in the value of New Zealand exports to $12.2 billion in the three months to the end of June.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pukekohe Tomato Man Is Young Grower Of The Year

  Ben Smith a tomato grower from Pukekohe, has been named Young Grower of the Year.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Questions Raised Over Accuracy Of Fonterra Report

  Questions are being raised about the accuracy of a Fonterra-commissioned report which the dairy giant says is evidence independent processors, and Kiwi consumers, aren’t paying too much for their milk.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Forest Waste Facility Good News For Industry Workers

  Having lost more than 1000 jobs in the wood processing industry since 2008, The National Distribution Union is sighing with relief, with the announcement of a proposal to build a new forest waste processing facility near Rotorua.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Report Author Defends His Work

  The author of a Fonterra-funded report into the dairy sector has defended his work in the face of criticism from New Zealand’s independent processors.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Report Proof Dairy Industry Regulations Are Working

  Fonterra says a report it has published into New Zealand’s domestic dairy industry, is proof  that the regulations are working. Fonterra’s chief financial officer Jonathon Mason, says the report was compiled by independent analysts, and shows competition has thrived here since 2001, when the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act came into play. Further, the report says the way Fonterra calculates its milk price model is fair. But at the same time Mr Mason admits that, going forward, Fonterra has to become more transparent. Benedict Collins has this report...

  Posted: Friday, 29 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• EU Agrees To Up Quota For Grain Fed Quality Beef

  The European Union has agreed to up the quota for grain-fed quality beef. Under the new agreement, forged by the Government and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the current quota of around 13,000 tonnes, or just three per cent of total beef exports, quadruples to 45,000 tonnes in 2012. All of it tariff free.

  Posted: Friday, 29 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Tomato Grower Sees Opportunities On The Vine

  Heard about the price of tomatoes? The cost of the juicy red ones has shot through the roof lately, what with the high New Zealand Dollar and the disasterous Queensland floods. But that hasn’t counted against Ben Smith, a tomato grower from Pukekohe, who was crowned Young Grower of the Year, at the HortNZ Annual Conference, earlier this week. Reporter Emma Jones met Ben, in a glasshouse, somewhere south of Auckland...

  Posted: Friday, 29 July 2011 By: Country 99 TV

June

• Town Hall Worker Bees Make The Sweetest Honey

  All over the country this week initiatives are taking place to raise the profile of New Zealand’s bees. But this year the National Beekeepers Association has taken a different approach to Bee Week.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Australian Outrage At Indonesian Cattle Horror

  Grotesque images of Australian cattle being beaten, tormented and hacked at with blunt knives by Indonesian butchers has led to Australia suspending live cattle shipments to some abattoirs in Indonesia.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Chinese Want More Than The Crafar Farms

  

  It appears the latest Chinese company trying to buy Alan Crafar’s dairy farms has its eyes set on a lot more than just the Crafar farms.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Moves Quickly To Sort Infant Milk Kerfuffle

  The Ministry of Agriculture has cleared a kiwi company accused of selling infant milk formula in China without the proper certification.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Marion, Cisco and Dixie and the Old Folks At Home

  Emma Jones meets a most unusual trio, taking time out from their 170-acre Taranaki dairy farm, to put a smile on the faces of some very deserving folk.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Latest CPI Shows Things Are Looking Up

  In good news for farmers and other exporters, the latest figures from the ANZ, and the overnight Global Dairy Trade Auction show things are looking up.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Apple debate with Australia Continues

  The debate over the importing of New Zealand apples into Australia continues. Western Australia grower, Lucinda Giblett claims that keep NZ apples out is not about the risk of competition but about safe guarding Australia’s pristine growing environment.

  Posted: Friday, 3 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Vinyard Invests In Tiny Sheep

  A New Zealand vineyard planning to reduce its carbon footprint has sparked a sheep-breed shortage of tiny sheep in Australia.

  Posted: Friday, 3 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Bank Changes Mean Farmers Lay Out More For Loans

  Imminent changes to the banking system will soon see farmers having to lay down a lot more capital in order to get a loan.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• E.coli: New Infections Worry Europeans

  European nations, worried about strains of new animal and plant infections, are set to meet on Tuesday in Luxembourg.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• End Of The Line For Woolly Super Star

  New Zealand's woolly Super star Shrek has died. The Merino Wether received international fame in 2004 after he was found in a cave in the high country.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• KPMG Releases Second Annual Agribusiness Agenda

  Global accounting firm KPMG has released its second annual Agribusiness Agenda report. The report is a detailed look at New Zealand's primary sector, and sums up just where KPMG thinks the industry's strengths and weaknesses lie, and is expected to generate more than a little debate over the way forward for the sector. To review the Report click here

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Tax Changes A Relief For Small Vinyards

  The wine industry is welcoming new changes to the way small vineyards are taxed, making it easier to manage their accounts.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Australia Bans Live Exports To Indonesia

  

  Australia has banned all live cattle exports to Indonesia following last week’s horrific scenes of animal abuse in Indonesian abattoirs caused outrage.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Call For Rate Relief On Protected Land

  Federated Farmers is calling on local and central government to recognise agriculture’s contribution towards conservation.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 1080 Findings Surpise Environment Commissioner

  The parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, has come out in favour of the greater use of the poison 1080 to protect forests from possums, rats and stoats.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Worldwide Demand For Venison Exceeds Supply

  Worldwide demand for venison exceeds supply and high prices and excellent growing conditions have combined to create one of the best seasons in years for New Zealand’s 3000 plus deer farms.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds And Minister Disagree Over Biosecurity GIA's

  While Agriculture Minister David Carter is busy extolling the virtues of Government Industry Agreements, or GIAs, saying they will strengthen biosecurity, Federated Farmers says he hasn’t thought it through.

  Posted: Friday, 10 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Shareholders Accuse Olam Of Scare Tactics

  A group of minority shareholders in New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay are accusing Olam International of using scare tactics to force them into selling their shares.

  Posted: Friday, 10 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ban On Live Cattle Could Benefit New Zealand Beef Exports

  Australia's decision to ban live cattle exports to Indonesia after a public outcry over graphic footage of cows being mistreated in Indonesian abattoirs could be to New Zealand's gain.

  Posted: Friday, 10 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour Says Rural Lobby Is Behind Hate Campaign

  It seems farmers have had a gutsful of being made out to be tax dodgers by the Labour Party and its MPs are now being bombarded with hate mail.

  Posted: Monday, 13 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Manual Aims To Reduce Farm Accidents

  A new Manual aimed at improving the burgeoning problem of agricultural health and safety, is being launched in Wellington this coming Thursday.

  Posted: Monday, 13 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Wreaking Havoc In The Kiwifruiut Sector

  

  Kiwifruit businesses may soon begin failing because of the PSA disease which is wreaking havoc in the sector.

  Posted: Monday, 13 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• One Call I Hoped I would Never Have To Make Again

  "Its one call I sincerely hoped I’d never have to make again." Those words from John Hartnell, Federated Farmers Earthquake Spokesperson, speaking after Christchurch was rocked by two major earthquakes yesterday afternoon, which once again brought chaos to the crippled city.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Gearing Up For Fieldays...

  Farmers all around the country are gearing up for the 43^rd Agricultural Fieldays in Hamilton, which kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday. Reporter Drew Chappell has been down to check out how preparations are going for the country’s largest annual event.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Four Names On List For Next Fed President

  Federated Farmers has announced that there are four names on the list of nominees to succeed Don Nicolson when he retires as President of the organisation on July 1.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmy Army Preparing To March Again

  The two violent aftershocks which rocked Canterbury on Monday have left residents living in hell, now swamped in liquefaction, and an awful sense of de ja vu.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 'An Engine For Growth In The Rural Sector'

  Heartland New Zealand chief executive Jeff Greenslade has described his company’s buyout of PGG Wrightson’s finance arm for about $100 million as ‘an engine for growth in the rural sector’.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• High Hopes For Good News From Fieldays

  The agricultural industry is licking its lips at the likelihood of some very good news from this year’s National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek. The omens are good.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Mystery Creek Is Key To Health Of Rural New Zealand

  National Agricultural Fieldays is the largest  event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and the fifth largest in the world. This year Fieldays is again breaking records, nearly 1000 exhibitors, and huge crowds expected to match the 120,000 of 2010. But  the question on everyone’s lips remains to be answered. Will the current record commodity prices farmers are receiving translate into increased sales at Fieldays? Benedict Collins went in search of the answer...

  Posted: Thursday, 16 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Animated Cow Star Of Go Dairy Campaign

  There’s no denying New Zealand’s dairy farmers have been the subject of a lot of criticism over the past few years, on numerous environmental fronts, or more recently, tax. Now Dairy NZ has launched its own education initiative – Go Dairy....

  Posted: Thursday, 16 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Leaders Gather To Break Barriers To Productivity

  Many of the leading players in New Zealand farming came to Fieldays to hear a top level discussion on the current state of agriculture in New Zealand. The breakfast discussion came on the back of KPMG’s recently released 2011 Agribusiness Report, which has generated much debate, and ties in with the theme of this year’s Fieldays – Breaking the Barriers to Productivity...

  Posted: Thursday, 16 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmy Army To Help Christchurch Again

  Federated Farmers is now in charge of Christchurch’s valiant volunteer clean-up force. At a meeting between Federated Farmers and Christchurch council officials on Thursday morning, it was decided that the Feds will now head up the city’s entire volunteer support network.

  Posted: Friday, 17 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Top Fed Ready To Stand Down

  Federated Farmers Don Nicolson has been busy doing the rounds at Fieldays this week, as his term as President of the farming and rural lobby group draws to end. Benedict Collins asked Mr Nicolson about his time as the federation’s top dog, and what it will feel like to leave a job he’s put so much into...

  Posted: Friday, 17 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• How Farmers Can Boost Their Returns

  Whilst Fieldays 2011 is breaking records of its own, the theme for this year’s event is Breaking the Barrier to Productivity. Benedict Collins finds out just how farmers can boost their returns...

  Posted: Friday, 17 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Volunteers Rally to Farmy Army's Cleanup Call

  The Farmy Army has spent the weekend marshalling Christchurch’s volunteer clean up brigade following the two violent aftershocks, which rocked the city a week ago causing wide-spread damage and liquefaction.

  Posted: Monday, 20 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Researchers Could Have An Answer To PSA

  

  Kiwifruit growers in the Bay of Plenty may just be able to breathe a little easier after some much needed good news over the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 20 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Latvian Lady's Overall Success

  When Zane Milton arived in New Zealand she found herself pitching on a farm in the Wairarapa, and forced to wear mens overalls. Something that didn't sit well with the Latvian fashion student. So she did something about it...

  Posted: Monday, 20 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Countdown To Young Farmer Of The Year Finals

  The countdown is on for the National Bank Young Farmer Contest featuring the cream of New Zealand’s farming talent.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussies Spitting Pips At John Key's Apple Dig

  Aussies will be spitting pips at John Key’s latest dig at the quality of ockers’ apples.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Bumper Olive Harvest Creates Pressing Problem

  A bumper olive harvest is creating headaches at the processing end in the Marlborough region.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Enough Is Enough: Rural Suicide Part 1

  From 2009 to 2010, there were an astounding 541 reported suicides in New Zealand - 50% more than the road toll for the same period. In the last 3 years, 75 rural workers  have taken their own lives. And this number increases each year.

  There can be few subjects harder to talk about, or more misunderstood, than suicide. Suicide is a taboo topic. We shy away from talking about it. There are numerous guidelines and restrictions on media reporting of the subject. But things are changing, slowly.

  In the first of three special reports on rural suicide, Emma Jones meets a former Federated Farmers executive who decided enough was enough.

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• E.Coli Infection In New Zealand Unlikely: New MAF Survey

  A new MAF survey that says the chances of an outbreak of poisoning  in New Zealand, similar to the recent E.Coli infection in Germany is unlikely.

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• A Thousand Vets Celebrate 250 Years Of History

  If you'd had an animal that needed medical attention then Hamilton was the place to be on Tuesday as veterinarians from New Zealand and Australia gathered for a very special occasion.  Emma Jones was there…

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Enough Is Enough: Rural Suicide Part 2

  In the second of three special reports on rural suicide, Country99TV reporter Emma Jones meets a family who believe their tragedy could have been averted if the warning signs had been heeded...

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra - World No 1 In Milk Processing

  Fonterra has been hitting the headlines on numerous fronts this week – from taking its dispute about the companies it must supply milk to, to the Supreme Court, to being named the world’s biggest milk processor.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Agribusiness Person Of The Year: Shortlist Announced

  Federated Farmers has announced a shortlist for the 2011 Agribusiness Person of the Year Award.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Enough Is Enough: Suicide Part 3

  In her third and final report, Emma Jones meets the Judge who believes that now is the time for a greater debate on the silence surrounding the issue of suicide in New Zealand...

  Posted: Thursday, 23 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Sue Kedgley Says MAF Putting Animals Ahead Of Humans

  Green Party food spokesperson Sue Kedgley is slamming new reports from MAF's just released survey that examined the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria in New Zealand food saying the MAF is putting animals ahead of humans. 

  Posted: Friday, 24 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Truce: Allan Crafar V Receivers:

  Like a gritty Jack Russell terrier that never gives up, failed Reporoa dairy farmer Allan Crafar is back and thinks he may be in with a sniff of getting his farms back.

  Posted: Friday, 24 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Million Dollar Hospital Bus

  Since February  2002 a multi-million dollar medically equipped bus has been bringing health care direct to rural New Zealand. Fitted with the latest in medical technology the bus, and the doctors and nurses on board, carry out more than 1000 operations each year...

  Posted: Friday, 24 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Experts Swoop On Significant Southern Lagoon

  Following the recent shocking news of environmental degradation in Southland’s internationally significant Waituna Lagoon, teams of dairying advice experts are swooping on the area.

  Posted: Monday, 27 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmy Army Hands Clean-up Baton To The SVA

  The legendary Farmy Army spent last week marshalling Christchurch’s volunteer clean-up brigade, after  two violent aftershocks again rocked the crippled city, causing wide-spread damage and liquefaction. More than 3000 rallied to the cause. But the baton has now been handed on to the tireless Student Volunteer Army ...

  Posted: Monday, 27 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• KVH Extends PSA High Risk Zone

  The discovery of three more Bay of Plenty orchards with PSA, has led to the Kiwifruit Vine Health organization extending the official high risk zone.

  Posted: Monday, 27 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Backs Merino Grower Investments

  Federated Farmers has praised Merino Grower Investments' move to purchase PGG Wrightson’s half share in New Zealand Merino.

  Posted: Tuesday, 28 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 900 Wheelbarrows and 1750 Well Used Shovels...

  Federated Farmers has released some facts and figures from the Farmy Army and Student Volunteer Army's joint clean up in Christchurch last week.

  Posted: Tuesday, 28 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• French Bee Man To Discuss Colony Collapse Disorder

  The National Beekeepers' Association annual conference is now well underway in Auckland.

  Posted: Tuesday, 28 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Test Tube Burger Only A Year Away

  Scientists in the Netherlands are looking for a brave volunteer to be the first person to eat a test-tube burger, cooked up in laboratory...

  Posted: Wednesday, 29 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Hundreds Buzz Around Bee Conference

  Hundreds of commercial and hobbyist beekeepers have been attending the industry’s national conference this week in Auckland. Reporter Benedict Collins meets the king bee man...

  Posted: Wednesday, 29 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Warning: New Zealand Not Immune To E.Coli Outbreak

  A leading New Zealand food microbiologist is warning that New Zealand is not immune to the lethal outbreak of E.Coli that has killed more than 40 people, and made thousands sick in Europe.

  Posted: Wednesday, 29 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Carpet Wars Show No Sign Of Abating

  The battle between two of the biggest players in New Zealand’s carpet industry is showing no signs of abating, after a high court appeal was lodged on Wednesday.

  Posted: Thursday, 30 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• FMG Announces Solid Profit Amid General Insurance Woes

  Rural insurer FMG has announced what it is calling a solid profit of $10 million for the last financial year, clearly escaping the woes of urban insurers affected by the recent Canterbury earthquakes.

  Posted: Thursday, 30 June 2011 By: Country 99 TV

May

• Rob Alloway Resigns From Allied Farmers Board

  Allied Farmers managing director Rob Alloway has announced his immediate resignation from the company’s board.

  Posted: Monday, 2 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Volunteer Farmer Wanted For Afghanistan

  If you’re tired of doing the same old chores on the farm, day in and day out, or are looking for a little more excitement in your life, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade might have the perfect job for you.

  Posted: Monday, 2 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Katie McVean Jumps To Sixth Place In Leipzig

  Olympic showjumper Katie McVean has created New Zealand equestrian history, after finishing sixth in the FEI World Cup final in Leipzig, Germany, on Sunday.

  Posted: Monday, 2 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Royal NZ Bees for Princess Kate

  Posted: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Massive Recovery Underway In Hawke's Bay

  

  A massive recovery project is underway in the Hawke’s Bay as farmers and locals in the region try and clean up after the weekend’s devastating storm.

  Posted: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Global Phase Out Of Toxic Pesticide

  The New Zealand Soil and Health Association is celebrating the global phase out of the toxic pesticide Endosulfan.

  Posted: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Sweet Deal For Monk Fruit Processor

  Waikato based company BioVittoria, the world’s largest processor of chinese monk fruit, has landed a sweet deal with Tate and Lyle, one of the biggest multinational sugar conglomerates.

  Posted: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Assistance For Hawke's Bay Farmers

  The Government has declared the recent damaging storm in Hawke’s Bay to be a medium scale adverse event, and has promised assistance to those farmers who need it.

  Posted: Wednesday, 4 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Turners And Growers Comes Out Swinging

  Turners and Growers has come out swinging after a meeting between the country’s biggest Kiwifruit marketer, Zespri, and the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

  Posted: Wednesday, 4 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• TAF Scheme "Very Unlikely" Before Election

  There is little prospect of Fonterra’s proposed new plan for share trading among farmers, the TAF scheme, being passed into law this year.

  Posted: Thursday, 5 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Red Meat Strategy Aims To Double Export Earnings

  A new strategy aimed at doubling New Zealand red meat export earnings was launched at Parliament on Wednesday evening.

  Posted: Thursday, 5 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wine Glut Easing But Not Over Yet

  Now could be time to stock up with your favourite Savingon Blanc. With a Marlborough winery claiming it might run out of Sav by January it appears the glut that caused the gloom for the wine industry could be easing. But as Scott Milligan finds out, it is not over yet.

  Posted: Thursday, 5 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Hawke's Bay Storms - Now Comes The Clean-Up

  In the Hawke’s Bay farmers are recovering from severe storms at the end of last week. Massive slips and flood damage have affected about 100 farms, some coastal properties losing up to 60 percent of their paddocks. A State of Emergency was declared and only lifted on Tuesday. Now begins the cleanup and recovery...

   

  Posted: Friday, 6 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Canterbury Scientists Slam AgResearch GE Testing

  University of Canterbury genetic scientists have produced a report which slams AgResearch for conducting what it says is deliberately conducted superficial testing when disposing its of its genetically modified animals.

  Posted: Friday, 6 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• AHB Calls For Support For TBFree Scheme

  Farmers in the Waikato, Canterbury and Horizons regions are being encouraged to attend their upcoming Regional Council annual planning hearings, for fears of funding cuts to the tuberculosis programme.

  Posted: Friday, 6 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• End Of The Long Wait For Duck Shooters

  For David Cocks the long wait ended on Saturday when the duck shooting season officially began. Reporter Benedict Collins was down in a wetland near Pokeno as the first shots were fired, and the early birds bagged...

  Posted: Monday, 9 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NBA Fears New Pesticide Threatens Bee Population

  The National Beekeepers’ Association is calling for scientific investigation over the use of a new family of pesticides called neonicotinoids it says could be destroying beehives.

  Posted: Monday, 9 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Growers Hoping For Good News About PSA

  Kiwifruit growers around the country are waiting anxiously for an announcement from the organisation set up to fight the vine disease PSA.

  Posted: Monday, 9 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Big Government Spend-up On Water

  The government has announced its intention to turn the country’s fresh water into gold by investing massively in regional-scale agricultural irrigation schemes throughout New Zealand.

  Posted: Tuesday, 10 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Turners & Growers V Zespri - Court Battle Begins

  The high profile Kiwifruit case between Turners & Growers and market leader Zespri began on Monday at the High Court in Auckland. Reporter Drew Chappell has more...

  Posted: Tuesday, 10 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Katie McVean Sells Delphi For Undisclosed Sum

  On Friday last week she said “thanks but no thanks” but yesterday [Monday] Katie McVean announced she had sold her horse, Dunstan Delphi, for an undisclosed multi-million-dollar deal to Saudi Arabians.

  Posted: Tuesday, 10 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fish & Game Unhappy With National Water Plan

  The government’s planned gigantic irrigation network will fuel an explosion in dairy farm numbers and New Zealand’s waterways will pay the price, says Fish and Game.

  Posted: Wednesday, 11 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Worst Year For Lamb Slaughter In Fifty Years

  Beef and Lamb New Zealand is predicting this year will be the worst for lamb slaughter in half a century.

  Posted: Wednesday, 11 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Auckland Yoghurt For Sale At Harrods

  An Auckland yoghurt-maker has landed stellar deals in local and international markets.

  Posted: Wednesday, 11 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Fear Unwise Lending Cycle May Begin Again

  Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has announced that as of next month banks will be required to hold more capital against loans to farmers.

  Posted: Thursday, 12 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour Wants Honey Money Spent On Biosecurity

  The government has announced an $800,000 fund through its Primary Growth Partnership to help grow the medicinal Manuka honey industry. But the Labour Party says the money would have been far better spent on biosecurity.

  Posted: Thursday, 12 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Trust Amazed By Offers To Help With Recovery

  The Hawke’s Bay Rural Support Trust is amazed at the overwhelming number of offers from people wanting to help farmers hit by the recent devastating storms.

  Posted: Thursday, 12 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• European Farmers Eyeing Up Kiwi Lifestyle

  PGG Wrightson Real Estate says there is increasing interest from European farmers and investors who want to buy farms in New Zealand.

  Posted: Friday, 13 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Warn Landowners May Have To Pay To Shoot Their Own Ducks

  Federated Farmers is warning landowners that Fish and Game is about to begin trying to force farmers to pay for a license to shoot ducks on their own property. However, Fish and Game says nothing could be further from the truth. Reporter Benedict Collins gets to the bottom of the matter...

  Posted: Friday, 13 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Gi-oodles! Environment Minister Coins New Word

  Minister of Conservation Nick Smith seems to have coined a new word.

  At a Government media conference for its Fresh Start for Fresh Water programme at the Beehive last week, Dr Smith used the word gioodles.

  Posted: Friday, 13 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wheelchair Champion Wins South Island Dog Trial

  More than $1million worth of sheep dogs were gathered at Hakataramea last week for the Tux South Island Sheep Dog Trials.

  Posted: Monday, 16 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Price Of Milk May Claim Another Victim

  The high price of milk in New Zealand may claim another victim with Olam International, the Singaporean backer of Open Country Dairy, warning it may bail from its investment if a commission of inquiry into milk prices here doesn’t create a level playing field.

  Posted: Monday, 16 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Organic Winery Scoops A Bunch Of Awards

  A boutique organic winery in Nelson has scooped a bunch of awards at the Hong Kong International Wine Challenge.

  Posted: Monday, 16 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Higher Confidence Drives Farm Sales

  The Real Estate Institute says higher confidence on farms around the country is driving the latest agricultural property boom.

  Posted: Tuesday, 17 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ballance Eyes Animal Feed Industry

  One of the country’s largest fertiliser co-operatives is eyeing up New Zealand’s animal feed industry as its next target.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 90-Year Apple Saga Nearly Over

  The 90-year fight to sell New Zealand apples in Australia is drawing to a close, almost. Pipfruit NZ Chief Executive Peter Beaven thinks we may get our first shipments into Australia by the end of this year, but it seems there is still a fair bit of resistance. Benedict Collins has the story.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour's Ghost Budget Short On Agricultural Detail

  Struggling to make an impact in the polls the Labour Party released its ghost budget yesterday [Tuesday] – the economic blueprint for the country the opposition would seek to implement, were it actually in power.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• AMI Trebles Size Of Earthquake Response Team

  Anyone with an outstanding insurance claim with AMI Insurance relating to the Canterbury earthquake will be interested to know the company is trebling the size of its Canterbury Earthquake Response Team.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Sets Another Dairy Record

  Fonterra will set yet another record this season – this time it is expecting to collect a record volume of milk from the country’s dairy farmers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Budget Outlines Plans To Tackle Country's Debt

  The nation held its breath as Finance Minister Bill English announced the 2011 Budget at Parliament yesterday. With current Government borrowings averaging $380 million a week, though sometimes $700 or $800 million, depending on bank rates, and about a month ago, $1 billion, no one was expecting any handouts this time round.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• IRD Income Tax Figures Cause Controversy

  Figures released by the Inland Revenue Department this week suggest the average New Zealand dairy farmer pays little more in income tax each year to the government than someone on the unemployment benefit.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Say Budget Is Boring In A Positive Way

  

  Federated Farmers have welcomed the 2011 Budget which they say is ‘boring but in a positive way’. However, at the same time Labour is warning that funding for biosecurity has been reduced, placing New Zealand agriculture in harm’s way.

  Posted: Friday, 20 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Broadband For A Third Of Rural Schools By Christmas

  A third of all rural schools will have their internet infrastructure upgraded by Christmas, says Communications Minister Stephen Joyce.

  Posted: Friday, 20 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Wine Makers Strike Gold In Global Challenge

  New Zealand wine makers have struck gold at the 2011 International Wine Challenge in London.

  This year’s International Wine Challenge attracted almost 11,000 entries from around the globe and is considered one of the most influential wine competitions in the world.

  Posted: Friday, 20 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour Will Bring Emissions Trading Scheme In Earlier

  The Labour Party has said it will bring farmers into the Emissions Trading Scheme, or ETS, in 2013, two years earlier than planned, if it wins this year’s General Election.

  Posted: Monday, 23 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Causes Kiwifruit Real Estate Market To Dry Up

  The real estate market for Kiwifruit Orchards in Te Puke has almost ground to a halt, due to concerns about the vine disease PSA.

  Posted: Monday, 23 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Announce Record Payout

  

  Fonterra has made two record breaking announcements in quick succession, lifting both this year’s payout and the forecast for next season.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Beef+Lamb Warning On Labour's Early Tax Plan

  

  Beef and Lamb New Zealand is warning that Labour’s plans to introduce a livestock emissions tax early, should it get into power this year, will ruin the industry’s international competitiveness.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Stock Evaluation System As Early As Next Year

  The government is investigating a new stock valuation system which it says could help it collect tens of millions more dollars come tax time.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Growers Fear More Virulent PSA Virus

  The Kiwifruit vine disease PSA is worrying orchardists in the worst affected areas, as bad news from other countries dealing with the virus filters through the system.

   

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Joy For Dairy Farmers As Fonterra Delivers Record Breakers

  

  Fonterra has made two record breaking announcements in quick succession, lifting both this year’s payout and the forecast for next season.
  
  

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Katie McVean Seeking Another Dunstan Delphi

  Katie McVean and Dunstan Delphi recently rode into the New Zealand Equestrian history books with a brilliant sixth place in the World Games in Leipzig, Germany.

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Green Party Calls For Official Bee Strategy

  The Green Party has launched a petition calling for an official Healthy Bee Strategy to be implemented in New Zealand which would include banning the controversial pesticide –neonicotinoids.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Say Dairy Payout Record Will Generate Jobs

  

  Federated Farmers has been crunching the numbers and says this season’s record dairy payout will have phenomenal downstream benefits for New Zealand.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cavalier Makes $40 Million Bid For WSI

  This week, Cavalier announced a $40 million take over bid for all of Wool Services’ assets.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NAIT Delay A Good Opportunity Say Feds

  Farmers woke to the news that the National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme, or NAIT has been delayed until the end of next year at the earliest

  Posted: Friday, 27 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussie Pork Industry Watching MAF Court Case Closely

  The Australian pork industry is keenly watching the ongoing legal saga between MAF and the New Zealand Pork Industry Board over allowing uncooked pork meat to enter the country.

  Posted: Friday, 27 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• McVean Set For Another Tilt At London Olympics

  The 2012 London Olympics are back on for New Zealand’s equestrian golden girl Katie McVean.

  Posted: Friday, 27 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Price Of Fertiliser To Rise

  The Price of Fertilizer is up and farmers can afford it according to news emerging from last week’s International Fertilizer Conference in Montreal, Canada, suggesting higher fertilizer prices may soon be hitting New Zealand farmers.

  Posted: Monday, 30 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Buzz Around The Country As Bee Week Takes Off

  There’s sure to be a buzz around the country this week as Bee Week 2011 kicks off.

  Posted: Monday, 30 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Asparagus Industry Laments Lack Of Young People

  The New Zealand Asparagus Council is lamenting the lack of young people entering the growing industry, despite high returns and strong international demand.

  Posted: Monday, 30 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Historic Top Dressing DC3 To Become A Centre Of Learning

  Efforts to establish a classroom inside a DC3 aircraft to honour the beginnings of the New Zealand aerial top dressing industry are off to a great start.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussie Senators Alarmed By Uncooked Pork Possibility

  The ongoing legal dispute between the New Zealand Pork industry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is now being followed closely by the Australian government. Australians fear the current legal saga over allowing uncooked pork meat to come into New Zealand, could end up with devastating consequences for Australia.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Invited To Join Powerful World Group

  New Zealand’s largest company has officially been invited to join the world’s most powerful consultation group.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 May 2011 By: Country 99 TV

April

• Wool Price Falls But Market Remains Sound

  

  The wool industry is taking stock of the first price fall in weeks, after Thursday’s North and South Island auctions.

  Posted: Friday, 1 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wine Harvest Underway Amid Fears of Over Supply

   

  The 2011 wine harvest is underway in Marlborough, amid concerns about over supply and low prices.

  Posted: Friday, 1 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Thousands At Big South Island Field Days

  Thousands of farmers from throughout the Mainland have been attending the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Christchurch over the last three days.

  The biggest event of its kind in the south, the Field Days attracted more than 300 agricultural exhibitors and thousands of farmers.

  Posted: Friday, 1 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Mixed Bag for New Zealand Crops

  

  It has been a mixed bag for New Zealand’s crops this summer with bad weather contributing to poor yields for many crops. However, maize has been performing better than expected. 

  Posted: Monday, 4 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Sheep Flocks Still Shrinking

  

  New Zealand sheep flocks are still shrinking in spite of the price of wool reaching heights unheard of for twenty years. And they are likely to stay that way says Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre chairman Bruce Wills.

  Posted: Monday, 4 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wood Workers Jobs Shaved

  

  New Zealand’s wood processing workers have been losing their jobs in droves due to the exceptionally high international prices for raw logs and there’s no end in sight says the National Distribution Union.

  Posted: Monday, 4 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Defends The Price Of Milk

  

  Fonterra is defending the price of retail milk in New Zealand and is suggesting that it is foreign interests that are whipping up the current furor. 

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy To Set Up 3000 Stores In China

  

  Natural Dairy, the Hong Kong company looking to establish itself in the New Zealand dairy industry, has announced it intends to establish 3000 retail stores throughout China, which will sell New Zealand milk powder products.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Taboo Subject For Taranaki Feds AGM

  The Chief Coroner is to address a Federated Farmers meeting in Taranaki on the sensitive subject of rural suicide.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Milk Prices Dip Slightly At Online Dairy Auction

  

  Dairy prices dipped slightly overnight at Fonterra’s online global auction but the latest rural economic report suggests agricultural commodity prices will remain strong for the foreseeable future.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wine Industry Faces A Long Haul Back To Profit

  The wine industry could be in for a long haul back to profitability, according to the latest wine industry survey.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Inspirational Leaders Top The Bill At Dairy Business Conference

  Farmers from all over New Zealand headed for Rotorua this week, to take part in the 2011 Dairy Business Conference.Formerly known as the Large Herds Conference, the event is in its 42nd year. But as Scott Milligan reports, the name has changed  with the times.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Fleet Gets New Rigs

  Fonterra is in the process of upgrading its milk tanker fleet with 50 brand new rigs, arriving in time for the start of the upcoming dairy season. Sporting the latest technology and safety features, Benedict Collins reports the Volvo trucks will soon be clocking up some serious mileage as they collect the nation’s milk.

  Posted: Thursday, 7 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rising Returns Increase Fertiliser Sales

  Farmers are reportedly spending more on fertiliser as their incomes from meat and wool rise.

  Posted: Thursday, 7 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Report Says Maori Agricultural Land Underperforming

  A new report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Te Puni Kokiri has painted a bleak picture of Maori agricultural land in New Zealand.

  Posted: Thursday, 7 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Arrests Made In Scott Guy Murder Case

  Police have made two arrests in connection with the murder of Fielding Farmer Scott Guy.

  Posted: Friday, 8 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• When Is A Game Bird Not A Game Bird?

  When is a game bird not a game bird? That is the question puzzling regional hunters and landowners in Taranaki, over the current status of Canada Geese.

  Posted: Friday, 8 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Greens In A Buzz About Bees

  Green Party MP Sue Kedgley has launched a petition calling for the government to suspend the use of Neonicotinoid pesticides which have been linked to bee deaths. 

  Posted: Friday, 8 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fire Crews Scramble For Hatchery Blaze

  A huge fire at a North Island chicken farm on Saturday afternoon gutted the site and incinerated up to half a million eggs which were just about to hatch.

  Posted: Monday, 11 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Record Lamb Prices But For How Long?

  While lamb prices might be at record highs there are fears they may have peaked. And there are wildly different opinions among those in the industry about what exactly needs to be done to keep prices high.

  Posted: Monday, 11 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rita And Alice Herald New Era In Sheep Processing

  A New Zealand consortium has taken a significant step forward in robotic sheep processing. Unlike other systems which cut up already-dressed carcasses, this invention guts the sheep, heralding a new era in processing.

  Posted: Monday, 11 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Consumers To Take Another Dairy Hit

  

  New Zealanders’ wallets may well be about to take yet another dairy-related hit.

  Posted: Tuesday, 12 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Specialist Cheesemaker Downsizes

  High milk prices have been blamed for the downsizing of specialist cheese maker Kaimai. 

  Posted: Tuesday, 12 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Delays in Kiwifruit Test Reports Frustrate Growers

  The agency responsible for minimising the effects of PSA on New Zealand’s Kiwifruit is frustrated at delays for growers receiving written confirmation their crops are infected.

  Posted: Tuesday, 12 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Potato Industry Needs Help To Fight Diseases

  Faced with a duo of diseases that are threatening their crops and livelihoods, the potato industry is pleading for more financial assistance from the Government.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Says World Will Struggle To Produce Enough Milk

  Fonterra believes that the world will soon begin struggling to produce enough milk to meet the ever increasing global demand for dairy.  

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Accidents All Too Common

  The average person could be forgiven for thinking that the Curry family were simply accident prone. From tractor flips to three-wheeler turnovers, the Tuakau dairy beef farming family has had its share of accidents.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Agricultural Community Gives To The Earthquake Cause

  Largely, physically unaffected by Christchurch’s second, devastating earthquake, the agricultural community has come to the party  donating money, effort and time to the Christchurch relief cause.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Government Launches Biosecurity Website For Farms

  The government’s agricultural biosecurity website is now officially up and running.

  Posted: Thursday, 14 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cavalier Wool Holdings Merger Plans On Track

  

  Cavalier Wool Holdings plans for a merger with New Zealand Wool Services International’s scouring operations have been approved by the Commerce Commission.

  Posted: Thursday, 14 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• They Came To Help Fix A Broken City

  They came from all over New Zealand. A group of selfless, everyday farmers and country people, who drove into Christchurch’s eastern suburbs on their tractors and in their pickups, and worked tirelessly, day and night, to help the dazed victims of Christchurch’s deadly February earthquake.

  Posted: Thursday, 14 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pengzin Files Application For CraFarms

  

  The company leading the race for the Crafar dairy empire has officially filed an application with the Overseas Investment Office.

  Posted: Friday, 15 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• FarmsOnLine Receives Mixed Reviews

  

  The Government’s new FarmsOnLine biosecurity database is receiving mixed reviews just days after its launch.

  Posted: Friday, 15 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Former Franklin Farmers Fight Waikato By-Law

  On November 1, 2010, Auckland became a Super City. This meant change. Super change! Overnight some Franklin farmers found a boundary change meant they no longer live and farm in Franklin, but in the Waikato. And this would probably be fine but for a Waikato by-law which, they claim, attacks a fundamental right for them to use the roads like anyone else.

  Posted: Friday, 15 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pig Farmers Dismayed About Uncooked Pork Imports

  

  New Zealand pig farmers are dismayed that MAF has given the green light for uncooked and potentially contaminated pork meat to be imported into the country.

  Posted: Monday, 18 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Unhappiness With Lack Of Competition in Kiwifruit Industry

  Zespri’s main domestic competitors are claiming New Zealanders are unhappy with the lack of competition in the Kiwifruit industry.

  Posted: Monday, 18 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Stats Show Farm Sales Weakest In Fifteen Years

  Farm sales have hit an all time new low, according to statistics from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

  Posted: Monday, 18 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NAIT An Unnecessary Cost Say Farmers

  The National Animal Identification and Tracking system, NAIT, is preparing to launch in six months.

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rugby World Cup Exposes Biosecurity Risk - Feds

  

  The Rugby World Cup could expose New Zealand to the risks of a major agricultural disaster, says Federated Farmers John Hartnell.

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pig Farmers Fear Devastating Disease

  From now on pig meat coming into New Zealand from Canada, Mexico, the US and the European Union will no longer have to be pre-cooked or cured. However, all of these countries have a contagious and devastating disease which the New Zealand pig industry does not - a disease that can be transferred through uncooked pig meat.

  Posted: Tuesday, 19 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Growing Canola for Biofuel Market

  More and more farmers are growing canola to supply the country’s burgeoning biofuel market.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Return Of The Possum Hunter

  The deadly and highly infectious disease Bovine TB exists in wildlife accross 40% of New Zealand.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Lady Antebellum Wows Kiwi Audience

  In their only New Zealand concert on Monday night, five times Grammy Award-winning trio Lady Antebellum, played before a sell-out crowd of fervent fans at Auckland’s Civic Theatre. Later, in an exclusive interview with Country99TV, reporter Scott Milligan talked to the hottest band in town and found out how it all began...

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Ultra-Fast Broadband For Nearly All In Six Years

  

  The vast majority of rural New Zealand is being promised it will have access to ultra-fast broadband within six years.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF and MFish Merger Brought Forward

  The creation of a 'Super Ministry' with the merger of MAF and  The Ministry of Fisheries has been brought forward to July 1 of this year.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Wine Has An Eye On The Tiger

  The New Zealand wine industry has an eye on the Tiger. Two weeks ago more than a thousand bottles of wine from 20 Kiwi wineries were taken to China for the first ever New Zealand wine fair in Beijing.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Mark Todd Rides Into The History Books

  Mark Todd rode himself into the history books at the Badminton Horse Trials when he notched up his fourth win at the prestigious three day event in the UK over the weekend.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Another Cheese Factory Hit By The Price Of Milk

  The high price of milk and the fact companies don’t know exactly how much they will have to pay for their milk when they set their prices, has led to another cheese factory closing, this time in the Hawkes Bay.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PGGW Saga 'Wheels Within Wheels'

  

  Business analysts are describing the latest developments in the PGG Wrightson takeover saga as “wheels within wheels.”

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wood Sculpture

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cheese Boss Calls For Changes In Milk Pricing

  The founding director of a struggling speciality cheese company is calling for changes to be made to the way the New Zealand dairy industry operates.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Opposing NAIT Like 'Flogging A Dead Dog'

  Taupiri bull breeder Steven Stark says that he still has very little idea about how NAIT is actually going to work, and who has to pay what, where and when.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Face Rising Water Charges

  A group of South Taranaki farmers using town water supplies have been told the cost of their water is going to rise considerably.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• The Grass Is Greener For Seed Company

  The grass is now greener on both side of the Tasman for specialty seed supplier PGG Wrightson Turf as major sporting events like The Rugby World Cup boost growth in seed sales.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NAIT - More Holes Than A Swiss Cheese

  Concerns are being raised about the powers the proposed National Animal Identification Tracking System, or NAIT, will give officials. Farmers are being warned their properties could be raided and possessions confiscated by those administering NAIT.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Concerned About New Biodiversity Policy

  Farmers are concerned that a proposed new biodiversity policy will stop them being able to clear native scrub from their land.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• $850,000 Boost For Red Meat

  The government has launched an $850,000  contestable fund for the red meat sector.

  Posted: Friday, 29 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Still Assessing Storm Damage

  Farmers in the Hawke’s Bay are still assessing just how much damage has been done by the storms of the past few days.

  Posted: Friday, 29 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Say OCR Sends Powerful Message

  Federated Farmers says the government cannot continue borrowing money at a rate of $496 a second, and that it has bite the bullet and introduce some fiscal discipline in May’s upcoming budget.

  Posted: Friday, 29 April 2011 By: Country 99 TV

March

• Fonterra CEO Stepping Down

  

  Fonterra has announced its CEO of the last 8 years, Andrew Ferrier, will step down from the role sometime in the mid year.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PM Announces Small Business Quake Relief

  

  While engineers assess how badly businesses and homes are damaged inside the Christchurch CBD, the Government has announced a temporary small business relief package worth around $120m.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fed's Led Cleanup Effort Continues

  

  Federated Farmers is taking the lead in organising much of the cleanup work in the suburbs of Christchurch flooded with silt, sand and water.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Killer Weed Worrying Scientists

  

  A virulent weed which attacks grain plantations is worrying scientists and growers around the country.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Effluent Code Welcomed

  

  A new code of practice for dairy effluent systems is being welcomed by industry insiders.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Overwhelmed by Volunteers

  

  As the recovery effort in Christchurch moves into its second week following last Tuesday’s earthquake, organisers of the suburban cleanup are suffering from an embarrassment of riches.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Golden Shears 'Clip Off' in Masterton

  

  It’s that time of year again already, the biggest event on the shearing calendar is set to 'clip off' in Masterton.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Record Highs in Fonterra GDT Auction

  

  Fonterra’s Global Dairy Trade Prices continue from strength to strength, reaching a new record high on Wednesday night.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Disease Legacy in Te Puke

  As the Kiwifruit harvest season gets underway, growers in the Bay of Plenty will be on the lookout for any signs of bacterial infection on their vines.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 5000 TB Herds Downgraded

  

  In an historic move, the Animal Health Board has announced TB testing restrictions for more than 5000 herds have been reduced.

  Posted: Friday, 4 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat and Wool Farmers Quake Appeal

  As the rescue effort in Christchurch is officially called off, after 8 days of searching for survivors, the focus in the Canterbury area switches to recovery.

  Posted: Friday, 4 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Country's Best Cheese Found

  The country’s best bries, camemberts and goudas were all on show at the annual ‘Cuisine Magazine champions of cheese awards’ in Auckland this week.

  Posted: Friday, 4 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kirkpatrick wins 3rd Golden Shears Title

  

  The country’s most prestigious shearing title was contested in Masterton over the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 7 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Scale Back Quake Cleanup

  

  As the recovery effort in Christchurch heads into its third week, the City Council is slowly starting to get a hold on the cleanup.

  Posted: Monday, 7 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Breeders Swarm to Jersey Conference

  Some of the nation’s finest Jersey cows were on show at the NZ Dairy event in Feilding.

  Posted: Monday, 7 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Middle East Tensions Affecting Fuel Prices

  

  Escalating tensions in the Middle East are pushing the price of oil up to the highest levels seen since 2008.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Calls for Govt Pest Funding

  A new pest management plan is encouraging the government to contribute more money and supplies towards disease control and prevention.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Thousands of Volunteers in Christchurch Cleanup

  As the volunteer led operations in Christchurch scale down, the city council is preparing to take over the suburban clean up.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers' Markets to Boost Chch Trade

  

  In the wake of the earthquake in Christchurch, the emergence of traditional farmers’ markets has been touted as one way to keep trade going in the city.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Announces gDT Changes

  

  Dairy co-op Fonterra has announced some significant changes to its global Dairy sales auction, adding new products and opening up for competitors.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• OCR Drops to 2.5% - Farmers Happy

  

  As widely expected, Reserve Bank Governor Allan Bollard has cut the official cash rate by 50 basis points, just over three weeks after the second major Canterbury earthquake.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Growers Look Offshore for Harvest Workers

  As growing season around the country gets underway, seasonal migrant workers are in high demand.

  It’s especially the case in the Hawke’s Bay, where the region’s population swells during harvest time.

  Reporter Scott Milligan headed down to the Bay to chat with some of those working on the orchards and vineyards.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF + MFISH = Super Ministry

  

  

  In one of the biggest announcements of the year, the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are set to merge, creating what many are calling a “super ministry” for primary industries.

  Posted: Friday, 11 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Ministry "PR Stunt" - Labour

  

  It’s not all been positive reaction to the news that MAF and the Fisheries Ministry will combine, with both the opposition party and the Public Service Association calling the new Ministry “an unnecessary distraction”.

  Posted: Friday, 11 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat& Wool Prices - How High Can They Go?

  

  Record wool and meat returns are stunning industry pundits around the country, and prompting the question – ‘how much higher can prices go?’

  Posted: Monday, 14 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• DIRA Report - No Govt Intervention on Milk

  

  A MAF report on the Dairy Industry regulations says the idea of government intervention in the price of milk is unrealistic.

  Posted: Monday, 14 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmer Health Check Road Show

  For most people the typical image of a kiwi farmer is one of fresh air, hard work and hearty tucker – a recipe for longevity.

  As reporter Scott Milligan found out though, a new initiative is underway to check up on farmers on the job and take the pulse of the country’s agricultural health.

  Posted: Monday, 14 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Trading Among Farmers Draws Mixed Submissions

  

  The Ministry of Agriculture has received more than 20 submissions relating to Fonterra’s Trading Among Farmers proposal.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers' Markets Helping Chch Communities

  While communities in Christchurch look to cleanup and repair damaged suburbs, some groups are looking to the past for inspiration.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fertiliser Court Case Over

  

  A long running legal row over fertiliser patents between the industry’s two biggest co-ops has finally finished.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Golden Run Over

  

   

   

  The golden run of results for Fonterra in their fortnightly Global Dairy Trade auction has ended.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PGG Wrightson Takes Over Wool Partners

  Rural services giant PGG Wrightson has announced a renewed bid to unite the country’s strong wool growers, as well as taking a 100% share in wool partners international.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Deer Farmer Wins Environmental Award

  A growing movement on many farms around the country may well be helping to reduce pollution in streams and waterways.

  Reporter Scott Milligan went along to one south Auckland deer farm to find out more.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PGG Wrightson Saga Takes A New Twist

  

  The PGG Wrightson takeover saga has taken another twist, as two Chinese companies appeal to the shareholders of the rural services provider.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sales Down

  

  Farm sales in February were down slightly on last year’s levels, and the previous monitoring period this year.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Calls For Dairy Price Inquiry Grow

  

  Political support for an investigation into the retail dairy price is growing, as both the Green and Maori Parties join the fray.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dirty Dairying - Government Threatens To Intervene

  

  Regional councils will need to take more action to prevent farmers putting effluent into waterways or face Government intervention.

  Posted: Friday, 18 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Canada Geese Now Fair Game For Farmers

  

  After years of lobbying, farmers have finally been given permission to cull Canada Geese.

  Posted: Friday, 18 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Partners Co-op Makes New Moves

  

   

  Wool Partners Co-operative is making fresh moves to win more control of the wool trade.

  Posted: Friday, 18 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Kiwifruit Season Gets Under Way

  

  A new kiwifruit season is underway, and predictions for the billion dollar industry remain positive.

  Posted: Monday, 21 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Another Twist In Crafar Farm Tale

  

  In another twist to the Crafar Farm story, rejected bidder Natural Dairy has seen its financial auditor quit the job.

  Posted: Monday, 21 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Katie's Third Olympic Cup Win At Horse Of The Year

  In a nail-biting finish Kiwi rider Katie McVean beat Australian Jamie Kermond to win the $200,000 Bell Tea Olympic Cup at the 13^th annual Horse of the Year Show in Hawkes Bay on Sunday. This is Katie's third Olympic Cup.

  Posted: Monday, 21 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Survey Shows Consumers Think Milk Is Too Expensive

   

  Ninety-one percent of New Zealanders reckon they are paying too much for their milk.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Water Restrictions Worry Hawkes Bay Growers

  

  New water restrictions are worrying many growers in the Hawke’s Bay, who say dairying is the cause of the problem.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Wineries In Co-op Venture To Crack US Market

  

  Several New Zealand wineries are joining forces to take advantage of the rapidly expanding US market.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmy Army Back On The Streets Again

   

  Last weekend the Federated Farmers’ famous farmy army mounted its final assault on the shattered streets of Christchurch.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Wool Dyeing Process Set To Revolutionise The Industry

  A new dyeing process for woollen garments is set to revolutionise the industry and change the way merino fabric is designed and marketed.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Landcorp On Track For Better Full Year Profit

  

  As commodity prices, farming returns and property values continue to climb, one of the country’s largest agricultural companies is forecasting a good bottom line for the year.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Reject Claims Of Wholesale Poisoning Of Canada Geese

  Farming groups are rejecting claims that landowners may resort to the wholesale poisoning of birds after Canada Geese were declared fair game.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Warns Global Milk Prices May Be Peaking

   

  New Zealand’s largest company Fonterra has warned dairy farmers we may have seen a peak in global milk prices, which is usually followed by a fall in demand.

  As Drew Chappell reports, right now dairying may be the one bright spot in a sluggish economy.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Canned Veges Head To Russia

  

  Canned peas from Canterbury and canned corn from Hawkes Bay are the first New Zealand vegetables to be exported to Russia.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feral Pig and Deer Population Spikes In Southland

  

  Feral pig and deer populations have spiked in parts of Southland. DOC, the Animal Health Board and Southland Regional Council say the animals are also being been found in areas outside of their typical territories.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Jonathan Mason Is CFO Of The Year

  

  It's been a good year for dairy giant Fonterra's Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Mason.

  Posted: Friday, 25 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Swine Disease Costs New Zealand $50 Million So Far

  

  The country’s pork governing body is warning the disease threat to New Zealand piggeries is bigger and more expensive than ever before.

  Posted: Friday, 25 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• In Search Of The Perfect Lamb

   

  Anthelmintics is the scientific term for worming or drenching.

  It costs New Zealander farmers millions of dollars a year in the control of internal parasites in sheep and cattle.

  However with reports claiming that the effectiveness of these treatments is decreasing, is now the time to be looking elsewhere in terms of prevention?

  Country99 TV news reporter Emma Jones meets a Wellsford farmer who believes he’s found another way.

  Posted: Friday, 25 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Primary Producers Concerned About Paying For Bio Measures

  

  Primary producers are worried about proposed changes to New Zealand’s biosecurity system which they believe could lead to more incursions and farmers being stung financially when an outbreak occurs.

  Posted: Monday, 28 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF To Launch Online Disaster Service

  

  A nationwide MAF online farm information service that will ensure that up-to-date information on New Zealand farms is available, if there is a serious biosecurity outbreak or natural disaster, is due to go live next month.

  Posted: Monday, 28 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Supermarket Versus Farmer's Market

  A recent supermarket newspaper advertising campaign has ignited controversy within farmers market circles. Country99TV reporter Scott Milligan spoke to New Zealand Farmers Market Association Vice-Chairman Jonathan Walker on his Ngarawahia piggery.

  Posted: Monday, 28 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Ag World Mourns Loss Of Top Kiwi Scientist

  Tributes are flowing as the agricultural world mourns the loss of internationally respected agricultural scientist Dr. William (Bill) Kain who died suddenly on Friday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Pig Heads Show Northland Is TB Free

  Pig hunters are being toasted in Northland for their role in helping reassure the region it is TB free.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Seeka Kiwifruit Cautious About PSA

  

  Seeka Kiwifruit Industries has announced a $12.7 million before tax profit for the nine months to 31 December 2010 – but all eyes in the kiwifruit industry remain locked firmly on PSA.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Partners Prepares A New Pitch For Growers

  

  Wool Partners Co-operative is preparing for another attempt to try and win the support of New Zealand’s wool producers, and establish a farmer-owned wool co-operative.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 2011 Ahuwhenua Trophy Finalists Announced

  

  The 2011 Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori Excellence in Farming competition finalists have been announced.

   

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Local Phosphate On Sale In Southland and Otago

  Farmers in Southland and Otago are now able to use a superphosphate blend containing local rock from a deposit last mined during the Second World War.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Commerce Commission U Turn On Milk Inquiry

  In a dramatic about–face, the Commerce Commission has indicated it is considering a full blown investigation into the price of New Zealand milk.

  This announcement comes just a week after the commission’s chairman Dr Mark Berry told parliament’s Commerce Select Committee they were not considering an inquiry.

  Posted: Thursday, 31 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Business Initiative Extended By Three Years

  A Waikato farm business coaching initiative has been so successful it has been extended for another three years.

  Posted: Thursday, 31 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Plant And Food Scientists Measuring 'Water Footprints'

  Did you know that it takes about 109 litres of water to produce a glass of wine? That a litre of milk requires 211 litres of water? And the humble bag of chippies needs a massive 157 litres?

  Posted: Thursday, 31 March 2011 By: Country 99 TV

February

• Agriculture Still Top in Export Stats

  

  The latest Trade statistics released by Stats NZ show the Agricultural sector is effectively propping up the economy.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wilma Delivers Promised Rain

   

  

  After last week’s weather warnings, cyclone Wilma certainly delivered what she promised – rain, and lots of it.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Consumers Views on Dairy Prices

  Country 99TV reporter Scott Milligan headed in to one of the busiest supermarkets in the country to get consumers’ thoughts – on why we’re paying more for our milk.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Funding Boost for Mussel Farms

  New breeding techniques and some helpful crown funding is set to revitalise the mussel farming industry in the South Island.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• $100m German Farm Deal Approved

  

  The Government has approved the sale of more than $100m of South Island farmland to German investment groups.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Skeletoniser Meets its Match

  An Australian plant pest which feeds on gum trees has found a foothold in the North Island, prompting fears it could ruin the nation's Eucalypts.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Commodity Prices not Sustainable - KPMG

  

  While global commodity prices continue to rise, some commentators are warning producers here not to bank on the trend continuing.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Super Fund in Super Farm Buy-up

  

  Investment managers for the government’s $17.4 billion superannuation fund are planning a huge buy up of farmland around the world.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Indoor Cow Plan to Thwart Waikato Weather

  After a hectic season of bad weather, both dry and wet, many kiwi farmers are fed up with being at the mercy of mother nature.

  Country 99TV reporter Scott Milligan headed to the Waikato, where some cockys are looking at new ways to protect stock from environmental extremes.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Still Keen on NZ Farms

  

  Hong Kong listed investment company Natural Dairy (NZ) Holdings has not given up hope of buying farmland in New Zealand.

  Posted: Friday, 4 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Merino Strategy Outlined

  

  A joint project between two of the country’s biggest meat contractors has been announced, with the aim of transforming the way sheep farmers sell stock.

  Posted: Friday, 4 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• HBRC Takes the Lead in Water Management

  Water management is emerging as one of the biggest problems in farming regions around the country, and rather than wait for central government to do something, one regional council in particular is taking the initiative.

  Scott Milligan Reports.

  Posted: Friday, 4 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Greenpeace Palm Kernel Protestors in Court

  

   

  There was turmoil on the high seas in New Plymouth on the weekend as Greenpeace activists boarded an Indonesian container ship, protesting the use of Palm Kernel as a stock feed.

  Posted: Monday, 7 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Services Stake up for Grabs

  

  Time is running out for anyone interested in a piece of our largest wool exporter.

  Posted: Monday, 7 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Telecom/Vodafone Win Rural Broadband Contract

  

  

  The contract to develop our Rural Broadband network looks like it will be awarded to the joint bid from Telecom and Vodafone.

  Posted: Monday, 7 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Awaits DIRA Date

   

  

  Fonterra shareholders around the country have been meeting to hear the latest on the co-op’s Trading Among Farmers structure changes.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Broadband Discussions Going Well - Joyce

  

   

  Reaction to the news that Telecom and Vodafone have secured the Rural Broadband Contract has been mixed.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• South Island Floods Hit Farms

  

   

  After heavy dumpings of rain up north over the past few weeks, it was the South Island’s turn to get a drenching.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Nervous Wait for Wool Co-op Board

  

  The deadline for woolgrowers to make a decision on the industry’s future is just a week away, while leaders of the new co-op wait nervously.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Welfare Code for Hens

  

  Leading the news, and following the amended codes of welfare for goats, pigs and commercial slaughter, the Government is once again addressing animal health and wellbeing.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• High Prices Look set to Stay - Beef + Lamb NZ

  

   

  Beef and Lamb New Zealand says consistently high prices for commodities are likely to continue for some time, leaving farmers, and their bank managers, breathing a little easier.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• UK Supermarkets Want Eco Friendly Lambs

  

  One of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains is calling for New Zealand lamb producers to become more environmentally friendly.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Bee Disease Hitting Global Food Index

  

  The United Nations index of food prices hit an all time high just a fortnight ago, and many experts are tipping the decline in beehives as a contributing factor in global food worries.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Low Stock Numbers hit Waikato Affco Plant

  

  A struggling meat industry is feeling the effects of recent rain and good grass growth, leading to more job losses in processing plants.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Caterpillar Threatens Northland Pastures

  

  As if they didn’t have enough on their plate, farmers in Northland are once again under threat from nature – this time in animal form.

  Posted: Friday, 11 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Primary 'Super Ministry' on the Cards - Key

  

  The Prime Minister appears to support the call from farmer lobby groups to change the way primary industries are governed at the top level.

  Posted: Friday, 11 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Strategy Shifts - Kiwifruit Vine Health

  The fight against Kiwifruit Vine Disease PSA has taken another strategic turn.

  Posted: Monday, 14 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Otago Council Plans Irrigation Scheme

  Irrigation has been a talking point all over the country in the past few months, as our weather patterns have been anything but co-operative.

  Posted: Monday, 14 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wellsford Stock Yards Booming

  The latest dairy/beef weaner fair in Wellsford attracted many interested parties, both buyers and sellers.

  Posted: Monday, 14 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Questions Over Rural Broadband

  

  The Rural Broadband contract awarded to our two largest communications companies is prompting cautious optimism from those in the farming world.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co-op at More Than $35m

  Sheep farmers around the country wait anxiously as the wool industry faces a potential overhaul.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Diesel Price Rise Worries Farmers

  

  The rising price of diesel is concerning many in the agricultural sector who depend on the fuel to run their businesses.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sale Prices Pick Up

  

  Fonterra’s bullish payout forecast seems to have injected confidence into the property market.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Prices Hit Record Highs

  

  Milk powder prices hit a record high in Tuesday night’s Global Dairy Trade Auction.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Countdown to Co-op Announcement

  The countdown is on for the wool partners co-operative, as the last commitment deadline expired at midnight Wednesday morning.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• North Korea Potato Market Opens Up

  

  Another horticultural market has opened up – and again after years of legal wrangling!

  Posted: Thursday, 17 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussie PM - 'We Won't Fight NZ Apple Imports'

  

  In what has been a stellar 24 hours for our export market, Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accepted a decision to allow our apples into the country.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Carter Orders MAF Dairy Price Review

  

  In a country where dairy is our biggest export, the current on shelf prices for butter, milk and cheese even have our agriculture minister worried.

  Posted: Friday, 18 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co-op Falls Short of $65m Target

  

  The proposed co-operative venture seeking to unite the New Zealand wool industry has fallen short of its $65 million dollar target.

  Posted: Friday, 18 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Dairy Event Kicks off in Feilding

  The New Zealand Dairy Event in Feilding kicked off on Wednesday, attracting cattle experts from around the country and the world, keen to get a look at some of the nation’s finest Jersey specimens.

  Posted: Friday, 18 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• $19m Hawke's Bay Vege Upgrade

  

  A $19 million vegetable processing plant upgrade will provide a shot in the arm for Hawke’s Bay crop farmers – especially those growing beans.

  Posted: Monday, 21 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Freeze on Milk Price - Good or Bad?

  

  Fonterra’s shock announcement on Friday to freeze the shelf price of milk for New Zealand consumers is drawing mixed responses.

  Posted: Monday, 21 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Facial Eczema Risk Rises

  Warm weather and summer rains have resulted in high spore count readings in soil  all over the country so far this year.

  Agri-feeds Website

  Posted: Monday, 21 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Confirms Bee Disease Spread

  

  MAF has confirmed the worst fears of many New Zealand beekeepers, announcing the parasitic disease Nosema Ceranae has been found in South Island hives.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Set to Announce Payout Increase

  

  LATEST: Fonterra has announced its payout before retentions has increased to $7.90 - $8.00 per kg of milksolids.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Vineyard Innovation may Change Grape Industry

  New innovations in the wine industry could lead to greater profits and a reduction in waste for some of the country’s vineyards.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Lift Payout to $8.00

  

  The announcement that Fonterra has lifted its forecast payout by an incredible 60 cents was put starkly into perspective by events in Christchurch.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Earthquake Leaves Farmers Unscathed - For Now

  

  The epicentre of the Tuesday’s 6.3 Magnitude earthquake was in Lyttelton, around 10 kilometres south of Christchurch.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Lyttleton Port to Open

  The Port at Lyttleton is scheduled to reopen on Thursday afternoon to allow food and supplies into the tiny community in the middle of Tuesday’s earthquake.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Quakes 'Likely' to be Linked

  

  Geologists analysing Tuesday’s devastating earthquake say it is probably related to the one which rocked the city on September 4.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• No Reports of Farm Quake Damage

  

  Reports coming in from the rural areas around Christchurch are showing Canterbury’s farmland has escaped the disaster relatively unscathed.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Earthquake Links

  Links to all major quake help sites and ways you can help.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Earthquake Hits NZ Dollar

  

  The impact of the earthquake on New Zealand’s economy has already been felt, with our dollar falling to 74c against the greenback at the close of trading on Thursday.

  Posted: Friday, 25 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Business Leaders Resolve to Help Chch

  

  A meeting between 50 of the Country’s biggest companies took place yesterday in an effort to co-ordinate a large scale response to the quake.

  

  

  Posted: Friday, 25 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Agricultural Sector Steps in to Help

  

  Farmers and agricultural companies are ramping up support for those in Christchurch city and the outlying suburbs.

  Posted: Friday, 25 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Dollar Feels Quake Impact

  

  Leading economists are calling for the reserve bank to take action on behalf of the country in anticipation of the earthquake’s financial fallout.

  Posted: Monday, 28 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Contractors Pump Water Into Chch

  

  Efforts from several Agricultural companies to bring water into the city are  continuing, as around 65,000 residents are still without mains or waste water services.

  Posted: Monday, 28 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Step Up Quake Help

  A huge cleanup effort organised by Canterbury’s farmers is moving through the suburbs of Christchurch, shifting tonnes of silt and sand.

  Posted: Monday, 28 February 2011 By: Country 99 TV

January

• Genetics Merger World Beater

  The merging of two genetics companies in New Zealand will create the world's largest single genetic database, according to its backers.

  Posted: Monday, 10 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Growers Feud Hots Up

  The feud over which organisation will represent the majority of New Zealand strong wool growers is escalating.

  Posted: Monday, 10 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy NZ Buys Time

  The Chinese-backed investor trying to buy 20 New Zealand farms largely owned by the Crafar family has protected its deal by pushing the terms of settlement for the purchase of 16 of the farms in receivership out to September 30 this year.

  Posted: Monday, 10 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cam Chalks Up New Conquest

  Hawke’s Bay Shearer and World Champion Cam Ferguson added another triumph to his bursting trophy cabinet on Monday, breaking the world 8-hour lamb shearing record.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Animal Vaccine Injector Scoops World Design Honours

  A New Zealand agritech company has taken the top prize at the United States international good design award for its revolutionary animal vaccine safety injector, Sekurus.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Death In Irrigation Machine

  A 29-year-old man is dead after he became trapped inside an irrigation machine on a Waikato farm on Monday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers: Ask Before You Fish

  Federated Farmers have restated the right of landowners to refuse access to anglers.

   

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Just Shorn Carpets Hit Sin City

  New Zealand wool will soon be winging its way to sin city, courtesy of a prominent US retailer.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Kaikohe A&P Show Pulls Crowds

  Hot sunny skies saw more than 2,000 people pour into the Kaikohe showgrounds and equestrian club on Saturday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Exports Strengthen

  Despite tough farming conditions, agriculture continues to be a key driver in our export economy, according to the latest Statistics New Zealand report.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farming Systems Uruguay Management Changes

  New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay is in the midst of a shakeup, with a reshuffle of its board and management roles in the wake of last year’s takeover.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Economists Predict Rural Lending Rebalance

  Relief for struggling farmers might not be coming from banks any time soon, if economists are to be believed.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Sector Report Sorely Needed

  A much awaited report on New Zealand’s troubled export meat sector is expected to ruffle a few industry feathers when it’s released later this month.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Asian Nations Target NZ Forests

  New Zealand’s forest land is emerging as a key strategic target for Asian nations looking to secure timber supplies ahead of a global shortfall.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Pledges Funds for Wool Research

  The government has pledged to support efforts to return profitability to our fragmented wool industry.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Drought Legacy Survives Through Rain

  Despite the much needed summer rain across most of the country, many experts are still predicting lower yields for the New Zealand productive sector in 2011.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Safety in the Spotlight Again

  Statistics released by the department of labour show deaths on New Zealand farms are on the rise.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Manawatu Nears Drought Status

  While many parts of the country enjoyed some Christmas rain, the Manawatu region has endured one of the driest starts to summer on record.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Cloud Seeding Could Bring "Artificial Rain"

  A Hamilton based entrepreneur believes he might just have the technology to provide what nature can’t – rain on demand.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Food Price Rise Predicted for 2011

  Despite a drop in food prices over December, industry commentators are hinting 2011 could be a bumper year for most New Zealand producers.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Robotic Milking - The Future of Dairy Farming?

  Karaka just south of Auckland isn’t the kind of place you’d expect a glimpse of the future of robotic farming.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 2011 Looking Good for Beef

  Great signs for the beef industry in 2011 are giving New Zealand producers a much needed boost.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Prices Hit Consumers

  Prices in Fonterra’s Global Dairy Trade Auction overnight rose again - good news for producers, but not consumers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sales Looking Better

  If you’ve been in the market for farm property over the last year, it will come as no surprise that economists are talking about a “bottoming out” of land values.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• More Foreign Workers in Hawke's Bay Orchards

  With a busy period of seasonal work coming up for the Hawke’s Bay, more orchard and vineyard owners are looking overseas for workers.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Sues Coolstore Owners

  The massive Waikato coolstore explosion that killed a firefighter and resulted in the loss of more than $25m of Fonterra product is still creating friction nearly 3 years later.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Southland Storm Help to be Refunded

  Dozens of companies who donated money to last year’s Southland storm victims could be in for a refund.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Prices Rise in Record Wool Sale

  Wool shortages worldwide have begun to drive prices upwards, on the back of serious production decline in Australia.

  Posted: Friday, 21 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sales on the Rise - REINZ

  Latest Real Estate Figures show December’s farm sales were the best in a single month since mid 2008.

  Posted: Friday, 21 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• CPI Rise Hits Farmers Hard

  Latest figures released by statistics NZ show last quarter we saw the biggest rise in living costs in over 20 years.

  Posted: Friday, 21 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• More Kiwifruit Orchards to be Destroyed - KVH

  More Kiwifruit orchards infected with a virulent strain of vine disease PSA may have to be destroyed.

  Posted: Monday, 24 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Minister to Assess Golden Bay Flood Damage

  Agriculture Minister David Carter is set to visit more flood damaged areas in the Golden Bay region.

  Posted: Monday, 24 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Rain Dumps up to 300mm in the North

  Heavy rains and high river levels have combined to hit most of the North Island over the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 24 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Sector Strategy Meetings Underway

  Meat sector strategy meetings which started on Monday are raising industry wide issues affecting profits for our sheep and beef farmers.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Fed Farmers Welcomes 'Rain Tonic' for the North

  While rain through the north island over the last few days has caused damage to roads and housing, Federated Farmers is calling the downfall a ‘tonic of confidence’.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Carter Reassures Golden Bay Farmers

  Flood hit farmers in Golden Bay who received a huge dumping of rain just after Christmas have been told that help is on the way.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Chocolate Costs on the Rise

  A rally in raw ingredient costs is cutting into the New Zealand chocolate industry, prompting fears a 'shockwave' could hit our producers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• NAIT Deadline Looms

  The debate continues to rage between farmers and government around the controversial Animal Identification Scheme, NAIT, set to hit farmers later this year.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wood Industry Calls for Change

  Meetings between wood industry representatives and the Minister of Forestry have ended in somewhat of a stalemate for both sides.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• High Wool Prices Look Set to Stay - WBA

  Wool brokers are hopeful the industry’s recent price rises are more than just temporary peaks.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Wine Supply Could Cause Glut - Rabobank

  The latest figures from Rabobank indicate a larger grape harvest than expected for the 2011 season, adding to oversupply problems.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• 1080 Use Could Drop 75% - AHB

  The Animal Health Board are looking at ways to cut down use of pest control poison 1080.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Happy with OCR Decision

  Federated Farmers has welcomed the Reserve Bank’s decision on Thursday to hold the Official Cash Rate at three percent.

  Posted: Friday, 28 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• Northland Farmers Prepare for Cyclone

  

  Parts of the upper North Island could be in for some wild weather this weekend as cyclone Wilma bears down on the country.

  Posted: Friday, 28 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

• New Chinese bid for Crafar Farms

  

  The seemingly unending Crafar Farms saga has taken yet another twist, as receivers confirm the exit of one Chinese company from the bidding, and the entry of another.

  Posted: Friday, 28 January 2011 By: Country 99 TV

December

• Same Problems For Rural Doctors

  It’s been Groundhog Day for rural health experts this week, as a national forum threw up the same old problems plaguing the sector.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co-op Defends Itself

  Wool industry leaders behind the new Wool Partners Co-operative scheme are reluctantly responding to what they claim is a smear campaign by critics of the co-op.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Admits Hanover Mistakes

  Allied Farmers has admitted to shareholders it’s made mistakes in the past year following its acquisition of defunct finance company Hanover’s assets.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Oz Abandons Apple Appeal

  The Australian Government looks to have accepted a World Trade Organisation ruling it can no longer block New Zealand apples.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Merger Shelved

  Kiwifruit vine disease PSA has claimed its first big victim – putting paid to the merger deal between the Satara and Eastpack co-operatives.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Sow Crates Banned

  Sow crates will soon be gone from New Zealand pig farms, after a new pig welfare code was released by the Government banned their use.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Oyster Deaths Puzzle Experts

  Oyster experts are battling to find out what’s killing as much as 80 per cent of young oysters on upper North Island farms.

  Posted: Friday, 3 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Northland Asks For Official Drought

  Northland has officially asked the Government to declare it a drought zone barely six months after it emerged from the ravages of last summer’s dry.

  Posted: Friday, 3 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Early Drought Hits Kumara Growers

  Dry conditions across much of the North Island in November are prompting fears in the horticultural industry of a repeat of last year’s drought.

  Posted: Friday, 3 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Quarantine Lifted

  Kiwifruit orchards placed under quarantine after testing positive for PSA have had their restriction notices lifted.

  Posted: Friday, 3 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• La Nina History May Be Repeating Itself

  Federated Farmers is urging farmers to ready themselves for another dry summer, and keep an eye on weather records.

  Posted: Monday, 6 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ComCom Consulted On Grain

  Grain producers are appealing to the country’s economic watchdogs to curb the growing power of multinational companies in the local trade.

  Posted: Monday, 6 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Black Christmas For Some SFF Workers

  Workers at Silver Fern Farms Te Aroha plant are facing an uncertain Christmas after fire ripped through the freezing works at the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 6 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Greens Warn Govt On TPP

  The Green Party is warning the Government’s trade negotiators their US counterparts are on the hunt for major concessions at the Trans Pacific Partnership talks in Auckland this week.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Commits On Tb Funding

  The Government has committed $30m a year until 2015 to manage bovine tuberculosis.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SFF Workers Paid Til Christmas

  A fire which devastated the Silver Fern Farms freezing works in Te Aroha has done far more than just physical damage.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Court Bid Fails

  Allan Crafar’s latest day in court hasn’t gone according to plan.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Equities Ponders Capital Raising

  Wool investment company Wool Equities is considering a capital raising plan as it contemplates expanding its business to a fully integrated model.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Urge OCR Freeze

  Federated Farmers is once again urging Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard to do nothing at his final statement of 2010.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• May Wang To Fight Bankruptcy

  Natural Dairy’s bid to buy the Crafar family farms is looking uncertain as frontwoman May Wang fights a bankruptcy ruling on a failed property venture.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Herpes Behind Oyster Deaths

  MAF scientists have identified a strain of the herpes virus as the cause of a swathe of unexplained deaths on North Island’s oyster farms.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• RBI 5 Becomes 3

  Five contenders for the Rural Broadband Initiative have become three, as Communications Minister Steven Joyce announced the shortlist for the contract.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Drought Declared In Northland

  Agriculture Minister David Carter has made official what many Northland farmers already knew – the region is now in drought.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Waikato Prepares For Drought

  Agriculture Minister David Carter will visit drought-stricken farmers in the Waikato next Wednesday as a second pre-Christmas drought looks likely.

  Posted: Friday, 10 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Lifts Milk Price

  Fonterra has increased its forecast milk price by 30 cents to $6.90 per kilo of milk solids.

  Posted: Friday, 10 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Rules For OIO

  The Overseas Investment Office has some new guidelines from the Government to consider on potential farmland purchases by foreign investors.

  Posted: Friday, 10 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar-Natural Dairy Deal Still On The Table

  The businesswoman who was spearheading the high profile Crafar Farms deal says negative media coverage over the deal will harm New Zealand’s international reputation.

  Posted: Friday, 10 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• CRT Picks Up Westland Store

  Westland Milk Products has agreed to sell its Hokitika-based retail arm to rural supplier Combined Rural Traders.

  Posted: Monday, 13 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PGW Backing Woolgrowers

  PGG Wrightson Finance is stepping in to help hard-up farmers who want to subscribe to the Wool Partners Co-operative.

  Posted: Monday, 13 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Sharemilkers Brush Up On TAF

  Sharemilkers around the country will have the chance this week to hear how Fonterra’s capital restructure will affect them.

  Posted: Monday, 13 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Supplementary Feed in High Demand

  With pasture levels low across the North Island, and no rain in sight, many are turning to supplementary feed to tide hungry stock over.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farming Systems CEO Leaving in January

  New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay has announced CEO Alistair de Raadt and the company will part ways next year.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Industry Defends Trials

  The Meat Industry Association (MIA) has hit back at criticism of inspection trials run by processing companies.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Waikato Drought Imminent

  Continued Dry conditions across the North Island have sparked calls for a drought declaration across some of the nation’s most productive farming regions.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Cherry Growers Eye Japanese Market

  Marlborough cherry growers are tapping into the lucrative Japanese market for the first time in nearly a decade.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Lament Lost Chance

  Federated Farmers is back on the anti-Emissions Trading Scheme message, this time using the UN Climate Change Summit in Cancun to prove its point.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF Receivers Pool Resources

  The receivers of South Canterbury Finance are hoping a joint effort will allow them to offload a stake in South Island dairy farm company Dairy Holdings.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Waikato In Drought

  The drought zone in the North Island has been extended to include the Waikato and Ruapehu regions.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra GDT Rise

  In good news for struggling dairy farmers, Fonterra’s latest Global Dairy Trade Auction results showed a 2.4% increase overall.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ERMA Approves GE Pine Trial

  ERMA has finally released its decision to allow Crown Research Institute Scion to plant thousands of genetically engineered Pine Trees in Rotorua.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Silver Fern Employees Learn Fate

  Things are looking up for many of Silver Fern Farm’s Te Aroha plant workers, as more than half head into the Christmas break with a job to return to.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Central North Island Now Official Drought Zone

  To anyone in the central North Island, it will come as no surprise that the Ministry of Agriculture visited Hamilton on Wednesday, to declare the area an official drought zone.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Taranaki Calls for Drought Status

  After recent drought announcements in both Northland and Waikato, dry conditions further south are prompting calls for a blanket drought label across the North Island.

  Posted: Friday, 17 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Partners' Deadline Extended Again

  The subscription date for the country’s largest ever proposed wool co-operative has been extended again.

  Posted: Friday, 17 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meatworkers Docked Pay for Pike River Silence

  Country 99TV News can finally reveal that workers at Silver Fern’s recently destroyed Te Aroha processing plant were docked pay for the two minute’s silence in respect for victims of the Pike River Mining Disaster.

  Posted: Friday, 17 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Leaders Meet For PSA Update

  Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers were updated today with the latest information on the fight against PSA.

  Posted: Monday, 20 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Welcome Rain In Upper North

  Farmers in Northland and Waikato have greeted the weekend rain with open arms.

  Posted: Monday, 20 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rain Dampens Naki Drought Plea

  Welcome rain across the North Island has put Taranaki farmers’ calls for a drought declaration on hold.

  Posted: Monday, 20 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Crafar Deal Still On

  Chinese company Natural Dairy’s bid to buy the North Island Crafar Dairy Farms will continue without the involvement of bankrupted businesswoman May Wang.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fish and Game Withdraw Conservation Order

  New Zealand Fish & Game’s decision to withdraw an application for a conservation order is being welcomed by irrigation lobby groups.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Back ACC Changes

  Government changes to ACC regulations are being welcomed by Federated Farmers, who say they are long overdue.

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Futures Expansion For Feb

  NZX has signalled the launch of two new dairy products on the futures market, starting in February next year.

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Rejects Crafar Deal

  The Chinese backed bid to buy 20 North Island farms formerly owned by Allan Crafar has been rejected by the Government.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• King Country Shearer Breaks Record

  

  It proved second time lucky for King Country Shearer Stacey Te Huia, as he broke the world eight hour ewe shearing record in Te Kuiti on Wednesday.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 December 2010 By: Country 99 TV

November

• Relief For Rural Women

  Women impacted by September’s horror Southland snow storms have the chance for some welcome relief over the next week.

  Posted: Tuesday, 2 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wine Leaders Lament New Tax

  Wine industry leaders are worried the latest tax hike by the Government will be too much for struggling producers to bear.

  Posted: Tuesday, 2 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Exports Over

  Zespri’s kiwifruit exports are over for another season.

  Posted: Tuesday, 2 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZFSU Outlook Worsens

  New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay may have a wealthy new majority owner, but its books for the current financial year have plunged further into the red.

  Posted: Wednesday, 3 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Auction Flat

  After several auctions of marginal difference, price movement on Fonterra’s globalDairyTrade platform has finally ground to a halt.

  Posted: Wednesday, 3 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Happy With Audit

  The bosses of Natural Dairy Holdings, the Chinese company looking to buy the Crafar family farms, have met to discuss the implications of the company’s auditor refusing to fully sign off on its accounts.

  Posted: Wednesday, 3 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Zespri Bold On Growth

  As Zespri finishes another export season the company is making no secret of its plans for growth.

  Posted: Wednesday, 3 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Westpac Targets Rural Sector

  Westpac bank is looking to boost its rural profile after identifying the sector as one it is under-represented in.

  Posted: Thursday, 4 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Cracks Down On Bike Safety

  The Labour Department is launching tough new guidelines on quad bike use in an effort to bring down a worryingly high death toll on farms.

  Posted: Thursday, 4 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Snow Insurance Bill At $47m

  Southlanders have lodged $47m in insurance claims since September’s devastating snow storms.

  Posted: Thursday, 4 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Rep Primed For New Future

  New Fonterra Shareholders’ Council chairman Simon Couper, has inherited the job in a turbulent time for the co-operative.

   

  Posted: Thursday, 4 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds To Appeal One Plan

  Federated Farmers has confirmed it will appeal parts of the Horizons Regional Council’s One Plan.

  Posted: Friday, 5 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Currency Clips Wool Surge

  Wool prices have continued their resurgence this week, with only the exchange rate holding them back.

  Posted: Friday, 5 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SI Bouyant In Face Of Disaster

  South Islanders have proved their own resilience in a new survey of business confidence in the mainland.

  Posted: Friday, 5 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Bayer Acquires Bomac

  One of the world’s largest health companies has finalised a deal with New Zealand animal health group Bomac.

  Posted: Friday, 5 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Snow Seminars For Southerners

  Southland farmers ravaged by September’s snow storms have the chance this week to hear how to make the most of the situation.

  Posted: Monday, 8 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Entrepreneur Takes Aim At Abusers

  The founder of outdoors company Kathmandu is behind a new fund aimed at highlighting animal cruelty on farms.

  Posted: Monday, 8 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Protests Usher In Dairy Summit

  The World Dairy Summit is underway in Auckland, but the launch of the four-day long event has been marked by protest.

  Posted: Monday, 8 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Chathams Farmers Face Nervous Wait

  Chatham Islands farmers are waiting for news on the future of the Islands’ main shipping company, and if they will able to keep doing business with the mainland.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Sustainable Summit...

  The World Dairy Summit, the largest gathering of its kind in the world, officially opened in Auckland on Monday.

  The focus of this year’s summit is the long term sustainability of the industry.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Under Attack

  Kiwifruit industry leaders have held crisis talks following the discovery of the vine disease PSA on an orchard in the Bay of Plenty.

  Posted: Tuesday, 9 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Indifferent to Merger

  A poll by meat company Silver Fern Farms has found little farmer support for a proposed merger with competitor Alliance.

  Posted: Wednesday, 10 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Scion Hearing Closes

  The decision on whether forestry research institute Scion will be able to grow genetically modified pine trees now rests with a panel of industry experts.

  Posted: Wednesday, 10 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Trade Focus At Summit

  Day two of the World Dairy Summit got underway on Tuesday, with the focus of all delegates switching firmly to trade.

  Posted: Wednesday, 10 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Disease Spread Likely

  Agriculture Minister David Carter has visited kiwifruit growers and industry leaders in the Bay of Plenty as two more orchards are sealed off under threat of the disease PSA.

  Posted: Wednesday, 10 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Alliance Bosses Happy With Result

  “Around the world all of the products we deal in … are all relatively strong for proteins around the world. That’s positive but of course the frustrating part is the New Zealand dollar keep rising and removes any benefits that occur in the market.”

  Posted: Thursday, 11 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Welcome Water Report

  Federated Farmers is welcoming a lake quality report by NIWA as something of a victory for farmers.

  Posted: Thursday, 11 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Summit Looks East

  The World Dairy summit continued on Wednesday, with the focus shifting east to growth opportunities in Asia.

  Posted: Thursday, 11 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Spraying Delayed

  Three kiwifruit orchards have now been confirmed as having the vine disease PSA, and dozens more are under investigation as a widespread spraying programme is delayed.

  Posted: Thursday, 11 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NIWA Checks Farmer Confidence

  A NIWA water scientist isn’t letting farmers off the hook following the release of a report into water pollution in New Zealand lakes.

  Posted: Friday, 12 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Show On Record-breaking Run

  Bumper spring weather has drawn record crowds and inspired record-breaking feats at the Canterbury A & P Show.

  Posted: Friday, 12 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Green Tinge To Summit Finale

  The World Dairy Summit in Auckland concluded on Thursday, with more than 2200 delegates returning home to their respective countries.

  Posted: Friday, 12 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Growers Await Test Results

  Kiwifruit growers are turning their attention to the lasting impact of the vine disease PSA, as the extent of the outbreak slowly becomes clearer.

  Posted: Friday, 12 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Northland Dries Out - Again

  It’s déjà vu for Northland farmers as the region starts to dry out. 

  Posted: Monday, 15 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Telco Rivals Buddy Up For Rural

  Telecom and Vodafone have surprised the market, joining forces to pitch for the Government’s $300m Rural Broadband Initiative.

  Posted: Monday, 15 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Russian Into Talks

  New Zealand exporters are rubbing their hands at the prospect of a free trade agreement with Russia, as the two Governments agree to start talks.

  Posted: Monday, 15 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• US Refuses Meat

  The Public Service Association has fired another shot in its campaign against in-house quality control at meat processing plants.

  Posted: Tuesday, 16 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Sustainability - The Latest Craze

  What is sustainability? According to a new report by KPMG, whatever retailers want it to be.

  Posted: Tuesday, 16 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Toll Mounts

  The number of kiwifruit orchards struck down with PSA continues to grow.

  Posted: Tuesday, 16 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Saving Top Dresser's Legacy

  A pioneer of New Zealand agriculture has been honoured in the Waikato this week, with the launch of a conservation trust to preserve post-war top dressing planes.

  Posted: Tuesday, 16 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Auction Flat

  Prices have stayed flat on Fonterra’s latest globalDairyTrade auction.

  Posted: Wednesday, 17 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Locals Win In Hurunui Investment

  Hurunui District landowners have been given priority for the share allotment on the Hurunui Water Project investment.

  Posted: Wednesday, 17 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Found In Hawke's Bay

  Kiwifruit disease PSA is on the move, with MAF Biosecurity confirming the disease has spread outside the Te Puke area.

  Posted: Wednesday, 17 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Smith Resolute on ETS Delay

  It’s unlikely farmers will be part of the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2015 unless scientific advances are made in reducing animal emissions.

  Posted: Thursday, 18 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PM Slams Save The Farms

  The Save The Farms group lobbying to restrict farms sales to foreigners has slammed the Prime Minister’s remarks that it’s “pretty hardcore” and more suited to North Korea than New Zealand.

  Posted: Thursday, 18 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• $50m For Kiwifruit Rescue

  The Government has put its hands in its pocket for $25 million, subject to a dollar-for-dollar match from the kiwifruit industry, to fund an urgent aggressive containment strategy to fight PSA disease.

  Posted: Thursday, 18 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Lincoln And Telford Unite

  Lincoln University and Telford Polytechnic are now one, with the Government approving a merger between the two institutions.

  Posted: Friday, 19 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 1080 Concern Falling - Survey

  The Animal Health Board is welcoming a new report from the Environmental Risk Management Authority on the aerial use of 1080 poison.

  Posted: Friday, 19 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Growers Mull PSA Funding

  Kiwifruit growers have voiced resounding support for the Government’s $50m relief package to help the industry recover from the vine disease PSA.

  Posted: Friday, 19 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Marks Successful Year

  New Zealand’s largest company, Fonterra, held its annual general meeting in Hawera on Wednesday, celebrating what in dollar terms has been their best year ever.

  Posted: Friday, 19 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Fume Over EDS Move

  Federated Farmers has responded angrily to organisers of a symposium on the future of the Mackenzie Basin.

  Posted: Monday, 22 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Deal Gets Grower Backing

  Kiwifruit growers have resoundingly backed a $50m relief package to help the industry fight PSA.

  Posted: Monday, 22 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Best Banger Found

  The country’s most prestigious sausage awards took place on Friday, with hundreds of our top snarlers in contention.

  Posted: Monday, 22 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar In Court - Again

  Embattled dairy farmer Allan Crafar is back in court on dirty dairying charges, and warning authorities he won’t be paying fines.

  Posted: Tuesday, 23 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PSA Count Grows, Export Outlook Steady

  The number of kiwifruit orchards testing positive for PSA continues to climb, with Zespri confirming 61 infections by the end of Monday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 23 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Want More Wool Meetings

  Wool Partners Co-operative has extended its roadshow programme by a week as it looks to win as much farmer support as possible.

  Posted: Tuesday, 23 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Credit Rating May Be Cut

  The New Zealand dollar has plummeted at the news credit agency Standard & Poors has revised our credit rating from stable to negative.

  Posted: Tuesday, 23 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• S&P Says Don't Worry - Too Much

  Rating agency Standard & Poor’s is moving to quell fears its latest revision of New Zealand’s credit rating spells disaster for our economy.

  Posted: Wednesday, 24 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussie Academics Attack Apples

  Australia has turned on itself over its continued ban on New Zealand apple imports, with a new public policy paper labelling the stance ‘an embarrassment.’

  Posted: Wednesday, 24 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Lamb Count Plunges

  The cold, wet spring has cost the country 2.8 million lambs according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s latest lamb crop survey.

  Posted: Wednesday, 24 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hort Survey Highlights Cost

  A study by Horticulture New Zealand and the Horticulture Export Authority has found that tariffs in other countries on our exports cost fruit and vegetable growers an average $34,000 a year.

  Posted: Thursday, 25 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Westland Milk Sitting Pretty

  Westland Milk Products is bullish about the upcoming season, and forecasting near record milk prices to continue.

  Posted: Thursday, 25 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Back Wool Co-op

  Federated Farmers is throwing its weight behind the Wool Partners Co-operative proposal as the November 30 deadline nears.

  Posted: Thursday, 25 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Public Call On Bike Safety

  The Department of Labour needs your feedback on its draft guidelines for the Safe Use of Quad Bikes on Farms by December 16th.

  Posted: Friday, 26 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Optimism In Face Of PSA

  The kiwifruit industry’s confidence of a successful season - despite the spread of the vine disease PSA -  has been underlined by grower and packing company Seeka’s bullish forecast.

  Posted: Friday, 26 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZFSA Fires Back In Inspection Debate

  The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has responded quickly to claims by the Public Service Association that trial in-house meat inspections at freezing works aren’t working.

  Posted: Friday, 26 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SFF Confident Despite Loss

  Silver Fern Farms is giving itself a pass mark despite returning a net operating loss for the latest financial year.

  Posted: Monday, 29 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Carter Kosher Again

  Agriculture Minister David Carter has reversed his decision to ban Jewish kosher killing of chicken in New Zealand.

  Posted: Monday, 29 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Deadline Extended

  The Wool Partners Co-operative has extended the deadline for farmers to join the initiative until December 17th.

  Posted: Monday, 29 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Northland Braces For Second Drought

  Northland farmers still reeling from the effects of last summer’s record drought may have to live through it all again.

  Posted: Monday, 29 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Farmers Bosses Under Hammer

  Allied Farmers directors have fronted their shareholders for the first time since it was revealed the company alerted the Serious Fraud Office about inappropriate conduct at Hanover Finance.

  Posted: Tuesday, 30 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Welfare Groups Slam Kosher Ruling

  Animal welfare groups are criticising Agriculture Minister David Carter’s decision to reverse a ban on the kosher killing of chickens.

  Posted: Tuesday, 30 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Leads Trade Surge

  The dairy sector has led the way in a lower than expected trade deficit for October, according to figures from Statistics New Zealand.

  Posted: Tuesday, 30 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussie Apple Appeal Fails

  New Zealand apples look to have cleared the final hurdle for access into Australia with the World Trade Organisation rejecting a last ditch Aussie attempt to uphold a 90-year ban.

  Posted: Tuesday, 30 November 2010 By: Country 99 TV

October

• ASB Market Update with Chris Tennant-Brown

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday 30th of September with Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Friday, 1 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Snow Meetings For Farmers

  Federated Farmers will hold a series of meetings next week for Otago and Southland farmers hit by last month’s snow storm.

  Posted: Friday, 1 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZFSA All Go On Inspection Changes

  The New Zealand Food Safety Authority is going ahead with trial changes to meat quality inspections at processing plants.

  Posted: Friday, 1 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Get Tax Breaks Too - English

  GST is now two and half per cent higher, and you can expect to pay more for goods and services from Friday.

  Posted: Friday, 1 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rain Hits Mid NZ

  The upper South Island and lower North Island are in Mother Nature’s firing line as heavy rain moves its way up the country.

  Posted: Friday, 1 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Partners International Swings Big European Deal

  Wool Partners International is celebrating a significant new marketing partnership with Europe’s largest flooring and carpet distributor – Headlam Group.

  Posted: Monday, 4 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Lamb Prices Down But Going Up

  The cost of lamb will likely increase, thanks to Southland's savage snowstorm - but according to market analysts, so far a strong NZ dollar and weak British pound have pushed prices down.

  Posted: Monday, 4 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Intensive Dairy Farms Back In Southland Spotlight

  A company behind plans to build so-called factory dairy farms in the Mackenzie Country says although it has relodged land-use applications, it wants them put on hold.

  Posted: Monday, 4 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Processors Trial Product Safety Checks

  Three meat processing plants will take part in a trial of sheep inspections to see if meat company workers can carry out product checks currently done by independent Government assessors.

  Posted: Monday, 4 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Kiwifruit Co-Op On Cards

  New Zealand has a new kiwifruit cooperative.

  Posted: Monday, 4 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Farmers Buy Up Dry Shares

  Fonterra’s balance sheet has gotten a boost, after farmer-shareholders snapped up $61 million of additional Fonterra shares – lifting the total number of dry shares to 6% of shares on offer.

  Posted: Monday, 4 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Leads Price Surge

  Wool prices have led the charge in the latest ANZ Commodity Price Index, surging 12 per cent to a 14-year high.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meetings Boost Farmer Morale

  Around 200 farmers turned out in Wyndham on Monday night for the first of three get-togethers following last month’s horror snow storms across Southland and Otago.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar In Share Stoush

  A new spat has arisen between Allan Crafar and the receivers for his dairy empire – this time over ownership of millions of dollars of Fonterra shares.

  Posted: Tuesday, 5 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Relief For Flood Hit Farmers

  Tararua farmers have been granted a relief package by the Government following severe floods over the past month.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Needed For Survey

  Canterbury farmers affected by last month’s earthquake are being asked to take part in a survey to measure its effect on farmland.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Auction Dips

  Prices on Fonterra’s global dairy trade platform dipped slightly in its latest online auction.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co-op Needs Farmer Support

  New Zealand’s fragmented wool industry could be in for a change, with several key players indicating a desire to join forces.

  Posted: Wednesday, 6 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Finds Hope In Survey (1)

  A survey of New Zealanders stance on foreign investment in our farmland suggests we aren’t as opposed to the idea as we might think.

  Posted: Thursday, 7 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meetings Wind Up

  The round of meetings for snow-hit farmers in the deep south is now complete, with the final get-together in Balclutha on Wednesday night.

  Posted: Thursday, 7 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Much Work For Olam

  With the completion of Olam International’s takeover, New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay now faces an uncertain future.

  Posted: Thursday, 7 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Horizon-Feds Truce On Scrub

  Horizons Regional Council has agreed a temporary arrangement with farmers in the Ruapehu region on scrub-clearing rules.

  Posted: Friday, 8 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Reject One Plan

  Federated Farmers is to challenge Horizons Regional Council on several points of its revised One Plan, which manages the region’s natural resources.

  Posted: Friday, 8 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Braces For Second Front

  I guess they’d be the most concerned, but of course for Dairy farmers, growth has only just picked up again this week from the last one, and we certainly don’t want it stalling again.

  Posted: Friday, 8 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Japan FTA The Missing Piece

  Trade Minister Tim Groser says Japan runs the risk of economic isolation if it continues to hold out on trade agreements with its Pacific neighbours.

  Posted: Monday, 11 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Tax Hike Slashes AgResearch Profit

  AgResearch  has reported a net loss of more than $8m for the past year.

  Posted: Monday, 11 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Futures Up And Running

  After years of preparation, NZX’s dairy futures market is now up and running, giving a much needed boost to our capital markets.

  Posted: Monday, 11 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update with James Shortall

  ASB Market Update as of 08/10/10 with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Monday, 11 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Super Fund Eyes Farms

  The New Zealand Superannuation Fund is positioning itself to begin investing in New Zealand farmland.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• May Wang Factory Delayed

  May Wang’s plans to export millions of packets of UHT milk to China this season could be in jeopardy as the Mt Maunganui plant being built to produce the milk is behind schedule.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Royal Date For Carter

  Agriculture Minister David Carter will lead a delegation to the first ever APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Safety in Japan later this week, followed by some royal business in the UK.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• All Clear For Go Clear

  The country’s biggest fertiliser company, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, has developed a way of reducing diesel emissions from some of our largest polluters – cargo trucks.

  Posted: Wednesday, 13 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update with James Shortall

  ASB Market Update as of Wednesday 13th October with James Shortall.

  Posted: Thursday, 14 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rain Wrecks Gisborne Crops

  Heavy rain in the Gisborne area has left many farmers counting the cost of damage to their land.

  Posted: Thursday, 14 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Fume Over Leak

  Federated Farmers is standing its ground as its dispute with the Ministry of Agriculture over the conduct of welfare inspectors takes an ugly turn.

  Posted: Thursday, 14 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• DIRA Review Brought Forward

  DIRA milk may soon be a thing of the past, with Agriculture Minister David Carter announcing a review of the legislation for March next year.

  Posted: Thursday, 14 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZFSU Behind Schedule

  New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay is running at 10 per cent below target milk production, according to figures announced at its AGM.

  Posted: Friday, 15 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Quiet On Leak

  MAF is keeping quiet on its stoush with Federated Farmers over an e-mail by a Southland vet that was leaked.

  Posted: Friday, 15 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Pay Day For SCF Investors

  South Canterbury Finance’s 35,000 investors will be reimbursed next week, nearly two months after the finance company collapsed.

  Posted: Friday, 15 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Back DIRA Review

  Federated Farmers is backing the Government’s decision to review raw milk regulations early.

  Posted: Friday, 15 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 1080 Could Be Cut Off At Source

  The Animal Health Board isn’t worried by a campaign in the United States to ban the manufacture of 1080 poison.

  Posted: Monday, 18 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sale Figures Finally Turn

  Farm sale numbers recovered slightly in September, reversing months of decline.

  Posted: Monday, 18 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour Moves On Foreign Buyers

  The Labour Party is taking aim at the Government’s handling of the foreign land ownership issue.

  Posted: Monday, 18 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Caught In Sand Slump

  It’s been six weeks since the Canterbury earthquake, and farmers in the region are slowly coming to terms with damage they can fix, and damage they can’t.

  Posted: Monday, 18 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Blue Sky Offers Storm Relief Contracts

  Southland meat company Blue Sky is offering a relief deal to local farmers hit by last month’s snow storm.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PGW Boss Goes

  PGG Wrightson Managing Director Tim Miles has resigned his position, effective immediately.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SFO Moves On South Canterbury Finance

  The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into failed finance company South Canterbury Finance over possible fraudulent transactions.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• GDT Dips

  Prices have fallen on Fonterra’s latest globalDairyTrade auction.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmer Fights Quake River

  Soon after Canterbury earthquake, farmer Paget Milsom became something of a celebrity when the Hororata River was diverted from its normal course, and through his paddocks instead.

  Posted: Wednesday, 20 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Greenlights Irrigation Funding

  The Ministry of Agriculture has granted funding to five new irrigation projects under the Community Irrigation Fund.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co-op Kicks Off

  A new farmer co-operative, led by Wool Partners  International and Wool Grower Holdings, is aiming to unite at least half the country's strong wool production.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Boss In Quake Catch-up

  Two months ago Darfield farmer Murray Rowlands was settling into what he thought was a cushy job with Federated Farmers.

  Posted: Thursday, 21 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Win Support On Border Controls

  Federated Farmers is winning support in its call for an independent biosecurity conducts authority to examine breaches at our borders.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Woolgrowers Push World Cup Windfall

  The embattled wool industry is hoping to land the biggest of endorsements as it lobbies the New Zealand Rugby Union to use wool in All Blacks’ supporters gear.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Surviving SFO

  Natural Dairy Holdings appears to be surviving a Serious Fraud Office investigation as it continues in its bid to buy the Crafar farms.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Alliance In The Dark On Merger Proposal

  Alliance meat company is puzzled at overtures made by rival Silver Fern Farms on the weekend about a possible merger.

  Posted: Tuesday, 26 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Chemical Traces Found In Food

  It’s about time that NZFSA started to penalise producers that are using chemicals that are illegal, or consistently exceeding the limits of maximum residue, at least.”

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Receivers Move To Sell SCF Assets

  The receivers for South Canterbury Finance are moving to sell on the company’s core assets.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Keep OCR Down - Feds

  Federated Farmers has issued its usual pre-OCR announcement – imploring Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard to keep the Official Cash Rate where it is.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Alliance Will Discuss Merger

  Meat processor Alliance says it will discuss the possibility of a merger with rival Silver Fern Farms at its annual meeting in December.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update with James Shortall

  ASB Market Update as of 26.10.10 with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 27 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Industry Scooped By International Tourism: Top Export Earner Shift (3)

  Move over dairy industry.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Official Cash Rate Holds Despite NZ’s Soft Economic Data

  The OCR – the Official Cash Rate – remains unchanged at 3 per cent following the latest announcement by the Reserve Bank.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Partners Co-Op Roadshows Seek On-Farm Support

  The first of 100 scheduled wool grower meetings held by newly formed Wool Partners Co-operative kicked off in Kaiwaka  on Tuesday, with the hope of attracting around half of the country’s total clip.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Marketing Secret Weapon For Farmers Targeting Europe, UK

  Farming representatives have been told that the contentious Emissions Trading Scheme may help New Zealand keep access to some of its export markets.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hubbard Investors Warned Off Phoney Telephone Survey

  Hubbard investors are being warned they’re being targeted by a bogus telephone survey.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fungicide Could Pose Health Risks – ERMA Investigating

  The Environmental Risk Management Authority is reassessing the use of the fungicide quintozene in New Zealand.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Zespri Farewells Final Kiwifruit

  The last charter vessel with this season's export kiwifruit crop on board leaves the Port of Tauranga this week.

  Posted: Thursday, 28 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Island Bee Mite Threatens Profitability

  The spread of the varroa bee mite to southern parts of the South Island means some beekeepers will struggle to remain profitable this season.

  Posted: Friday, 29 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PGG Wrightson Predicts Flat Year

  Rural services firm PGG Wrightson is keen to reduce debt – and is expecting flat earnings this financial year.

  Posted: Friday, 29 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Online Wool Trading System Good To Go

  A new internet-based wool trading system is up and running after 18 months of testing.

  Posted: Friday, 29 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Group Investigates Meat Company Merger

  The leader of a farmer group lobbying for change in the meat industry says the South Island meat company Alliance has a responsibility to its shareholders to consider a suggestion by its major competitor Silver Fern Farms to merge.

  Posted: Friday, 29 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmer Confidence Down

  The high New Zealand dollar, and the difficult spring weather conditions which challenged calving and lambing, have hammered farmer confidence for the first time in more than a year.

  Posted: Friday, 29 October 2010 By: Country 99 TV

September

• Feds Draft Their Own River Plan

  Federated Farmers is standing by its own Manawatu River accord while it delays ratifying a wider, council-led plan.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Mild Spring On The Way

  A mild spring looks to be on the way as a La Niña weather system takes hold in the Pacific Ocean.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF Fallout Continues

  The fallout from the South Canterbury Finance receivership continues as those indebted to the finance company look for clarity on loan repayments.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Beef + Lamb Behind BMX Boost

  Beef + Lamb New Zealand has teamed up with Olympic cyclist Sarah Walker to give her an edge over her rivals.

  Posted: Wednesday, 1 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Stick To New Accord

  Federated Farmers isn’t winning any new friends as it persists with its own accord to clean up the polluted Manawatu River.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Auction Prices Back Up

  Prices on Fonterra’s globalDairyTrade auction are up, rising 16.9% to an average of US$3562 per tonne at the latest trading event.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF Sale Won't Be Easy

  The Government isn’t ruling out selling off South Canterbury Finance to foreign investors, as attention turns to the future of the finance company’s assets.

  Posted: Thursday, 2 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZFSU Backs Olam Offer

  NZ Farming Systems Uruguay's directors have recommended Olam International's takeover bid, which values the dairy farm developer at $171m.

  Posted: Friday, 3 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds-Transpower Truce Likely

  Federated Farmers and Transpower are now one step closer to solving the debate around land access and upgrades to Transpower’s infrastructure.

  Posted: Friday, 3 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Appoints Advisors

  Fonterra has appointed advisors to give the giant dairy co-op specialist expert guidance on the next steps in its capital structure changes.

  Posted: Friday, 3 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Colin Harvey New Wool Group Chair

  The new Wool Group set up by Agriculture Minister David Carter to develop a strategic direction for the wool industry has appointed Colin Harvey as its independent chairman.

  Posted: Friday, 3 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Canterbury Quake Update

  Much of Christchurch and its surrounding towns remain on the edge - and in lock-down mode - following Saturday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake. And curfews for public safety remain in place.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• $2 Billion Battering And Special Commissioner Appointed

  Dozens of aftershocks, which could last several weeks, are still rocking the area as people cDozens of aftershocksonfront the massive task of cleaning up after New Zealand's most damaging quake since the Napier disaster in 1931.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• North Canterbury Community Coping With Crisis

  Federated Farmers says the North Canterbury farming community is coping with the crisis, offering accommodation to the urban homeless through their help line, and also offering generators to farmers whose power has been cut off.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Arable And Dairy Farmers Hardest Hit

  Grain and dairy farmers are the hardest hit by the Canterbury earthquake. Collapsed silos have put thousands of tonnes of milling wheat at risk.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra To The Rescue

  Fonterra says an estimated 20% of farms in the affected area are still without power.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairying Damage

  Federated Farmers says some rotary milking sheds came off their rollers in the quake and nearly a dozen suffered structural damage.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Relief Fund Donations Pour In

  Donations to relief funds set up to help rebuild in Canterbury are rolling in.

   

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Transpower Payments Limited

  Transpower says its payments to some Otago landowners for disruption during a lines upgrade will not lead to widespread compensation.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Citrus Growers Reject Levy Increase

  Citrus growers have voted against a levy on mandarins being increased next year to 1c a kilogram.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Award-Winning Manawatu Dairy Farmers

  Manawatu dairy farmers Keith and Kim Riley are celebrating their win at the Horizons Balance Farm Environment Awards.

  Posted: Monday, 6 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF Update Coming

  Receivers for South Canterbury Finance will update borrowers this week on their funding arrangements.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Floodwaters Easing

  Farmers in the Tararua district of the lower North Island are beginning a clean-up of their own following heavy rain and flooding in the region.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Quake Cost Mounts

  The recovery from Christchurch’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Saturday is continuing, and in rural Canterbury damage reports on infrastructure are still emerging.

  Posted: Tuesday, 7 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Quake Topple Silos

  While early estimates put the total bill for the earthquake at more than $2b, the cost to Canterbury’s grain farmers could have been crippling.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Flood Meeting Held

  In other news, Federated Farmers Tararua executive and Fonterra have met to evaluate the damage from flooding earlier this week.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PM Tours Quake Zone

  Prime Minister John Key has visited some of the areas worst affected by the quake around Kaiapoi and Darfield.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 150 Farms 'Severely Damaged' By Quake

  MAF estimates as many as 150 Canterbury farms have been severely damaged by Saturday’s earthquake, and a further 250 need repairs.

  Posted: Wednesday, 8 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Urged To Contribute

  Sheep and beef farmers are being urged to have their say on the strategy aimed at revitalising the red meat sector.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy, May Wang Part Ways

  Natural Dairy New Zealand has shelved its plans for a $1.5b investment in dairy infrastructure here, terminating its agreement with controversial businesswoman May Wang.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Futures Finally Here....Nearly

  The New Zealand Stock Exchange is set to introduce a much delayed dairy futures market in a month’s time.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Emergency Extended; Farmers Meet

  The state of emergency in Christchurch has been extended until next Wednesday as aftershocks continue to shake the region.

  Posted: Thursday, 9 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Beef And Lamb Profits May Fall Further

  Beef + Lamb New Zealand is doing its best to look on the bright side as numbers from its New Season Outlook point to further profit cuts for farmers.

  Posted: Friday, 10 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Olam Cash For NZFSU

  Details have emerged of a stand-by credit facility Olam International agreed to provide New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay as part of its takeover offer for the company.

  Posted: Friday, 10 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF Inquiry Rejected

  Finance Minister Bill English has resisted a call by the Opposition for a commission of inquiry into the collapse of South Canterbury Finance, but will open some of the finance company’s books to the public.

  Posted: Friday, 10 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Tension At Quake Meeting

  Hundreds of Canterbury farmers packed into the Darfield High School hall on Thursday night for a Q & A session with local authorities about the weekend earthquake.

  Posted: Friday, 10 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Good Interest In SCF

  The receivers for South Canterbury Finance say they’re fielding plenty of inquiries about buying the collapsed company’s assets.

  Posted: Monday, 13 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Posts Big Loss

  Allied Farmers has posted a $77.6m loss for the year to June, more than double its deficit from 2009.

  Posted: Monday, 13 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Insurance The Focus For Quake Victims

  As Canterbury edges closer to normality following last week’s earthquake, attention is now turning to the massive recovery effort facing North Canterbury farmers over the coming months.

  Posted: Monday, 13 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Ups UHT Output

  Fonterra is upping its production of UHT milk in New Zealand by 30 per cent after an $8m expansion and upgrade of its Takanini processing plant in Auckland.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• OCR Likely To Stay Put

  Economists are picking there’ll be no change to the Official Cash Rate when Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard makes his sixth announcement of the year on Thursday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Opens Coolstore

  Fonterra has just opened the largest dairy coolstore in the southern hemisphere in Hamilton.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Hubbard Funds In Trouble

  Under fire Timaru businessman Allan Hubbard continues to fall foul of the Government, as two more of his trusts are placed into statutory management.

  Posted: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• OCD Lodges Complaint

  Open Country Dairy has taken its concerns over the dairy futures trading platform a step further, lodging a complaint with the Securities Commission.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Beware Damaged Silos

  Canterbury farmers are being warned to take extreme care around their silos in case of damage.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Repairs May Be Fast Tracked

  Repairs to earthquake-damaged farm water supplies look to be taking the same path as buildings, with the Canterbury Regional Council advising farmers – fix now, get permission later.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Food Safety Reputation Key

  The New Zealand Food Safety Authority conference finished up in Auckland this week, with a strong focus on the relationship between producers and consumers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 15 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Lignite Idea Taking Off

  Support is growing in Southland for the Solid Energy-Ravensdown proposed lignite to fertiliser plant.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZX Fires Back

  NZX has hit back at claims from Open Country Dairy that its dairy futures platform is flawed.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• No Change On OCR

  The Reserve Bank has kept the Official Cash Rate at three per cent in its latest announcement.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Prices Up Again

  Prices on Fonterra’s globalDairyTrade auction have edged up again, rising an average two per cent across all products.

  Posted: Thursday, 16 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Quake Farmers Urged To Seek Help

  The Rural Recovery Group overseeing help for farmers in the wake of the Canterbury earthquake is urging those who need assistance to put their hands up.

  Posted: Friday, 17 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• OIO Refutes Natural Dairy Claims

  Rumours the bid by Hong Kong company Natural Dairy Ltd to buy 20 of the Crafar family farms may be on the rocks are greatly exaggerated, according to the Overseas Investment Office.

  Posted: Friday, 17 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Polar Blast Nears

  Farmers in the west and south of the country are being warned to protect their stock as a winter storm belatedly hits the country.

  Posted: Friday, 17 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 'Heartland' Bank Close

  A new Christchurch-based listed bank is one step closer to formation after signing a binding merger agreement last week.

  Posted: Monday, 20 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Olam Edges Closer To Takeover

  Olam International is on target in its takeover bid for New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay as the deadline for the deal looms.

  Posted: Monday, 20 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Snow Hits Southern Farmers Hard

  Farmers in Southland are counting their losses after an Antarctic blast brought snow to much of the region over the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 20 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Hubbard Trusts In Trouble

  Allan Hubbard’s woes continue, as the Government places two more entities owned by the Timaru businessman into statutory management.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Olam Over The Mark

  Olam International is now the proud majority shareholder of New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Southern Storm Not Done Yet

  Southland farmers are bracing themselves for further stock losses as more bad weather batters the deep south.

  Posted: Tuesday, 21 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• All Clear For Irrigation

  Earthquake-hit Canterbury farmers are being told they can turn their irrigation systems back on.

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Payout Looms

  Ten and a half thousand of the country’s dairy farmers will soon have a better idea of their financial health, as Fonterra prepares to announce its final payout and annual result.

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Southland Not Clear Yet

  There’s no let up for sheep farmers in Southland despite the worst of the weather passing the region.

  Posted: Wednesday, 22 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Plenty Of Water Work To Do

  The future of water use in New Zealand is slightly clearer after the release of a draft policy statement by the Land and Water Forum.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Seek Govt Help

  The focus of the Southland snow storm is turning toward official recognition.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Snow Losses Still Unknown

  The snowstorm which hit Southland earlier this week has been described by many as the worst in living memory, causing untold millions of dollars in stock losses.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Confirms High Payout

  Fonterra has announced its second highest ever milk payout of $6.70 for the 2009-10 season.

  Posted: Thursday, 23 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hort Misses Out On Funding

  The success of the Government’s Primary Growth Partnership has been well documented by MAF during its first anniversary this week, but one sector is still struggling to get a piece of the action.

  Posted: Friday, 24 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Greenpeace Spark Bomb Scare

  And Fonterra’s big day nearly didn’t happen as a Greenpeace protest saw head office evacuated on Thursday morning.

  Posted: Friday, 24 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Adverse Event Declared

  The week-long Southland storm is now a medium-scale adverse event.

  Posted: Friday, 24 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Payout Up

  Fonterra’s annual result announcement on Thursday brought some welcome relief to weather-hit dairy farmers across the country.

  Posted: Friday, 24 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Halal Lambs Irks Poms

  New Zealand lamb’s reputation in the UK may have been dented following a newspaper report about disclosure of the halal practice.

  Posted: Monday, 27 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Labour Backs GST-Free Fruit & Vege

  The Labour Party is calling for GST on fruit and vegetables to be scrapped to encourage healthy eating.

  Posted: Monday, 27 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Relief For Southern Farmers

  The relief effort is underway to help the Southland farmers worst hit by last week’s snow storm.

  Posted: Monday, 27 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers 'In No Man's Land'

  Labour Agriculture spokesperson Damien O’Connor says the Government is leaving farmers hanging with its latest ruling on foreign land sales.

  Posted: Wednesday, 29 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Could Act On Bike Safety

  Quad bike safety on farms is under the spotlight again as police say a young Waikato farmer killed earlier this week would have been saved by a crash helmet.

  Posted: Thursday, 30 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Leads Trade Deficit Cut

  Dairy is again leading the way in our trade as buoyant export numbers continue to eat away at our trade deficit.

  Posted: Thursday, 30 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Storm Hits Fruit & Vege Growers

  The recent spate of wet, cold and windy weather across most of the country has affected farmers with stock and property damage.

  Posted: Thursday, 30 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update with David Bell

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday 29th September with ASB's Head of Service and Sales David Bell.

  Posted: Thursday, 30 September 2010 By: Country 99 TV

August

• Ravensdown Return Good, Could Be Better

  Fertiliser company Ravensdown is counting what might have been in a $27m before tax profit for the last year.

  Posted: Monday, 2 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Ballance Banks Profit

  The country’s largest fertiliser manufacturer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, has announced a $21m profit for the financial year.

  Posted: Monday, 2 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Bees Get City Centre Hive

  Last week was National Bee Week around New Zealand, and to mark the occasion the National Beekeeping Association presented Auckland Mayor John Banks with his very own honey-making hive.

  Posted: Monday, 2 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Induction No Issue

  Agriculture Minister David Carter is dismissing controversy over the practice of induction in dairy cattle.

  Posted: Monday, 2 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Malaysian FTA Kicks In

  New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with Malaysia kicks in this month, and market watchers are playing up the opportunity for New Zealand business.

  Posted: Tuesday, 3 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Leads CPI Drop

  Dairy has led the way in a month of falling commodity prices according to the ANZ Commodity Price Index for July.

  Posted: Tuesday, 3 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rain Warnings For BOP

  Farmers in Bay of Plenty are being told to keep a close eye on river levels as heavy rain continues to pound the region.

  Posted: Tuesday, 3 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Auction Down Again

  Prices on Fonterra's latest globalDairyTrade auction fell for the fourth month in a row, dropping an average 8.3%.

  Posted: Wednesday, 4 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Extends DIRA

  Fonterra will have to keep supplying its competitors with milk for another decade under an extension of the terms of the Dairy Industry Regulation Act.

  Posted: Wednesday, 4 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Back MTAS Plan

  Federated Farmers is welcoming the Government’s decision to regulate mobile termination access services.

  Posted: Thursday, 5 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 'Hortitude' Key To Growth

  Horticulture New Zealand’s annual conference kicked off on Wednesday, with the focus on how to grow the industry’s export profits.

  Posted: Thursday, 5 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ZESPRI Coy On AGM Controversy

  ZESPRI chairman Lain Jager is ducking controversy around a resolution at its upcoming AGM.

  Posted: Thursday, 5 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Reviewing Forecast Payout

  Fonterra is to review its payout forecast for the upcoming season as the rising kiwi dollar and falling dairy prices put pressure on its margins.

  Posted: Thursday, 5 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Jobless Numbers Down

  The rural workforce has bucked the trend in the latest unemployment figures announced by the Government this week.

  Posted: Friday, 6 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Keep Up Dirty Dairying Fight

  Fonterra has launched another initiative in its ongoing battle with effluent compliance – and it plans to visit every one of its suppliers to check their systems.

  Posted: Friday, 6 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Time Running Out For Crafar

  Embattled dairy farmer Allan Crafar has failed in his latest bid to take back his farms from receivers KordaMentha.

  Posted: Friday, 6 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hawke's Bay Grower Grabs Title

  Hawke’s Bay grower Gareth Holder has been crowned 2010 Young Grower of the Year at Horticulture New Zealand’s national conference in Auckland.

  Posted: Friday, 6 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Russian Wheat Shortage No Solution

  Grain industry leaders are playing down the significance of a Russian ban on grain exports for the rest of the year following devastating drought and fires in the country.

  Posted: Monday, 9 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PGG Gets Market Backing

  PGG Wrightson has received a boost from the market ahead of its full year financial result announcement on Friday.

  Posted: Monday, 9 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Big Ask For O'Connor

  The Labour Party’s new agriculture spokesman Damien O’Connor has taken the portfolio from Jim Anderton at a turbulent time.

  Posted: Monday, 9 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Growers Reject Levy Hike

  Horticulture New Zealand may face big changes to its funding after commercial fruit growers rejected a levy increase at the annual meeting last week.

  Posted: Monday, 9 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Palm Kernel Warning

  DairyNZ is warning farmers to take care feeding palm kernel to pre-calving cows to avoid the risk of milk fever.

  Posted: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Firm On Accord

  Federated Farmers is standing firm on its decision not to sign an accord to improve water standards in the Manawatu River.

  Posted: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Not All Bad

  The effects of the impending Emissions Trading Scheme has sparked debate across the country among farmers and non farmers alike.

  Posted: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Oz Apple Deadlock Broken

  The worst-kept secret in New Zealand trade has been confirmed – our apples will be allowed into Australia by order of the World Trade Organisation.

  Posted: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Scientist Sentenced In Insect Smuggling

  An Auckland scientist has been sentenced to four months community detention and 120 hours community service for misleading bio-security officials over the importation of a predatory insect.

  Posted: Wednesday, 11 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Olam May Look To NZFSU Shareholders

  Olam International will look to New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay shareholders to address the company’s funding shortfall if its takeover bid succeeds.

  Posted: Wednesday, 11 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Levy Rejection Surprises Small Growers

  Last week members of Horticulture New Zealand voted down a resolution to increase the levy fruit growers pay to the organisation.

  Posted: Wednesday, 11 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Apple Appeal No Threat

  Apple industry leaders aren’t worried by a last ditch Australian appeal to stop New Zealand apples being exported across the Tasman.

  Posted: Wednesday, 11 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SFC Warns Investors

  South Canterbury Finance is warning investors to seek professional advice before accepting any cut-rate offers on their securities.

  Posted: Thursday, 12 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmer Confidence Up

  Farmer confidence has risen for the fourth straight quarter in the latest Rabobank survey.

  Posted: Thursday, 12 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Industry Announces Review....Again

  The Meat Sector Strategy Group is adamant it won’t be going over old ground in its upcoming review of the sheep and beef sectors.

  Posted: Thursday, 12 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Refutes Tainted Milk Powder Link

  Fonterra is standing firm in the face of another Chinese milk powder controversy, nearly two years after the Sanlu melamine scandal erupted.

  Posted: Thursday, 12 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Good Signs For T&G

  Fruit and vegetable marketer Turners & Growers has announced a $10.1m pre-tax profit for the six months to June 30, and is forecasting an annual return in the black as well.

  Posted: Friday, 13 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PGW Hits Profit Forecast

  PGG Wrightson has kept to its own forecast, and announced a $23.3m net profit for the year to June.

  Posted: Friday, 13 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Another Blow For Allied

  The woes of Allied Farmers continue, with the company announcing a further writedown in the value of assets acquired from the Hanover group of finance companies.

  Posted: Friday, 13 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 'Significant' Announcement For Meat Industry

  The meat industry could be poised for a major shake-up this week as three key players signal a possible pooling of resources.

  Posted: Monday, 16 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 'Go Dairy' Targets Townies

  DairyNZ launched the latest part of its Go Dairy campaign over the weekend, appealing to New Zealanders to take some pride in our largest export industry.

  Posted: Monday, 16 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Floods For BOP

  Eastern Bay of Plenty farmers are counting the cost and cursing the timing of heavy rain over the weekend, which caught many in the middle of calving.

  Posted: Monday, 16 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Zespri vs T&G - Zespri Wins

  Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has scored a victory in its ongoing battle with Turners & Growers, after the High Court ruled it won’t hear Turners’ case next year.

  Posted: Monday, 16 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• T&G To Launch Appeal

  Turners & Growers isn’t giving up in its fight with kiwifruit marketer Zespri, confirming it will lodge an appeal over a High Court decision last week.

  Posted: Tuesday, 17 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Major Cash Injection For Meat Sector

  The Government, Silver Fern Farms, PGG Wrightson and Landcorp have announced a $150m rescue package for our red meat industry.

  Posted: Tuesday, 17 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Bidder Trumps Olam On NZFSU

  Olam International is considering its next move after its takeover offer for New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay was trumped by a new local player.

  Posted: Tuesday, 17 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Emerging Markets Key For Meat Sector

  The world’s emerging markets hold the most opportunity for red meat sector growth according a new report by Rabobank.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Goes On PR Offensive

  Controversial dairy company Natural Dairy Holdings Ltd has spared no expense in its latest attempt to win over the New Zealand public.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ...And Dairy Too

  The dairy sector will get major funding support through the Primary Growth Partnership, with the creation of a $170m research programme.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Major Boost For Meat Sector...

  The meat sector is in for a major shakeup, with industry and public money being put towards a new consumer-focused scheme.

  Posted: Wednesday, 18 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Thrifty PGW Finance Up

  There’s more good news for PGG Wrightson this week, with the company’s finance arm posting a net profit of $8.9m.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Affco Tells Shareholders No

  Meat processor Affco is advising shareholders to reject a 37-cents-a-share takeover offer from food company Talley’s.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Spark At Zespri AGM

  Over 400 kiwifruit growers from around the country gathered in Tauranga on Wednesday for export giant Zespri’s Annual General Meeting.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Foreign Fears Unfounded

  A new report from KPMG suggests New Zealanders have no reason to fear foreign investment in farming, nor should there be any change to overseas investment rules.

  Posted: Thursday, 19 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF Credit Downgrade

  South Canterbury Finance has had its credit rating slashed two levels from B- to CC by Standard & Poor’s.

  Posted: Monday, 23 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Group's call to "Save Our Farms"

  A new nationwide campaign is being launched this week aiming to stop the sale of New Zealand land to foreigners.

   

  Save The Farms is being funded by a group of Auckland businessmen and is running a series of newspapers ads urging the public to get behind the movement.

  Posted: Monday, 23 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• No Change for Fonterra Payout

  Fonterra has eased fear of lower returns next season, holding it forecast payout range between $6.90 and $7.10.

   

  Many pundits saw the dairy giant’s forecast review earlier this month as an underhand announcement it was lowering the payout.

  Posted: Monday, 23 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy In On One Plan

  Dairy farming will be included as a controlled activity in Horizons Regional Council’s One Plan, but other types of farming and horticulture have been left out.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Staves Off Eviction

  Allan Crafar has won a temporary reprieve from the legal challenge to evict he and his family from their Reporoa farmhouse.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Save The Farms Not Anti-Foreigner

  A nationwide campaign pushing for a ban on sales of our farm land to foreigners hit newspapers around the country on Monday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZFSU Gets Better Offer(s)

  New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay is urging shareholders to sit tight on takeover offers as the bidding war for the company heats up.

  Posted: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• One Plan Widely Backed

  Federated Farmers is welcoming Horizons Regional Council’s new One Plan with cautious optimism.

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Wants DIRA Review Now

  Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden is calling on the Government to bring forward its review of the Dairy Industry Regulation Act, which forces the co-op to supply competitors with raw milk.

   

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Olam Ups The Ante

  Olam International has raised the stakes on New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay again, upping its takeover offer for the company from 55 cents to 70.

  Posted: Wednesday, 25 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Support For Rural Doctors

  Health Minister Tony Ryall says rural areas are getting the help they need to continue providing core services.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Olam Edges Closer

  Olam International is one step closer to a takeover of New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay – the sale has been granted Overseas Investment Office approval.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Foresters Get ETS Info

  Foresters around the country are having their questions answered as their Emissions Trading Scheme deadline looms.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Trouble For Allied

  Allied Farmers is renegotiating its debt repayments with Westpac following the receivership of its subsidiary Allied Nationwide Finance.

  Posted: Thursday, 26 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Ballance Blocking Patent

  Fertiliser giants Ravensdown and Ballance-Agri-Nutrients are fighting out a patent dispute in the Auckland High Court in a potential anti-monopoly case.

  Posted: Friday, 27 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Young Butcher Crowned

  The nation’s best young butchers gathered in Auckland this week to showcase their slicing, dicing, and mincing skills and hopefully be crowned New Zealand’s Young Butcher of the Year.

  Posted: Friday, 27 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt In Broadband Firing Line

  The Government is copping flak from all directions over its latest move on the rural broadband service.

   

  Posted: Friday, 27 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hubbard Under The Gun

  Investors who placed their money with Timaru businessman Allan Hubbard have been told they may lose their investments, after statutory managers Grant Thornton found they had been overvalued.

  Posted: Friday, 27 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 'Save The Farms' Call To Arms

  The leaders of a movement to halt the sale of New Zealand farmland to foreigners may have to eat their words as its internet campaign fails to attract support.

  Posted: Monday, 30 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZFSU In No Hurry

  New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay isn’t jumping to any conclusions despite a key bidder pulling out of the takeover race on Friday.

  Posted: Monday, 30 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF In Limbo

  The future of South Canterbury Finance hangs in the balance as the company fights to  find new capital and stave off receivership.

  Posted: Monday, 30 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Gets More Time

  Allied Farmers has been granted a waiver by NZX after it couldn’t provide an unaudited full-year result in the wake of the Allied Nationwide Finance receivership.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Asia The Future For Exports

  The latest National Bank business outlook survey paints an increasingly worrying economic picture in the face of some promising export numbers.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Canterbury Finance In Receivership

  South Canterbury Finance is in receivership after a last-ditch attempt at recapitalisation failed.

  Posted: Tuesday, 31 August 2010 By: Country 99 TV

July

• Allied Farmers Baulk At Hanover Payment

  Allied Farmers relationship with Hanover Finance has collapsed and legal action will shortly begin.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Move Into Telco Business

  Federated Farmers has surprised the telecommunications industry by placing a bid for the Government’s $300m rural broadband initiative.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Costs Start Now

  After years of discussion and debate, the Emissions Trading Scheme finally comes into effect today.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Welcome Fonterra Vote

  Farmers and industry groups alike are lauding the vote approving the Trading Among Farmers scheme.

  Posted: Thursday, 1 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Drags Price Index Down

  New Zealand commodity prices have fallen for the first time in 15 months according to the ANZ Commodity Price Index, and dairy is to blame.

  Posted: Friday, 2 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• One Last Shot At Unity For Wool

  There's fresh hope of getting some unity in the wool industry, now an agreement has been reached on forming a new umbrella body.

  Posted: Friday, 2 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Oversupply Great For Wine Buffs

  Bumper harvests in recent years may have created tough conditions for wine growers with an oversupply of product, but for Kiwi’s who enjoy a tipple it ‘s never been sweeter.

  Posted: Friday, 2 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• TAF Great For Fonterra - van der Heyden

  It’s been a busy week for Fonterra as its landmark Trading Among Farmers proposal was given the green light by shareholders.

  Posted: Friday, 2 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Tip Top Plan Birthday Bash

  Each year Fonterra-owned ice cream company Tip Top produces more than 40 million litres of ice cream, using 6 million litres of milk and 4 million litres of cream in the process.

  Posted: Monday, 5 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 2nd of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Monday, 5 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Push For Early ETS Review

  Federated Farmers opposed the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme until the eleventh hour, now it’s pushing for harder, faster scrutiny of it.

  Posted: Monday, 5 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Landcorp Decision On Crafar Farms Due

  State-owned farm company Landcorp has met again to decide whether to bid for 16 farms from the Crafar empire being sold by receivers.

  Posted: Monday, 5 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fruit and Vege Growers Getting Raw Deal

  A survey commissioned by the Green Party suggests horticulture growers are being treated unfairly by New Zealand’s major supermarket brands.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Koreans Need To Relax

  Prime Minister John Key is continuing free trade talks in South Korea in a bid to revive negotiations started last year.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Landcorp Confirms Crafar Bid

  State-owned farming company Landcorp has confirmed it will bid for the Crafar family farms, and may do so with a private partner.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 5th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 6 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fish-Friendly Herbs

  A Nelson herb farm is moving to the forefront of aquaponic technology in New Zealand, using fish to help grow its products.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Rain For Gisborne

  Farmers in the eastern North Island are on high alert as heavy rain continues to pound the region.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• globalDairyTrade Prices Fall

  To the day’s other news now and milk solid prices on Fonterra’s globalDairyTrade auction have dropped for the third month in a row.

   

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Deadline Passes

  Tenders for the 16 Crafar family farms being offered by receivers has closed.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 6th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 7 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday the 7th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Thursday, 8 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Pests Will Hurt Farmers - O'Connor

  400 new pests and organisms into New Zealand every year is too many, according to Labour’s Biosecurity spokesman Damien O’Connor, and is an accident waiting to happen for our economy.

  Posted: Friday, 9 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Four Fix-it Men For SFC

  South Canterbury Finance has appointed four new senior managers, including one from failed finance company Hanover.

  Posted: Friday, 9 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Injunction Thrown Out

  The Crafar family's last minute attempt to block the sale of their 16 central North Island farms has failed.

  Posted: Friday, 9 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 'Marmite' The Farming Champ

  North Otago farm consultant Grant McNaughton has been crowned New Zealand’s Young Farmer of the Year for 2010.

  Posted: Monday, 12 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Tested NZ Milk Early

  And it’s been revealed Natural Dairy (NZ) Holdings, the Hong Kong-listed company looking to buy the Crafar family farms, previously sounded out Waikato dairy co-operative Tatua about a milk supply arrangement.

   

  Posted: Monday, 12 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar To Continue Case Against Receivers

  Allan Crafar's court bid to block the sale of his farms may have failed, but the beleaguered farmer says he’ll continue to seek damages from receiver KordaMentha for mismanagement of his properties.

  Posted: Monday, 12 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Gibbs To Stay At Turners & Growers

  Ousted Guinness Peat Group boss Tony Gibbs will stay in his role as chairman of produce marketer Turners & Growers.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Scion Jumping The Gun With GE Prep

  The Soil & Health Association is concerned crown forest research institute Scion is treating a pending GE research project as a fait accompli.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra's 'Achilles Heel' On The Mend

  Fonterra’s general manager for sustainable production John Hutchings says the co-operative’s Achilles heel of effluent compliance looks to be strengthening.

  Posted: Tuesday, 13 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Food Prices Fall

  Food prices have posted their biggest annual decline since 1957 according to figures released by Statistics New Zealand.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Another Blow For Hubbard

  The fortunes of South Canterbury Finance boss Allan Hubbard have taken another dive as a ninth company associated with the Timaru businessman is placed under statutory management.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Landcorp Out Of Crafar Running

  State-owned farming company Landcorp is out of the running to buy the 16 Crafar family dairy farms in receivership.

  Posted: Wednesday, 14 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Scion Strikes Back

  Crown forestry research institute Scion has hit back at allegations  of collusion with the Environmental Risk Management Association.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Will Defy Receivers

  Embattled dairy farmer Allan Crafar is still insisting his farms won't be sold.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ACC To Reward Safe Farmers

  Changes to ACC laws will soon see businesses rewarded for low accident rates.

  Posted: Thursday, 15 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Group Up For The Chop

  The departing head of the Meat Industry Action Group has fired a parting shot at the sector.

  Posted: Friday, 16 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Penalties Hit BOP Farm Hard

  The operators of two dairy farms have been fined a total of $40,000 for effluent leaks into the Lake Rotorua catchment.

  Posted: Friday, 16 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Merger Needs More Thought

  Silver Fern Farms chief executive Keith Cooper says the meat industry could do worse than reconsider the benefits of a merger.

  Posted: Friday, 16 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ACC Changes Will Bypass Meat Industry

  Freezing works may be among the country’s most dangerous workplaces, but a key industry figure says the Government’s discounts on ACC levies will have little impact on the sector.

  Posted: Friday, 16 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Back Govt 90 Day Law

  The Government has won support from at least one quarter as its controversial expansion of workplace probation laws draws protests.

  Posted: Monday, 19 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sales Keep Low

  Farms sales have stayed in the doldrums according to the latest figures from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

  Posted: Monday, 19 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Natural Dairy Clears First Hurdle

  Natural Dairy New Zealand should know within 50 working days if it will be allowed to buy the 16 Crafar family farms in the central North Island.

  Posted: Monday, 19 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Olam Moves For NZFSU Takeover

  Singapore company Olam International has placed a takeover bid with PGG Wrightson for New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay.

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Synlait Deal May Pressure Canterbury Water

  Synlait's announcement of an $82 million deal with Chinese dairy company Bright Dairy has some worried Canterbury's delicate water systems will be pushed to breaking point.

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Synlait Makes China Move

  Canterbury-based milk processor Synlait has announced the sale of a majority stake in its production arm, Synlait Milk, to Chinese dairy giant Bright Dairy & Food Company.

  Posted: Tuesday, 20 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• T&G vs ZESPRI, Round One

  Turners & Growers has opened its case against kiwifruit marketer ZESPRI with a bang, as the feud between the two reaches the High Court in Auckland.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Synlait Deal Not So Bad

  Business commentators have been quick to bemoan the country’s capital markets sector in the wake of Synlait-Bright deal, but at least one onlooker can see the upside.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fresh Start For Meat Sector

  The dying wish of Meat & Wool New Zealand may have been granted, as its successor leads the way on a new strategy for the meat sector.

  Posted: Wednesday, 21 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• O'Connor Takes On Agriculture

  Labour MP Damien O’Connor has taken on the role of Opposition spokesman for Agriculture.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Ferguson Claims Shearing Crown

  Waipawa shearer Cam Ferguson is on top of the shearing world, taking line honours in the machine section at the World Shearing and Wool handling Championships in Wales.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hurunui Water Plans Shelved

  Applications to use water from the Hurunui River in North Canterbury have been put on hold until wider water management issues in the province can be resolved.

  Posted: Thursday, 22 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

  ASB's Market Update for Wednesday the 21th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.
  
  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which provides interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

  Posted: Thursday, 22 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

  
  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday 22nd of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to www.country99tv.co.nz

   

   

   

  Posted: Friday, 23 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Reshuffle For Fonterra Shareholders' Council

  Outgoing Fonterra Shareholders’ Council chair Blue Read says he feels a little guilty at the timing of his departure.

  Posted: Friday, 23 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Job On Hurunui Not Over Yet

  The Government’s moratorium on water use applications for the Hurunui River continues to win widespread support, but it’s not having it all its own way.

  Posted: Friday, 23 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Fraud Going Undetected

  Professional services firm KPMG is warning that agriculture isn’t immune from fraudsters despite coming out clean in a recent survey.

  Posted: Friday, 23 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Couper Has Big Boots To Fill

  New Fonterra Shareholders’ Council Chairman Simon Couper knows he has a tough act to follow replacing the departing Blue Read.

  Posted: Monday, 26 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwifruit Growers' Discontent

  The saga of the kiwifruit industry continues, as another industry group enters the fray.

  Posted: Monday, 26 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortal

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday 23rd of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.
  
  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

   

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday 26th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.
  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

   

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday 26th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  
  

  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

   

   

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Leave OCR Alone - Feds

  Federated Farmers is calling on the Reserve Bank to hold the Official Cash Rate at 2.75% as farmer confidence takes a dive in its latest survey.

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Greens Push For Land Reform

  The Green Party has drafted a bill to block any more New Zealand land falling into foreign hands.

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Goes Back To Court

  Embattled dairy farmer Allan Crafar is back in court, this time in Rotorua, to force receivers KordaMentha to hand over documents relating to his farms.

  Posted: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

   

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday 27th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.
  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

   

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday 27th of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  
  

  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

   

   

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Report Gives More Of The Same

  Federated Farmers’ grain and seed arm isn’t raising any eyebrows over a MAF monitoring report that paints a bleak picture of the arable sector.

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• EW Gets Even Tougher On Dirty Dairying

  Waikato dairy farmers will face even closer scrutiny this season as the Environment Waikato gets tough on effluent compliance rules.

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Court Gives Wang More Time

  Controversial businesswoman May Wang, the woman behind Natural Dairy NZ's bid for the Crafar farms, has been granted a reprieve at her latest court appearance.

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Govt Stalls On Foreign Ownership

  The Government has pushed back plans to announce changes in overseas investment rules as uncertainty reigns over the level of foreign investment here.

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Air Guns Now Need Licence

  New regulations around air gun use are being met with widespread approval.

  The Government has announced law changes that will require owners of high-powered air rifles to hold a firearms licence.

   

  Posted: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB's Market Update With James Shortall

   

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday 28 of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.
  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

   

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday 28 of July with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  
  

  Country99TV is a subscriber channel on SkyTV, which focusses on providing interesting, relevant information and entertainment to farmers and the rural community in New Zealand. For more information go to

   

   

  Posted: Thursday, 29 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Fear Foreign Trees

  Federated Farmers isn’t letting up in its campaign against the Emissions Trading Scheme, this time taking aim at the threat of carbon forestry to our sheep and beef industry.

  Posted: Thursday, 29 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Pig Leak Exposed

  A leak out of the Pork Industry Board has revealed pig farmers were advised to deliberately flout the Official Information Act to avoid public scrutiny.

  Posted: Thursday, 29 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Bollard Hikes OCR

  Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has done what most pundits were picking and raised the Official Cash Rate 25 basis points to 3%.

  Posted: Thursday, 29 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Quad Bike Safety In Spotlight

  Quad bikes are one of the most useful farming tools available, but sadly, also one of the biggest contributors to injuries and accidents.

  Posted: Thursday, 29 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Greens In Firing Line

  ACT Party agriculture spokesman David Garrett is weighing in on the farming and foreign ownership debate, taking aim at the Green Party.

  Posted: Friday, 30 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Move On Bobbies

  MAF will on Monday begin a new scheme aimed at bobby calf welfare.

  Posted: Friday, 30 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Pork Board Launches New Audit System

  The Pork Industry Board has set up a new welfare audit system for pig farms as it moves to quell criticism over its advice to farmers to keep any welfare breaches secret.

  Posted: Friday, 30 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Former Stock Agent Denied Compo

  A Northland stock and station agent seeking compensation for lost business has had his application denied by the Government.

  Posted: Friday, 30 July 2010 By: Country 99 TV

June

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday the 24th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Friday, 25 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Auckland Regional Council says dairy farmers in its area are cleaning up their act.

  The council's latest figures on compliance show that 94% of dairy farms in the Auckland area met environmental standards in the year to June, up from 77% last season.

  Posted: Friday, 25 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Government Enquiry Into MAF “Intimidation“ Alleged By Feds

  Agriculture Minister David Carter will investigate complaints that MAF staff have been intimidating dairy farmers in Southland during random animal welfare farm checks.

  Posted: Friday, 25 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• GDP Up But NZ Finance Minister Cautious

  Finance Minister Bill English says that four successive quarters of growth is a welcome sign the economy is continuing to recover – but he warns the economy still faces serious challenges.

  Posted: Friday, 25 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• World Dairy Prices Picked To Plunge As Supply Soars

  Global dairy prices are expected to fall as world supply builds and demand growth slows – but it won’t happen quickly according to the latest dairy industry analysis.

  Posted: Friday, 25 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allan Hubbard Supporters Rally Behind Troubled Magnate

  More than 600 of Allan Hubbard’s loyal supporters rallied in downtown Timaru on Friday and hundreds more continue to support two Facebook campaigns as Hubbard supporters come forward to defend the embattled South Island multimillionaire.

  Posted: Friday, 25 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Bovine TB Battle Waged In North Waikato

  The battle against Bovine Tuberculosis is being waged across the country with rigorous testing and monitoring schemes at the heart of winning the war against the disease.

  Posted: Friday, 25 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 25th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Monday, 28 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Honour Agribusiness Person Of Year

  The founder and chair of the meat exporter ANZCO has won the Federated Farmers’ agribusiness person of the year award.

  Posted: Monday, 28 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Beekeepers Conference Targets Honey Authenticating Processes

  Beekeepers will discuss the latest developments in authenticating honey and other bee products as their national conferences launches in Nelson this week.

  Posted: Monday, 28 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Mexico Signals Tariff Lifts For NZ Kiwifruit

  Mexico plans to eliminate a 20% tariff on kiwifruit imports from New Zealand.

  Posted: Monday, 28 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Harvard Fund Bids For Big Sky Farm

  A multibillion-dollar global investment fund of America’s Harvard University is poised to buy the Big Sky Dairy Farm in Central Otago for $28 million.

  Posted: Monday, 28 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Regional Free Trade Deal Could Exclude NZ Dairy From US Markets

  Negotiations for a regional free trade deal, which would include the United States, have hit a snag which could cost New Zealand dairy farmers free access to the world's biggest market.

  Posted: Monday, 28 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Southland Farmers Seek Agriculture Minister’s Help With MAF

  The Federated Farmers National Conference last week threw up some fairly big surprises, none more so than the controversy surrounding farmers’ accusations of bullying tactics by Ministry of Agriculture Officials in Southland.

  Posted: Monday, 28 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Poised For Fonterra Vote

  Fonterra’s capital restructuring plan goes to the vote on Wednesday, with farmers set to decide the future of New Zealand’s largest company.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Hear Latest in Meat and Fibre, Dairy Sectors

  The Federated Farmers recent AGM kicked off in Invercargill with special sessions for both the Meat and Fibre sector and the Dairy Board.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• May Wang Makes Deal To Pay Back Creditors

  The woman fronting a bid by a Chinese company to buy the Crafar farms has made a deal she hopes will stave off bankruptcy.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 28th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Don't Gouge, PM Warns Power Companies On Eve Of ETS

  Prime Minister John Key is warning power companies not to use the Emissions Trading Scheme as an excuse to hike power prices on consumers.

  Posted: Tuesday, 29 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 29th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• May Wang Backs Troubled Biotech

  With a high-profile new backer on board Genesis Research is about to get back to business – even if that means shifting its focus.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Southland Aiming to be TB Free - Again

  Southland Regional Council is confident it’s proposed code of practice for bovine tuberculosis testing will rid the province of the disease for a second time.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Tackle China Syndrome

  The plenary day of the Federated Farmers Annual Conference was an epic one, as industry leaders chewed the fat on the future of farming.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Greenlight Fonterra Plan

  Fonterra farmers have voted in the co-operative's Trading Among Farmers (TAF) proposal with a resounding 89.85% support.

  Posted: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 31st of May with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Varroa Bee Mite Hits Queenstown

  The varroa bee mite is on the march south,  with the latest reports revealing infected hives now in Queenstown and Central Otago.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Livestock Improvements Enters Farm Technology

  The dairy farmer cooperative Livestock Improvement is now looking  beyond the dairy cow.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NAWAC Investigates Dairy “Factory Farms”

  The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is looking into indoor housing for dairy cows so it can draw up guidelines.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Waikato Dairy Plant In Business Next August

  A new dairy company hopes to begin processing milk powder at its first plant in South Waikato from August next year.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Westland Milk Payout “Prudent”

  Westland Milk Products is taking a cautious approach to its forecast opening payout for the new dairy season, well below what Fonterra’s announced.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Jailed South Auckland Poultry Farmer Targeted Unfairly?

  A South Auckland poultry farmer has just served the first week of a year-long jail sentence for allowing thousands of his birds to suffer in cruel and inhumane conditions.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ and Russia Explore Free Trade Deal

  New Zealand and Russia are talking turkey about the possibility of a free trade agreement.

  Posted: Tuesday, 1 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Baby Apple Hits Stores

  You’ll soon be able to bite into New Zealand’s newest apple – a miniature sweet red variety called Rockit.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Sharemilkers’ Study Required

  Federated Farmers is calling for a study to provide more data on the country’s sharemilking numbers after a slow season for the industry.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Superannuation Fund Targets Rural Investments

  The New Zealand Superannuation Fund is seeking expressions of interest from the New Zealand rural sector as part of its new global focus on rural investments.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Waikato Drought Costs Farmers $100,000 Each

  Dairy NZ is crunching the numbers on the total cost to farmers in the Waikato, arising from the summer’s record drought.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New NZ Slaughter Standards “Discriminatory”

  New commercial slaughter standards introduced on Friday for New Zealand’s meat producers now means a blanket law covers the entire industry.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rabobank Report Gives Nod To Wheat And Corn Growers

  The latest Rabobank Agri Commodities report showing how key price movements in international markets affect our primary producers, confirms that both wheat and corn are enjoying mixed fortunes, with a weak New Zealand dollar and global surpluses in wheat pointing to a fairly stable outlook for the next quarter.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra’s GlobalDairyTrade Milk Powder Prices Drop

  World milk powder prices dipped slightly at Fonterra’s global auction overnight.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 1st of June with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Wednesday, 2 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday the 2nd of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Commodity Prices Hit Record High

  New Zealand commodity prices have rocketed by almost a third in the last year, with a major index hitting a record high in May.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Agriculture Minister Undaunted By Farmers Party

  Agriculture Minister David Carter says he’s not worried about the threat of political action by farmers .

  Posted: Thursday, 3 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Government Money For Global Wine Push

  A new Government-backed push into the US wants to build a super premium wine category for New Zealand’s billion-dollar export industry.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Debate Continues

  Federated Farmers says the cost for the sheep and beef sector alone would consume the profit from more than 4.5 million lambs.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Vote On Trading Among Farmers Proposal

  The Fonterra Shareholders’ Council says the dairy co-op’s Trading Among Farmers proposal will be put to the vote at a special meeting of shareholders on June 30^th.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Central Plains Water Green Lights Irrigation Scheme

  The Central Plains Water Company, which has just granted 31 consents for a large-scale irrigation scheme in Canterbury, hopes to get water to the first farms within the next two years.

  Posted: Thursday, 3 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday the 3rd of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 1080 Signs Destroyed

  The Animal Health Board says someone is deliberately destroying signs warning people about the presence of 1080 poison in Westland.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Research Could Save Forest Industry Millions

  A new research project aims to save the forest industry $100 million over the next eight years.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Latest Effluent Technology Trialled In Wellington

  New technology developed at Victoria University designed to help dairy farmers deal with effluent issues is  set to be field tested in a trial at the Taylor Preston meat company in Wellington.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Bulls Bacon Retailer Urges “Get In Behind” Pork Industry

  A bacon retailer in Bulls says New Zealanders need to get behind domestic pork products, or risk losing the industry.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feed Thieves Target Waikato Farms

  Feed shortages caused by  the drought appear to have triggered a new sort of theft on farms in Waikato.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Farmers Pay $5 Million To Watson and Hotchin

  Allied Farmers is due to  pay  Richlisters Eric Watson and Mark Hotchin another $5 million by the end of June.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Farm Receivers Off To Court

  The receivers for the Crafar dairy empire get their day in court next month.

  Posted: Friday, 4 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 4th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allan Crafar Tells Of Personal Toll

  The farmer behind one of New Zealand’s biggest and most controversial receivership sales is preparing his strategy for a Rotorua court appearance  looming next month aimed at evicting him from the place he’s called home for years.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Water Storage Hero Wins Queen’s Birthday Honour

  Federated Farmers is hailing Tom Henderson’s appointment as an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit a  great recognition for one of Federated Farmers most senior members and the ‘Sir Bill Hamilton’ of modern water storage.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wairoa Meatworkers Dispute Heads To Employment Authority

  The Meatworkers Union says a dispute at an AFFCO plant at Wairoa will be taken to the Employment Authority.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Export NZ Bumblebee Deaths

  Hand-selected New Zealand bumblebees waiting to be sent to Britain on a pollination "rescue mission" have died in captivity.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Manuka Honey Standards Set By Bee Products Standards Council

  The manuka honey industry appears to have resolved a conflict over labelling and testing standards.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Simcro Wins International Design Award

  A Hamilton agritech company has won a global design award at the 2010 Australian International Design Awards in Sydney on Friday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Goat Welfare Code Campaigners Up In Arms

  A proposed draft welfare code that governs how goats are treated in New Zealand has angered animal welfare campaigners.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• High Court Rules On Crafar Farm Maneuvers

  The High Court will rule on whether UBNZ Assets Holdings requires Overseas Investment Office approval to buy 16 farms from the receivers of Crafar Farms.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Greens Push “No Environment, No Economy” Message

  New Zealand's key export earners - tourism and dairying - are headed for "a terrible collision" as a result of economic mismanagement, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Economists Pick Interest Rates Rise This Week

  After a year of interest rates resting at record lows, the Reserve Bank is expected to begin raising rates later this week.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Carbon Trade Credits Rising

  More than 200,000 NZUs – that’s domestic units for greenhouse gas emissions - are reported to have traded on the local market as participants gear up for July 1 when utilities, industrials and the transport sector are brought into trading market under the emissions trading scheme.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Shift By NZ Climate Change Minister

  Whether agriculture comes into the emissions trading scheme (ETS) in 2015 or not will depend on technological advances and what other countries do, according to Climate Change Minister Nick Smith.

  Posted: Tuesday, 8 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF Pursuing New Financial Partner

  South Canterbury Finance owner Allan Hubbard hopes to find a new partner-shareholder for the company by the end of August.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds Seek Separate Code For Rural Butchers

  Rural butchers say forcing them to stun animals before they ‘re slaughtered is unnecessary and costly.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Sales Hampered By Rain

  The heavy rains have put a dampener on wool sales.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• North Otago Farmers Battling Rain, Snow

  As temperatures around the country plummet, a  North Otago farmer representative says the region's had more rain than it can handle and he'd like the tap turned off for a while.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Oyster Bay Wants Capital Restructure

  Oyster Bay Marlborough Vineyards is reviewing its capital structure after two years of lower grape prices.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Proposed Goat Welfare Code Challenged

  The welfare of goats is under the spotlight with submissions closing Friday on a proposed draft welfare code governing how goats are treated in New Zealand.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Canterbury Farmer Convicted For Threatening To Kill Prime Minister

  A 53-year-old Canterbury farmer has been found guilty of 14 charges of threatening to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to the Prime Minister and government officials.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Environment Minister Faces Defamation Case

  Defamation proceedings against Environment Minister Nick Smith are due to begin at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 8th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 9 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Converting Hill-Country Farms To Forestry

  A Taranaki man who advocates more carbon farming says there's a solid case to be made for converting unprofitable hill-country sheep farms to forestry.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Homeopathy For Kiwi Cows

  As more and more farmers walk down the path towards cleaner and  greener farming, alternative farming practices are being explored and adopted.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Regulations Drafted Too Quickly: Agriculture Sector

  The agriculture sector says it hasn’t been given enough time for consultation over draft regulations for agriculture in the Emissions Trading Scheme.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Environment Minister Nick Smith Settles $14 Million Lawsuit

  Environment Minister  Nick Smith says he’s "delighted" a $14 million defamation lawsuit against him was settled out of court on Wednesday.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Boosts Global Dairy Auctions

  Fonterra, the world's biggest exporter of dairy products, will add a second online milk powder auction each month and add new items to the sale, including buttermilk powder.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• OCR Rises

  The Reserve Bank has lifted the Official Cash Rate up 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday the 9th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Thursday, 10 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday the 10th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.
  
  

  Posted: Friday, 11 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Mapua Toxic Treatment

  Residents of Mapua in Nelson will get free medical check-ups following a clean-up of  the town’s former pesticide plant.

  Posted: Friday, 11 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Reprieve For Small Farm Dams

  Small farm dams are likely to be left out of dam safety regulations proposed by the Government following an independent review.

  Posted: Friday, 11 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Park Estate Winery Under Threat

  The future of a Hawke's Bay winery hangs in the balance as creditors claim they’re owed $565,000.

  Posted: Friday, 11 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Battling Bovine TB

  The fight against bovine tuberculosis is being waged across the country, with possum and pest control at the heart of keeping the disease under control.

  Posted: Friday, 11 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Russia Potential For NZ Wool

  Textile New Zealand says its first trade delegation to Moscow has returned brimming with confidence over the future of the wool trade with Russia.

  Posted: Friday, 11 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Politicians’ Private Pleasures With Public Purse

  Allegations about politicians using public money to bankroll private pleasures include some of New Zealand’s agricultural representatives.

  Posted: Friday, 11 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Shearer Takes UK Trials By Storm

  Accolades go to a Central Hawke's Bay shearer who’s won a major title in England in the build up to next month's World Championships in Wales.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Sheep Dog Champs

  There are plenty of tired but happy dogs and their farmers recuperating around the country as the national and South Island sheep dog trials wrapped up in Gore on the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Open Season On Canada Geese

  Farmers may soon be able to  shoot  Canada Geese year round, without seeking permission from Fish & Game.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• First Food Prices Drop In Six Years

  Lower prices for meat, poultry and fish and fruit and vegetables have seen  New Zealand food prices drop for the first time in almost six years.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Discovers US Fans For Free Trade Deal

  International talks to secure a free trade deal with the United States resume Tuesday.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Co-Ops Agree To Disagree

  Two farmer co-operatives have decided not to join forces.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Wines Target Top Notch US Customers

  The New Zealand wine industry continues to reel  from the effects of  its record bumper  grape crop in 2008.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Give Water Commissioners Fair Go: Environment Minister

  Environment Minister Nick Smith says people in Canterbury need to give Government-appointed commissioners a chance to address the region's water problems.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Special Vote For Fonterra Shareholders

  Fonterra shareholders head to the polls on June 30^th.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Talley Family Makes Affco Take Over Bid

  Nelson-based Talley’s Group  appears to be  making  a full takeover  bid for meat  processor Affco  Holdings.

  Posted: Monday, 14 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 14th of June with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Biosecurity Gives Up Battle Against Marine Pest

  Biosecurity officials have given up the fight against a highly invasive marine pest that has the potential to smother native species and disrupt marine farming.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fizzy Milk Inventor Barred From Field Days

  One Hamilton dairy farmer has dreamed up an invention that could change the soft drink industry at his farm in Te Aroha.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Field Days Prepares To Launch

  Tens of thousands of visitors are heading to Mystery Creek near Hamilton for the opening of  the National  Agricultural Field Days Wednesday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Chinese Businesswoman In Court Over NZ Business Dealings

  The Chinese businesswoman behind the buy-up of the Crafar dairy empire has made two  court appearances this week over failed business dealings.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Farmers $6 Million Win In US Court

  Allied Farmers has been awarded $6 million after a United States court ruling over a long-running dispute with property developer Mark Cooper.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Silver Fern Farms Slashes Jobs

  Silver Fern Farms, the country's biggest meat processor and exporter, plans to close its lamb cutting and its rendering and casings operations in Christchurch  because not enough animals are being slaughtered.

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Newsflash! Hot offer for Field Days! Watch Us FREE!

  Want to cash in on a free sampling of Country99TV News and Weather?

  Posted: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 15th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Farmer Killed Every Month: ACC

  A farmer is killed every 28 days in farming accidents in New Zealand while a farmer or agricultural worker is injured every half hour.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Five Arrests Over 1080 West Coast Protest Action

  Five people have been arrested near Hokitika on the West Coast after a protest against a 1080 operation on Tuesday.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• US Supermarket Guru Welcomes NZ Produce

  The next time you're in your local shop, keep an eye out for US supermarket guru Phil Lampert.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Silver Fern Farms Fresh Approach For China

  Silver Fern Farms is paying more attention to its number two export market – China – after announcing it’s cutting up to 174 jobs at two Christchurch meat plants – the Canterbury lamb cutting plant and the rendering and casings departments at its Belfast plant.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Job For Former AgResearch’s CEO

  AgResearch’s former CEO Dr. Andrew West  has a new job.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• World-First Clover Research Could Cut Farm Gas

  A world-first GE discovery by New Zealand scientists could lead to more productive farms and reduced greenhouse gases by up to 10%.

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• FREE Fieldays Special - Watch Country99TV For FREE

  Want to cash in on a FREE sampling of Country99TV News and Weather?

  Posted: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Zespri Releases New Kiwifruit Varieties

  Zespri says it’s set to release three new varieties of kiwifruit for commercialization this winter.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ETS Protest At Fieldays

  With the introduction of the controversial and costly Emissions Trading Scheme only two weeks away, this year’s Fieldays has proved a  flashpoint with farmers and government officials coming head to head.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Forecast Predicts Primary Sectors Riding Recovery

  Dairy income is tipped to rocket over the next year, earning New Zealand an extra $2.3 billion.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• On-Line Voting For Crucial Fonterra Capital Restructure

  Fonterra’s 10,500 farmer shareholders will be able to cast their vote online during the voting period this month for capital structure constitutional changes known as Trading Among Farmers.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Flying Start For Fieldays

  The 42^nd New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays is off to a cracker start, with huge crowds enjoying all the sights and sounds under hot, sunny skies.

  Posted: Thursday, 17 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Newsflash! Hot Offer! Watch Country99TV for FREE!

  Want to cash in on a free sampling of Country99TV News and Weather? Already a Sky subscriber?

  Posted: Thursday, 17 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Women Seek Industry Leaders

  Women wanting to join the leadership ranks in the rural industry can now work with a new group – the Agriwomen’s Development Trust.

  Posted: Friday, 18 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Southland Bovine TB First Case In Two Years

  Southland Regional Council is blaming its first case in two years of a cow infected with bovine tuberculosis, on a policy that allows cows to be imported into the province.

  Posted: Friday, 18 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Farm Inventions Honoured At Fieldays

  It’s often said that if New Zealand is to remain a leader in world agriculture, it has to continually think – and perform - outside the square to become more efficient.

  Posted: Friday, 18 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ZESPRI Predicts Boom Growth

  New Zealand’s largest horticultural exporter wants to triple export earnings with the help of the country’s 3,500 kiwifruit growers, to $3 billion by 2025, primarily through productivity gains.

  Posted: Friday, 18 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• US Dairy Delegation Targets Kiwi Farmer Know-How

  A delegation of dairy representatives from the USA’s  state of Missouri has just left our shores, following a whirlwind mission to learn more about the way our farming systems work.

  Posted: Friday, 18 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday the 17th of June with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Friday, 18 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fieldays Attendance Reflects “Growing Optimism”

  Organisers of the National Agricultural Fieldays, which wrapped up at Mystery Creek on Saturday, say the strong turnout over the four days reflects a growing optimism in the rural sector.

  Posted: Monday, 21 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sales Lag

  The latest real estate figures show farms are struggling to sell despite buyer interest being high and properties being available.

  Posted: Monday, 21 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Manuka Honey Shortage Threatens Beekeepers

  A critical shortage of high-quality manuka honey is leaving exporters struggling to fill orders, and hitting beekeepers in the pocket.

  Posted: Monday, 21 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Clears Plant & Food Research

  The Ministry of Agriculture says there are no grounds to prosecute Plant & Food Research, after its investigation into possible containment breaches of a genetically modified plant.

  Posted: Monday, 21 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Canterbury’s Richest Couple Investigated By SFO

  Shock waves are reverberating around the country following Commerce Minister Simon Power’s announcement on Sunday  that South Canterbury’s business couple  Allan and Margaret Hubbard’s company, Aorangi Securities – and its 7 associated charitable trusts – are now under statutory management.

  Posted: Monday, 21 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 18th of June with Rural Economist James Shortall
  .

  Posted: Monday, 21 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 21st of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• BOP Growers Celebrate Kiwifruit Harvest

  Growers in the Bay of Plenty  are reporting an excellent kiwifruit harvest this year.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Potential Crafar Farm Buyer Buys Time

  The businesswoman who wants to buy the Crafar farms has been given another week to reach a deal with the creditors of her failed hotel company to avoid bankruptcy.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Royal Wool Campaign Goes Global

  New Zealand wool companies will have the chance to put the royal seal of approval on their products as part of a campaign spearheaded by Prince Charles.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Palm Oil Puzzle

  You are what you eat the saying goes – but do we really know what we’re eating?

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hubbard Investigation Sees SCF Halt Call For Funds

  The fallout from the Government move on South Island millionaire Allan Hubbard has forced the $1 billion South Canterbury Finance to halt its call for funds.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Massey University’s High-Tech Tool

  Increasing on-farm efficiency was one of the most sought-after goals for farmers at this year’s National Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Government Keeps Pest Management Promise

  The Government is going to be a “good neighbour” and play its part in eradicating weed and pest problems on its properties.

  Posted: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Canterbury Finance Takes Credit Rating Hit

  Standard & Poor's has downgraded the credit rating of South Canterbury Finance in the wake of businessman Allan Hubbard's troubles.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feilding Company Wins Innovation Award For Irrigation Invention

  A Feilding-based company has won Irrigation New Zealand's inaugural innovation award for its clever water-saving irrigation system.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Sawmill Workers Get Health Help

  Former sawmill workers in Whakatane exposed to cancer-causing chemicals will be offered support by the Ministry of Health.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Overseas Investment Rule Changes Mooted For NZ, Australia

  Trade Minister Tim Groser hopes a meeting in Canberra will reach a deal on freeing up overseas investment rules between New Zealand and Australia.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Feds’ National Conference 2010 Launches In Invercargill

  The Federated Farmers 2010 National Conference kicked off in Invercargill with a strong turnout from farmers across the country.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Parliament Protest Over ETS

  Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson says the Emissions Trading Scheme will impose unfair extra costs on the agriculture industry, and the law will not last the test of time.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 22nd of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 23 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday the 23rd of June with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Business Underway For New South Island Water Commissioners

  Government-appointed commissioners are now busy running Environment Canterbury and determining the region’s

  Posted: Thursday, 24 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Planning For New Cheese Processing Plant

  A Maori trust is planning a new cheese processing plant in the central North Island.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Maori Milk Powder Plant Underway

  Work is underway at the site of a new Maori-owned milk powder plant in the central North Island.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• US Dairy Accuses NZ Government Supporting Fonterra “Monopoly”

  American dairy interests are lobbying against Fonterra's proposal to allow share trading among its farmer shareholders.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Landcorp Will Vote To Buy Crafar Farms

  State-owned enterprise Landcorp wants to put in an offer to buy 16 Crafar family dairy farms in receivership.

  Posted: Thursday, 24 June 2010 By: Country 99 TV

May

• “Save Crafar” Facebook Campaign

  Embattled dairy farm owner Allan Crafar is finding out he has plenty of support from an unlikely source - Facebook!

  Posted: Monday, 3 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Cattle Pig Sets New Trend

  You’ve probably heard of cattle dogs.  But how about cattle pigs?

  Posted: Monday, 3 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 30th of April with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Monday, 3 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ABS Bank’s Rural Economic April Update Mixed Bag

  ASB Bank’s Rural Economic Update for April is a mixed bag for the agricultural sector.

  Posted: Monday, 3 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Silver Fern Farms Upbeat Despite Losses

  Silver Fern Farms has made a half-year loss of $14.3 million before tax from revenue, affected by fewer lambs to kill and a high dollar.

  Posted: Monday, 3 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Northland Farmers Buying Water For Stock

  A number of Northland farmers are now being forced to buy water for their stock, as dams dry up and the drought drags on.

  Posted: Monday, 3 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• GM Animal Experiments Result In Calf Deaths

  Genetically modified cows were born with ovaries that grew so large they caused ruptures and killed the animals.

  Posted: Monday, 3 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 3rd of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Price Surge Boosts ANZ Commodity Price Index

  Surging dairy prices boosted a new record high in the ANZ Commodity Price Index, as local milk production begins to wind down here while farmers in the Northern Hemisphere struggle to get started.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 1400 Rural Portfolio Investors Likely Out Of Pocket

  Warning: If you put money into Rural Portfolio Investments or its financing arm Rural Portfolio Capital, you’re unlikely to get your investment back.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Chilled Meat Threatened By Slow Shipping: Meat Industry

  Each year, New Zealand exports 800,000 tonnes of chilled meat to more than 100 countries around the world.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• AgResearch Down, Not Out Over GM Applications

  AgResearch has dropped plans to make genetically modified buffalo, pigs, llamas, alpacas, horses and deer after an environmental watchdog said the proposals were so broad it was impossible to weigh up the risks.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fencepost Goes Public In Bid To Improve Dairy Employment

  Fonterra and DairyNZ have joined forces to make  Fencepost  available to the general public – and not just farmers – as it leads the way as the most comprehensive job and career tool for the New Zealand dairy industry.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Inaugural Welfare Code For Goats Goes Public

  The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee has issued the first proposed welfare code for goats.

  Posted: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 4th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Global Trade Dairy Auction Prices Steady

  Prices have steadied this month on Fonterra’s global dairy trade auction, falling 0.8% across the three commodities.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Upper Waitaki Prepares For 1400-Cow Farm

  A new large-scale dairy farm in the Mackenzie Basin has been given the go-ahead to milk up to 1400 cows over the next 25 years, but opponents say there are too many unknowns in the mix.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• OIO Opens Doors To American And German Agribusinesses

  The Overseas Investment Office has given an American cold storage company the go-ahead to buy Versacold NZ in a $57 million deal that will see the overseas company become the world’s biggest in the business.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Pacific Meats Under Gun Over Worker Injuries

  The Otago Southland Meat Workers Union is calling for big changes at the South Pacific Meats plant in Invercargill, after 12 people lost fingers while using band saws in the past 18 months.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ First For Fresh Sexed Semen And Embryos

  For the first time, New Zealand dairy farmers will have access to fresh sexed semen and embryos, following successful on‐farm trials by breeding companies.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Surfing Sheep Internet Sensation

  We may live in an ocean paradise, but it seems one of the world’s best surfers isn’t a Kiwi.

  Posted: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Forest And Bird Seeks Tenure Review High Country Farms

  Forest and Bird wants to stop a tenure review in South Canterbury's Mackenzie Basin because of the rate of vegetation loss in the region.

  Posted: Friday, 7 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Warns ETS Will Cost Farmers Millions

  Federated Farmers President Don Nicolson warns that if the government’s Emissions Trading Scheme goes ahead on July 1^st,  it will cost pastoral agriculture almost $86 million in its first year of operation. 

  Posted: Friday, 7 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PM’s Chief Science Advisor Laments Low R&D Spending

  The prime minister’s chief science advisor is calling for more funding for New Zealand’s research and development field – if our industries are to remain competitive in the future.

  Posted: Friday, 7 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Bay of Plenty Targets Nutraceuticals For Future Growth

  Movers and shakers in the Bay of Plenty’s food industry have joined forces for the first time to drive economic growth over the next decade.

  Posted: Friday, 7 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Duplicate Animal Medicines Regulations Too Costly

  There's a call for animal medicines to be removed from the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wool Partners International Rejects Wool Promotion Levy

  Wool Partners International says it won’t support a generic wool promotion payment because it wants to focus on more targeted marketing

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Money-Making Message For Young Dairy Farmers

  The inaugural Dairy NZ Farmers Forum concluded over the weekend, with nearly 900 farmers attending the conference in Hamilton.

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Marlborough Rural Community Awaits Drought Decision

  In Marlborough, farmers are in a holding pattern as they wait to see whether parts of their region will be the next classified as drought areas.

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wanted: Otago Farmers Input Into Regional Water Quality Plan

  Otago Regional Council wants to hear from Otago farmers as they work towards a regional water quality plan.

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Turners & Growers High Court Challenge To Zespri

  The High Court will begin hearing a case in July challenging the kiwifruit industry's single desk marketing structure and the way it's being run.

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Oyster Farm Bond Threatens Industry: Northland Oyster Farmers

  The Oyster Farmers Association says a new rule in Northland, making oyster farmers pay a bond, could cripple the region’s marine industry.

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 7th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Monday, 10 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 10th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Respite And Rain For NZ Farmers

  Farmers around the country are anxiously waiting for rain this week  with several regions expected to get some liquid relief.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Seafood And Meat Industries Beat Path To Shanghai Expo

  The Government is expecting big things from its World Expo pavilion in Shanghai, China as the first of six trade missions to the event gets underway.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Farmers Shares Fall

  Shares in Allied Farmers continued to tumble on Monday as the market heard the news that Hanover's loan book was worth only a quarter of its acquisition value.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 4 Crafar Farms “Sold” Without OIO Consent

  The Overseas Investment Office is investigating the purchase of four North Island dairy farms owned by the Crafar family that weren’t given consent to be sold offshore.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Seaweed New Export Opportunity

  New Zealanders may soon be able to cash in on a marine pest that’s plaguing our coastline.

  Posted: Tuesday, 11 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Government Spends Large On R&D

  The Government will pump $321 million into science funding over the next four years in an attempt to bring research and commercial interests together to put New Zealand at the cutting edge of a knowledge economy.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rain Welcomed By Northland Farmers

  The weather is slowly releasing Northland farmers from the grip of drought, with steady rain this week dumping up to 70mls on parts of the province.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PGG Wrightston Shares Popular Buy

  Investors have snapped up the 46.8 million shares in PGG Wrightson from the assets of Rural Portfolio Capital and Rural Portfolio Investments, the 2  companies associated with businessman Craig Norgate.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Government Applauds Fonterra Consolidation In Saudi Arabia

   Trade Minister Tim Groser expects New Zealand’s dairy industry to take another big leap forward with its latest move into the Middle East.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Free Trade Agreement Pending With Arab Nations

  A free trade agreement between New Zealand and six Arab countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council, including Saudi Arabia, was to have been signed last month, but was postponed because of procedural aspects.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Soil Scientist Slams Voluntary Fertiliser Labelling

  A leading soil scientist is calling for changes in the way fertiliser companies label their products, after recent indications many products may be making false claims.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 11th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday the 12th of May with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fed Farmers President Talks ETS With Australians

  New Zealand’s lone stance on an Emissions Trading Scheme will be on the agenda next week  when Federated Farmers President Don Nicolson heads to the Agriculture and Greenhouse Emissions Conference in Australia .

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Dairy Awards Feature Top 12 Dairy Trainees

  The finals for  the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards launch in Rotorua on Saturday, with the top performers in each sector gathering for an intensive 4-day workshop.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Chinese Food Safety Officials Tour NZ For Advice

  While Trade Minister Tim Groser heads up  a delegation of NZ seafood representatives to the World Expo in Shanghai, New Zealand has been hosting Chinese officials here to examine how we manage food safety risks in seafood.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Turners& Growers Harvest New Kiwifruit “Summer Kiwi”

  Fresh produce company Turners & Growers has harvested the first of a new green kiwifruit variety it says could become another big earner for the country - if it was allowed to export it.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New R&D Windfall Must Include Start Ups: Agriculture and Horticulture Scientists

  The Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science is applauding the Government’s announcement of increased science funding as the best way to grow the economy.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Island Iwi Rejects 1080 Poison To Preserve Kiwi

  A South Island iwi says it will withdraw its approval for the use of 1080 on the West Coast.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Marine Invader Threatens Mussel Industry

  A marine biosecurity group says an unwanted invasive organism has been found in Nelson waters during a routine survey.

  Posted: Thursday, 13 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra’s Dairy Plants Shut Down Early By Drought

  Most of Fonterra's 86 dairy processing plants around New Zealand have been shut down by drought this season - weeks ahead of schedule.

  Posted: Friday, 14 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hydroponic Drug Busts Affecting NZ Growers

  The fallout from the recent police drug bust on commercial hydroponic suppliers could affect our fruit and vegetable industry.

  Posted: Friday, 14 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fruit And Veg Growers Targeted By Thieves

  Fruit and vegetable growers are battling to stop people stealing their produce.

  Posted: Friday, 14 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Drought Prompts Calls From Bay of Plenty Farmers

  The Bay of Plenty Rural support trust is fielding  calls from concerned farmers as the drought continues into late autumn.

  Posted: Friday, 14 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Grape Vintage Smaller Than Predicted

  The national wine industry body says the year's grape vintage appears to be smaller than anticipated and prices have dropped for the second year in a row.

  Posted: Friday, 14 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Dairy Herd Boom Threatens Vet Capabilities

  The New Zealand Veterinary Council is keeping a closer eye on the country’s rural workforce to monitor the growing shortage of country vets.

  Posted: Friday, 14 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Warned Of Wandering Stock

  Farmers are being warned to check fences on their properties in the wake of an increase in the number of wandering stock on the country's highways.

  Posted: Friday, 14 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 14th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Monday, 17 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hundreds of Companies Apply For ETS Subsidies

  800 companies are snapping up offers of taxpayer-funded subsidies for the emissions trading scheme.

  Posted: Monday, 17 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Nelson’s Rural Flood Evacuees Await Return

  Residents of the farming community of Tapawera, near Nelson, say they have no idea when they’ll be allowed to return to their homes, isolated by landslides and floods over the weekend.

  Posted: Monday, 17 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• “Big Dry” Biting Into Off-Farm Businesses

  The drought in the North Island is now starting to bite off-farm, with some rural-based retailers forced to lay off staff.

  Posted: Monday, 17 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 17th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Deer Industry Conference Convenes

  Venison and velvet producers will have money on their minds as they head into the Deer Industry Conference starting in Napier Tuesday.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Zealand Upset By Canada’s Dairy Trade Practices

  New Zealand and some other dairy exporting countries are talking about  launching possible action against Canada for its restrictive trade practices.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Courts Getting Tougher On Dirty Dairy Farmers: Lawyer

  An environmental law specialist is warning dairy farmers they risk face tougher penalties if their  effluent systems don’t work properly .

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat And Wool NZ Pushes For South Korea Trade Deal

  Meat and Wool NZ is pressing for a free trade deal with South Korea to be signed, sealed and delivered as soon as possible to give our beef exports there the chance to compete in the market.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Portfolio Investments Shares Bought By Singapore Company

  The shares that Craig Norgate’s failed company Rural Portfolio Investments owned in New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay, have been snapped up by a Singapore-based food commodities company.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Toxic Chemical Before ERMA Hearings

  The Forest Owners Association has told the Environmental Risk Management Authority that the use of the chemical methyl bromide to treat logs is essential until an alternative fumigant is found.

  Posted: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 18th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• KiwiRail Windfall Gets Mixed Reviews

  NZ’s KiwiRail is getting an extra $250 million windfall in the next financial year, thanks to the Government. And if the company meets its performance measures, it will get a further $500 million over the following two years.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Greenpeace Protestors Arrested At Clandeboye

  Four Greenpeace protestors at the Clandeboye dairy factory, north of Timaru, have been charged with trespassing, after they were arrested Tuesday night, following 9 hours chained to equipment at the factory.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Open Country Takes On Fonterra Claims

  Open Country Dairy isn’t letting up on its criticism on Fonterra’s Trading Among Farmers proposal.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Northland Water Restrictions Lifted

  There’s some  good news for Northland farmers and growers.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farm Sales Still Soft

  The rural property market is still in a bit of a drought.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• More Grim News For RPI Investors

  The receivers of Rural Portfolio Investments and Rural Portfolio Capital say the sale of assets has returned $29.1 million - just under half the amount investors are owed.

  Posted: Wednesday, 19 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday the 19th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fed Farmers Say Meridian Energy Stonewalling

  Federated Farmers is accusing Meridian Energy of stonewalling on their power station swap deal with Genesis Energy.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Velvet And Venison Deer Conference Hot Topics

  How to better market velvet has been high on the list of topics for discussion at the Deer Industry New Zealand conference in Napier this week.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Beef Expo Sees Mixed Results

  The Beef Expo has wrapped up  for another year, with mixed results for the seven cattle breeds showcased at the Feilding event.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Drought Boom For Olive Growers

  New Zealand’s olive season is in full swing and early signs show the drought that’s struck down farmers is playing right into olive growers’ hands.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• 1080 Coromandel Consents Curtailed

  Helicopter operators wanting long-term consents to continue aerial drops of 1080 poison in the Waikato region have been restricted to a year’s approval.

  Posted: Thursday, 20 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday the 20th of May with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Federated Farmers Give 2010 Budget Mixed Review

  Federated Farmers has awarded the Government’s 2010 Budget  a score of 6.5 out of 10, saying it offers great tax incentives but little else for “Vote Agriculture.”

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Plant Explosion Injures Seven

  Seven people suffered minor injuries from an explosion at a Hamilton Fonterra plant, and were treated at Waikato Hospital.

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Canterbury Finance Struggles To Find Money

  The head of South Canterbury Finance says the company will struggle to meet a cash target set by its credit rating agency, despite another big cash injection from South Island businessman George Kerr.

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Organic Food Production Boom

  There’s been a big boost in organic production in New Zealand according to a new Otago University study.

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Silver Fern Farms Seeks Asia Free Trade

  After a successful trade meeting in China, the CEO of Silver Fern Farms is calling for a free trade deal to be worked out with several of our biggest Asian trading partners.

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Hokitika Rejects 1080 Drop

  Westland mayor Maureen Pugh says the district council will be forced to support a ban on the use of 1080 poison to kill possums, following a local petition and march on Thursday.

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Farm Interest Grows

  The Chinese business interests bidding for the Crafar farms now in receivership are still hoping to buy them, despite the properties going onto the open market.

  Posted: Friday, 21 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ's Most Delicious Steak - Again

  It’s official.

  The tastiest steak you can buy is an AngusPure, following its anointment as Supreme Brand at the recent Steak of Origin 2010 Challenge.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Westland Milk Opens New Canterbury Warehouse

  Westland Milk Products says a new warehouse complex in Canterbury will allow it to significantly reduce its reliance on road transport for getting its products to port.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Zespri Profit Climbs

  Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has seen its profit rise by 8% to $25.9 million in the year to March, thanks to stronger sales in Asia.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Waikato Farmers Welcome Bank Assistance

  Farmers in Waikato say an offer of assistance from banks is great news as they struggle to survive the worst drought in the region in 65 years.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fruit Fly Invasion Discovered At Border

  Federated Farmers is welcoming news that MAF Biosecurity has intercepted a consignment of fruit imported from Queensland containing fruit fly eggs. 

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• European Mission To Market NZ Sheep Meat

  This week, Meat & Wool New Zealand chief Scott Champion is touring Europe on a marketing mission. He’s currently in the UK, New Zealand’s number one sheep meat market.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Meat Companies Penalized By 2010 Budget Changes: Tax Expert

  Meat companies are just some of a number of rural businesses hit hard by property tax changes in last week’s Budget.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Crafar Farms Sale Not Yet Approved

  Crafar Farms Sale Not Yet Approved

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Warned To Prepare For Extreme Weather

  In the upper North Island, southern Canterbury, North Otago and Dunedin are advised to have emergency supplies in preparation for a severe weather bomb as Civil Defence and emergency services across the country gear up.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 21st of May with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Monday, 24 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• MAF Opens Doors Again To Banned Queensland Fresh Produce

  The Ministry of Agriculture has partially lifted a ban on fresh produce imports from Queensland.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• PM Tells Off Agriculture Minister Over Crafar Farm Comments

  Prime Minister John Key has given his Agriculture Minister a ticking off for telling conference delegates on the weekend that the proposed sale of the Crafar farms to Chinese buyers now being considered by the Overseas Investment Office is unlikely to go through.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Government Plans ETS Information Sessions For Farmers

  Federated Farmers claims the looming Emissions Trading Scheme costs will hit farmers hard in the pocket – but Prime Minister John Key says households will be paying a modest $3 a week.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fake Payments, Illegal Horticultural Workers As Company Directors Plead Guilty

  Hastings District Court has heard that $270,000 worth of  false invoices were made out to a company to pay illegal horticultural workers in a single month in 2006.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Waiuku Farmer Prosecuted By Animal Health Board Over TB Infected Herd

  The Animal Health Board has successfully prosecuted a Waiuku famer for deliberately selling cattle from a herd he knew was infected with TB.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Award Winning NZ TracMap Invention Eyed Offshore

  Mosgiel-based company TracMap has claimed this year’s NZX Emerging Hi-Tech Company of the Year award.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Farmers Welcome Wet Weather

  While the wild weather battering New Zealand looks set to continue for the coming days, so far the rain has brought farmers more delight than damage.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Monday the 24th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Tuesday, 25 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Tuesday the 25th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Wild Weather Strikes South Canterbury

  Conditions in South Canterbury have worsened overnight, with strong easterly winds and rising floodwaters forcing many farmers to move stock to higher ground.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Receiver Confirms Poor Return For Rural Portfolio Investors

  Investors in the Rural Portfolio group of companies – the failed investment vehicle of Craig Norgate and Baird McConnon – are likely to get less than half the principal they originally put into the company.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Auckland Poultry Farmer Imprisoned For Animal Cruelty

  A South Auckland poultry farmer has been jailed for a year for causing suffering to thousands of animals kept in what were described as filthy and inhumane conditions.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Kiwi Buffalo Cheese Wins Awards And Loyal Fans

  A couple from Clevedon is making New Zealand history with their business, doing what no other Kiwis have done before – making cheese from buffalo milk.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Fonterra Predicting Record Payouts For Dairy Farmers

  Fonterra farmers waiting on their second-highest payout in the season just ending have been told their average cheque for next season could rocket to record heights - about $1 million each.

  Posted: Wednesday, 26 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Wednesday the 26th of May with Rural Economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Aussie Vets Eye Up Kiwi Bonding Scheme

  Australian veterinarians are looking to the New Zealand bonding scheme to help keep more young vets in rural practices.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Women NZ Calls On Government To Halt ETS

  Rural Women New Zealand has added its voice to those calling on the Government to delay implementing the Emissions Trading Scheme, following a decision taken at the organisation's national conference in Oamaru.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• NZ Gets New Border Patrol IT System

  A new $76 million Government IT project aims to use sophisticated software to police suspicious passengers and freight at our ports and airports.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• $140 Million Welcomed For Primary Growth Partnership

  Agriculture and Forestry Minister David Carter has announced the first allocation of funding from the Primary Growth Partnership.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Greenpeace Goes After Fonterra

  New Zealand’s clean green reputation helps sell our produce abroad. Our lush rolling hills and beautiful rivers strike an accord with consumers the world over.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• South Island Farmers Prepare For Winter Snow

  The worst of Otago flooding is now over but for South Island farmers, an icy winter is heading their way.

  Posted: Thursday, 27 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Thursday the 27th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Rural Women NZ’s Celebrates Supreme Enterprise Award

  A Waikato woman has won Rural Women New Zealand's supreme enterprise award.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmer Hero At Road Crash

  Police in Waikato say a farmer who extinguished  a fire after a fatal car crash may have saved a woman's life.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Landcorp Considers Crafar Farms

  Prime Minister John Key says he's not directly aware of Landcorp’s plans to consider bidding for Crafar Farms, which a Chinese firm wants to buy.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• KiwiBank Looks To Rural Lending

  KiwiBank chairman Jim Bolger says he's been told the main Australian-owned banks are not supporting the rural sector.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• AFFCO Wairoa Facing Tough Times

  AFFCO has announced a modest profit due to cost cutting and lower interest costs.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Farmers Brace for ETS Costs

  The effects of the Emissions Trading Scheme on farmers’ bottom line is worrying many in the rural sector as higher all round prices prepare to kick in at the start of July.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Record Results For NZ Trade Exports

  Strong exports especially of dairy products and logs pushed New Zealand to its first annual trade surplus in almost 8 years.

  Posted: Friday, 28 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• ASB Market Update

  ASB's Market Update as of Friday the 28th of May with Rural Economist James Shortall.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Taupo Dairy Farm Trust Best In Business: 2010 Maori Excellence In Farming Awards

  The Taupo based Waipapa 9 Trust has won the prestigious 2010 Ahuwhenua Trophy at the Bank of New Zealand Maori Excellence in Farming competition for its outstanding dairying operation.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New DairyNZ Effluent Management Workshops

  A new workshop being rolled out nationwide will help dairy farm owners and managers ensure they have the most effective effluent management systems on their farms.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• New Fonterra/Dairy Farmers of America Joint Venture

  A joint venture between Fonterra and Dairy Farmers of America has acquired the U.S. hard Italian cheese business of Swiss Valley Farms. 

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• SCF’s Credit Rating Drops

  South Canterbury Finance's owner, Allan Hubbard, has stepped aside as chairman of the company, just as the South Island lender had its credit rating downgraded.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Allied Farmers Assets Drop Again

  Allied Farmers’ assets acquired from Hanover and United Finance last year are now worth less than a third of the purchase price -  and more revisions could be on the cards, according to the company.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Waikato Drought Continues

  The latest meeting of the Waikato Drought Committee in Hamilton saw farmers wrestling with whether to lift the region’s drought status after recent rains.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Two New Rural Drought Zones Declared

  Both Wairarapa and North Canterbury farmers are welcoming official recognition that they’re now in the Government’s drought-relief zone.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV

• Otago Farmers Assess Heavy Rain Damage

  People across Otago are mopping up  the  damage as South Island floodwaters recede following  a week of torrential rain.

  Posted: Monday, 31 May 2010 By: Country 99 TV