Stories by Susan Murray
News
NZ's largest rural supply store Farmlands records more losses
The co-op has posted a $14.3 million net loss after tax for the year ended June 2024.
Rural communities fear NZ Post retreating from farming areas
Postal services are to stop in two Tasman towns next month.
High pet ownership in China contributes to turnaround in sheep milk fortunes
Green shoots of confidence are returning to the fledgling sheep milk industry.
Lack of wool education means farmers 'will suffer'
New Zealand, once renowned for its wool industry and high-end merino products, is now seen as neglecting wool education, industry insiders say.
NZ samples added to shelves of remote global seed vault
Pasture seeds from New Zealand have just arrived in a doomsday mountain vault in Norway - safeguarding their survival into the future.
Peanut trial offers hope for new Northland home
The Northland peanut trials are back on track after a wash-out of last year's crops.
Could take years to shut down polluting piggery - council
While the "volume and frequency" of the discharge has decreased, effluent is still leaving the Waikato farm.
Another warm winter could mean less kiwifruit, growers worried
Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers are staring down the barrel of another difficult growing season.
Sawmills face temporary closures as demand dives
Several New Zealand sawmills producing housing timber are temporarily halting production, as the construction sector slows.
Farmers face 'devastating' effects of consistent rain
A Wairoa farming leader says the relentless rain still falling in northern Hawke's Bay is like a recurring nightmare and farmers are beside themselves.
'Huge numbers of refunds' as farm walks lose bookings
Private farm walks are taking a financial hit due to cancellations from Aucklanders unable to travel, with some losing 40 percent of their bookings.
Intensive winter grazing improves but not all councils have data on its use
Intensive winter grazing practices have improved but more effort needs to go into compliance and monitoring activities by regional councils, a new report has found.
Plea for more govt support to attract rural teens to health careers
The government should maintain funding for a programme promoting health careers to rural high school pupils, a GPs' group says.
Bowel screening programme moves to meet rural demands
Northland and Bay of Plenty are next in line for older residents to get free screening kits.
Possum fur paying out more than wool for one sheep farmer
Ben Stubbs farms 650ha in the Waitomo area and auto-kill possum traps on his native bush block have nailed more than 800 possums this year.
Bowel screening programme missing the mark - Rural GP
A rural GP says the nationwide bowel screening programme will miss the mark with his patient group and its success will be limited.
Forestry export prices reaching three year highs
Prices have been on a strong run since November due to Chinese demand and a gap in supply, a forestry consultant and exporter says.
Waimarino Shears' bilingual billboards put te reo Māori in frame
There are hopes the use of te reo Māori in shearing competitions will become much more commonplace.
Wood processing inaction 'one of the greatest violations of responsibility'
Wood processors are slamming successive governments for failing to support New Zealand's struggling wood processing mills.
Demand up for NZ made wool carpets
The global pandemic has New Zealand wool carpet manufacturers spinning, with demand increasing from customers here and in the US.
Zespri weighs up partnership with Chinese kiwifruit growers
Zespri is considering co-operation with Chinese kiwifruit growers who are illegally growing New Zealand's gold G3 kiwifruit.
Māori names given to three new Japanese-built ships
Māori names have been given to three new Japanese built ships, constructed as export volumes from New Zealand increase.
Mothballed training farm reopening to help redundant workers
The government is backing plans to give a new lease of life to Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, near Masterton.