Stories by Alexa Cook

The number of rural birthing units being closed or downgraded has reached crisis point, Rural Women New Zealand says.

The NZ mānuka honey industry is baffled that the Australian government is funding a new international mānuka marketing campaign.

New figures reveal that cases of the potentially deadly disease leptospirosis are two-and-a-half times higher than the four-year average.

Northland kumara growers are battling with an extremely wet summer and say there could soon be crop losses if it doesn't dry up.

Dairy farmers are struggling to find workers for lower skilled jobs because of changes with immigration laws and farm ownership, says a rural business advisor.

The warm and lingering summer weather has left some Rangitikei farmers struggling with feed shortages and stock suffering from facial eczema.

The number of female jockeys in New Zealand is steadily rising, and expected to overtake the number of male jockeys.

The signing of the revised Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal is expected to lead to immediate benefits for farmers and exporters here.

Another farm has been infected with the cattle disease mycoplasma bovis.

A Southland vet says farmers in the region are worried about the spread of the cattle disease when dairy herds are moved around on the upcoming Gypsy Day.

New Zealand agriculture needs to become more sustainable to catch up with its clean, green, unspoiled image overseas, the head of a UK research centre says.

An analysis of a group of pesticides known as neonicotinoids has confirmed that they are harmful to wild bees and honey bees.

New study links semen to disease spread

A long-awaited new rabbit virus is finally going to be released in Otago to control plagues of the pest.

The development of a nitrogen sensor for cow urine is hoped to help farmers reach environmental targets for nitrogen run off.

A couple of hundred farmers have taken over Crawford Green in Wellington today for a Young Farmer competition, the first to ever be held in the capital.

The drought has been tough for Taranaki farmers but maize crops were flourishing. Now Cyclone Gita has torn through those too.

Orchards in the Motueka area have been hit hard by flooding from Cyclone Gita, prompting fears fruit will not make it to market.

Stuff's decision to ditch 28 publications is shocking and will further isolate rural communities, Rural Women New Zealand says.

The government needs to change its approach to forestry and communicate better with farmers, a consultant says.

Farmers are battening down the hatches in preparation for ex-Tropical Cyclone Gita which is expected to hit the West Coast of New Zealand tomorrow.

The government plans to crack down on dairy farm employment records this year.

Floodwater is covering large parts of the eastern Bay of Plenty after 24 hours of heavy rain.

Floodwater is covering large parts of the eastern Bay of Plenty after 24 hours of heavy rain.

Farmers illegally dumping rubbish face a crackdown from Greater Wellington Regional Council, which says it is an ongoing problem.