Stories by Alexa Cook

Airborne substances such as pesticides and exhaust fumes accounted for 97 deaths in the agriculture sector in a single year, WorkSafe has found.

People who dive or fish for crayfish off the north-east of the North Island think size and availability of crayfish is down, according to a survey.

Venison exporters have been hit in the pocket by a drop in the British pound.

"At the moment ... farmers [choose] Fonterra, but once we start to go down this track, it's Fonterra choosing farmers."

Farmers' mood at the Central Districts Fieldays is much more optimistic than last year because of a more promising dairy outlook, International tractor company Case IH says.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has announced over $2 million worth of funding for the agricultural sector at the Central Districts Fieldays today.

Thirty-eight fewer farms were sold in the past three months than the same period a year ago.

Farmers say growing the dairy industry and reducing agriculture's environmental footprint is achievable, despite the Ministry for the Environment saying otherwise.

Wet weather is jeopardising this year's grape crop, Gisborne winegrowers say.

Interest in sheep milking is increasing, but farmers are wary of any sudden influx of new participants into the industry.

The Hilux Rural Games have descended on Manawatu for the first time in the event's history, kicking off with 1000 sheep making a 500m dash down Feilding's main street. Video

It is disappointing some dairy farmers still don't have adequate effluent systems for their herd numbers, the Waikato Regional Council says.

A new report shows that the export value of wool from December to January dropped by 25 percent, and in the past six months it has fallen 10 percent.

Sheep and beef meat could be shipped to Iran in the next month under a new agreement, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

Drug use among dairy farm workers is a problem, but alcohol abuse is just as big an issue, Federated Farmers says.

Work safety rules are strangling the trucking industry and contributing to a huge shortage of drivers, veteran truckers say.

NZ's declining number of sheep and changes in weather patterns are driving more shearers to chase work around the globe.

Farmers in drought-hit Northland battling with a shortage of stock feed are also experiencing the worst maize harvest in 30 years.

Step aside kale, make way salted caramel - a Hawke's Bay cheesemaker is pushing organic sheep-milk cheese as the next big thing for upmarket diners. Audio

A new report into the economic contribution from dairy trade shows that the dairy sector contributes $7.8 billion, or 3.5 percent, to New Zealand's Gross Domestic Product.

The country's largest honey products maker is blaming the loss on a drop in sales to China and a bad honey crop.

AgResearch is planning to form a joint research centre with China's largest state-owned food company, and says it will protect New Zealand's intellectual property.

A new study has found that goats can link visual and audio cues to identify if another goat is a friend or not.