Stories by Alexa Cook

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.

There are almost two new pest invasions every day somewhere around the world, a new study reveals.

It is National Lamb Day in New Zealand, marking 135 years since the first export of sheep meat.

Research into the unusual straight and silky wool of mutant sheep is getting closer to revealing why it behaves differently to traditional sheep.

John Kirkpatrick from Napier has claimed the individual world title for machine shearing for the first time.

Fish and Game and the Environment Defence Society are taking on the Horizons Regional Council in court today in a bid to improve its regional plan, including rules around farming and conversions.

The son of champion shearer Sir David Fagan has taken out the world speed shearing title despite his rival pipping him by one second.

Environmentalists and farmers alike are questioning whether the government's focus on production growth is the right one.

Gisborne has recorded the driest January in more than a century.

Dairy farmers are culling cows and moving to once-a-day milking because of feed shortages.

An Australian tree nursery is trying to grow Manuka trees in the hope of cashing in on New Zealand's lucrative market.

Farmers in Hawke's Bay are selling stock because they don't have enough food or water for them, livestock agent John Kingston says.

Four and a half thousand sheep are being hand-picked from Southland farms for the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championship.

A recycling service for farmers is struggling to get pastoral farmers on board to safely dispose of plastic containers and chemicals.

It is more important than ever to check on neighbours and friends, says Doug Avery, a leader for mental health and resiliance in farming.

Freedom campers are going onto private farmland, leaving rubbish and faeces, disrupting stock work and leaving gates open - and Federated Farmers says more needs to be done and fast.

A Hawke's Bay beekeeper says it is the worst season for honey production that he has seen in over 20 years.