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For the past 14 years the Ruralco Longbeach Coastal Challenge, a partnership between the Longbeach School and Hinds and District Lions, has been a mainstay of the Mid Canterbury events calendar. The event attracts competitive athletes, weekend warriors, recreational runners and enthusiastic children and families. To date the event has raised over $300,000 – all of which has been donated to the community.

This year’s South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) is particularly welcome after the difficulties and cancellation last year due to the covid lockdown. Interest in the popular event is sharp, with a solid array of sponsors supporting an entertaining and informative range of speakers over the two day event.

If there’s one thing aphids like, apart from feeding on young wheat and barley seedlings, it’s warm weather. Temperature makes all the difference to the life cycle of this tiny, potentially costly insect pest.

Healthy, functioning soil — the basis of food and fibre production — is of great interest to farmers and landowners.

The autumn period like last year has produced a consistent spell of warmer weather. With only a couple of light frosts, the soil temperature has remained up, with consistent growth rates for all crops and pasture where consistent irrigation was available.

For the next 3 months, we will look at the following: Autumn sown arable crops, barley grass control in pasture and weed control in lucerne.

Split the payment over three months for larger purchases with Dan Cosgrove, Ensol & FMC.Simply advise the participating supplier that you would like to split your payment. Your invoice will then be split into three equal interest-free payments over the following three months.

Surrounded by dairy farms in Culverden, Robbie and Anna Clark could be forgiven for feeling under siege by the industry, but instead have managed to turn their situation into an opportunity, both for them and their dairying neighbours. The Clarks have established Parkvale Speckle Park Stud, home to one of the country’s fastest growing cattle breeds that is helping dairy farmers meet the challenges of reducing calf wastage, and providing some valuable new genetics to New Zealand’s beef sector.

Canterbury is becoming a hub for growing commitment to regenerative farming. The region’s tapestry of farming regimes and a new generation of farmers keen to try alternative approaches mean regenerative practices are becoming more commonly accepted, and widely discussed. Ashburton farmer Ryan Cockburn is part of the movement, taking the family’s long-time cropping and livestock farm down the regenerative pathway.

Once home to one of the country’s leading red deer herds, Mark and India van der Wilt have put Bangor Farm back on the map, transforming it into a thriving wedding venue and function centre.